Specialist Engineering Functional Safety (Rail)

• Are you passionate about driving innovation in safety and engineering?

• Do you want to play a key role in one of the world’s largest autonomous rail networks?

• Join our Major Hazard team and help us reduce fatality risk and improve the safety of our operations

About the role

As a Specialist Engineer, you’ll lead crucial functional safety engineering and governance activities to support both our central teams and operational hubs. You’ll have a direct impact on the safety of our automated rail assets, helping to shape the future of rail safety in one of the world’s most advanced rail operations.

Reporting to the Manager Major Hazards – Process & Functional Safety, you will:

• Provide expert guidance on Functional and Process Safety activities, addressing major hazards in both current and future rail operations

• Assure the compliance with Functional Safety standards, as well as the integrity and serviceability of assets, with a focus on our autonomous rail systems and plant assets

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive governance, compliance and continuous improvement for our rail operations

• Support incident investigations as a subject matter expert, ensuring thorough and effective analysis

• Lead or support risk and safety workshops (HAZID, HAZOP, LOPA) to mitigate hazards and enhance operational safety

• Advise on key safety processes such as Applicability Assessments, Management of Change (MoC), Authority to Operate (ATO), and monthly reporting metrics

• Provide specialist advice on functional safety maintenance for new assets or modifications to existing systems

• Lead the D7 Governance process for new projects or legacy assets, ensuring effective safety management throughout

• Drive the continual improvement of critical controls, with a focus on risk management controls and safety effectiveness

What you’ll bring

To be successful in this role you will have:

• A Bachelor’s degree in Engineering – Electrical, Mechanical, Mechatronic, or a similar field

• Practical experience in the mining industry or a technical/system engineering background, with hands-on expertise in system, technology or functional safety implementation

• Understanding of engineering systems and the ability to apply that knowledge to real-world challenges, driving safety and operational excellence

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, allowing you to build lasting, positive relationships with both internal and external stakeholders at all levels

• A strong ability to influence and collaborate, bringing people together to make informed decisions and drive effective change in safety practices

• Experience in coaching and mentoring, empowering non-specialist team members and nurturing their development in technical environments

• Problem-solving and critical thinking mindset to execute and drive strategic objectives that are aligned to business priorities

What we offer 

• Be recognised for your contribution, your thinking and your hard work, and go home knowing you’ve helped provide the materials the world needs to progress

• A work environment where safety is always the number one priority

• A permanent position working directly for Rio Tinto

• Full relocation provided to Western Australia from elsewhere in Australia

• A competitive base salary reflective of your skills and experience with annual incentive bonus

• Comprehensive medical benefits including subsidised private health insurance for employees and immediate family

• Attractive share ownership plan

• Company provided insurance cover

• Extensive salary sacrifice & salary packaging options

• Career development & 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)

• To better suit different family needs, our paid parental leave approach gives 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

Where you’ll be working

This role is based in Perth, working Monday – Friday, mostly at our head office in Central Park with one day a week based at our Operations Centre.

In the Pilbara region of Western Australia, we own a world-class, integrated network of 17 mines, four independent port terminals, a rail network spanning nearly 2,000 kilometres and related infrastructure – all designed to respond rapidly to changes in demand. We are one of the world’s leading producers and exporters of iron ore.

Who we are 

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 and meet opportunities.

Advertising closes for this role on 27 June 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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