Principal – Optimisation

•    Lead the development and deployment of advanced optimisation solutions that drive real value across the largest fully owned and integrated bulk supply chain in the world
•    Build and mentor a high-performing team of experts, fostering innovation and collaboration at the intersection of optimisation, AI, and simulation
•    Play a key role in RTIO’s digital transformation, shaping how we plan, schedule, and operate across the entire value chain

About our team

Rio Tinto has a long history of being a leader in innovation and the development and deployment of technology within the mining industry. Innovation continues to play a critical role in improving health and safety outcomes, delivering new mines of the future, and decarbonising the industry. 

Our Advanced Analytics and Data team is part of the Digital Division of Rio Tinto Iron Ore (RTIO) whose primary purpose is to accelerate RTIO digital transformation programs. The Advanced Analytics & Data team is responsible for both the advanced analytics that sit within the digital programs (such as AI, data science, simulation and optimisation), as well as transforming our data and reporting landscape.

About the Role

We are looking for an experienced and motivated Principal, Optimisation to join our Advanced Analytics & Data Team at Central Park, Perth. We are looking for someone with a strong expertise in mathematical optimisation and operations research, in product design, build and deployment, to lead a growing team of mathematical optimisation professionals in our iron ore business.

Reporting to the Manager, Advanced Analytics and Data, and working in close partnership with Simulation and Data Science Principals, as the Principal, Optimisation you will lead the development and deployment of the algorithms that power our next-generation applications, as well as lead a team of optimisation specialists. The team is currently supporting our Digital Division’s transformation journey which aims to reshape how RTIO plans, schedules, and operates our integrated value chain. As our Digital strategy portfolio grows, the opportunity to contribute to broader business programs within the RTIO business is huge. RTIO Digital portfolio touches all parts of our iron ore business, from resource development through to closure, including large-scale integrated operations across mines, rail, ports, and customers.

This role is ideal for a leader passionate about bridging research and industry, innovating at the intersection of optimisation and broader data sciences, and driving real-world impact at scale. You will not only shape the future of optimisation within our organisation but also integrate it with other advanced analytics domains.
 

Key responsibilities and activities of the role include:

•    Lead the optimisation function within our larger Digital organisation, driving best-in-class algorithm development for solutions that drive real world impact.
•    Develop and deploy optimisation algorithms that underpin our digital transformation, ensuring they are scalable, efficient, and integrated with other analytical models.
•    Innovate at the frontier of analytics by working on projects that combine optimisation with simulation, AI, and machine learning.
•    Partner with digital experts and product owners to identify and engage with key business stakeholders and subject matter experts, and undertaking value identification and value-engineering from an optimisation perspective
•    Mentor and build a high-performing team of optimisation specialists, fostering a culture of technical excellence and collaboration, providing professional development and coaching to progress their skills and careers
•    Engage with industry and academic leaders to bring the latest research and methodologies into practical application.
 

What you’ll bring
 

If you are excited about the role and think you have what it takes but your experience doesn't align 100% we still want to hear from you. 
 

You bring a strong foundation in leading product-focused teams and a passion for using mathematical optimisation to solve complex, real-world problems. You’re energised by the opportunity to shape the way optimisation is applied across industrial and enterprise contexts, with a view to delivering real, measurable value.
 

Essentials
 

•    Proven leadership in technical environments, with a track record of building and guiding high-performing teams — and a desire to mentor, coach, and help others thrive
•    A Master’s or PhD in Mathematics, Statistics, Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field
•    Hands-on experience in mathematical optimisation and/or simulation, ideally with exposure to Agile delivery environments and coding proficiency in Python
•    Demonstrated success applying optimisation techniques in complex, high-stakes environments such as mining, logistics, or large-scale industrial operations
•    Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities, with the ability to translate business challenges into technical solutions
•    Experience engaging with and influencing stakeholders across multidisciplinary teams, aligning diverse viewpoints around shared goals
•    A deep interest in blending optimisation with AI, simulation, and other advanced analytics methods to push the boundaries of what’s possible
•    A mindset for bridging research and practice, ensuring cutting-edge methods create real-world impact
 

It’s great if you also bring experience with:
 

•    Agile delivery and project management frameworks
•    The end-to-end lifecycle of digital product development, particularly in simulation and optimisation, including DevOps practices
•    Engaging with the broader professional or academic community, contributing to thought leadership and innovation
•    Tools such as Gurobi, CPLEX, AIMMS, and programming in Python
•    Cloud-based solutions using containerisation and serverless architectures (e.g., in Azure or AWS)
•    Experience in software engineering principles and practices
 

What we offer

•    Be recognized for your contribution, your thinking, and your hard work, and go home knowing you have helped the world progress.
•    A work environment where safety is always the number one priority
•    A permanent position working directly for Rio Tinto
•    A competitive base salary reflective of your skills and experience with an annual incentive bonus
•    Comprehensive medical benefits including subsidized private health insurance for employees and immediate family
•    An attractive share ownership plan
•    Company-provided insurance cover
•    Extensive salary sacrifice and salary packaging options
•    Career development and education assistance to further your technical or leadership ambitions
•    Ongoing access to family-friendly health and medical wellbeing support
•    Leave for all of life’s reasons (vacation/annual, paid parental, sick leave, cultural leave)
•    Paid parental leave giving all parents the option to take 18 weeks of paid leave after a new child arrives, at a time that suits them
•    Exclusive employee discounts including hotel stays, banking, accommodation, cars, retail, and more
•    Commitment to elevating Indigenous voices and increasing cultural knowledge in our business. Diversity of skills, life experiences, and perspectives within our team enhances our way of working and our ability to achieve success together. To support you on your journey with us, you will also have access to:
•    Specialist Indigenous Support Advisors available to support Indigenous employees through any aspect of employment
•    Indigenous leadership programs across some professional and operational roles to ensure the development of Indigenous Leaders

Where you will be working

This role offers a Monday to Friday roster and based at Rio Tinto’s Perth head office at the Central Park building. 

Applications close on the 25th of April 2025 (Rio Tinto reserves the right to remove advertised roles prior to this date)
 

#gts

About Rio Tinto

Rio Tinto is a leading global mining and materials company. We operate in 35 countries where we produce iron ore, copper, aluminium, critical minerals, and other materials needed for the global energy transition and for people, communities, and nations to thrive.

We have been mining for 150 years and operate with knowledge built up across generations and continents. Our purpose is finding better ways to provide the materials the world needs – striving for innovation and continuous improvement to produce materials with low emissions and to the right environmental, social and governance standards. But we can’t do it on our own, so we’re focused on creating partnerships to solve problems, create win-win situations and meet opportunities.

Every Voice Matters

At Rio Tinto, we particularly welcome and encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, women, the LGBTI+ community, mature workers, people with disabilities and people from different cultural backgrounds.

We are committed to an inclusive environment where people feel comfortable to be themselves. We want our people to feel that all voices are heard, all cultures respected and that a variety of perspectives are not only welcome – they are essential to our success. We treat each other fairly and with dignity regardless of race, gender, nationality, ethnic origin, religion, age, sexual orientation or anything else that makes us different.

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