Principal Engineer – Underground Mine Planning

Job Title: Principal Engineer – Underground Mine Planning

Location: Salt Lake Valley, UT

Schedule: Monday – Friday (full-time)

Telecommuting permitted occasionally based on need.

Domestic travel required up to 10%.

About the role

Reporting to the Manager Underground Technical, the purpose of this role is to lead and manage the mining engineering function, overseeing the ongoing improvement of strategic mine planning, production planning, backfill, surveying, and ventilation. The Principal Engineer – Underground Mine Planning ensures alignment with production targets, regulatory compliance, and safety standards while providing technical leadership, coordinating with operations and geology, and supporting ramp up of underground operations through effective planning, reporting, and operations technical support.

Duties and Responsibilities include:

• Provide technical leadership and operational expertise to the engineering and operations team.
• Oversee, coordinate, and address engineering activities including annual budgets, cost performance analysis, Reserves, mine planning, mine ventilation, backfill, and survey.
• Lead a diverse team of engineers and technicians to achieve technical excellence and drive industry best practice.
• Guide the development, optimization, approval, and implementation of the annual, quarterly, monthly, and weekly mine plans to achieve Life of Mine production in a safe and economic manner.
• Establish, execute, and effectively monitor short-term and long-term plans that support corporate growth strategies.  Collaborate with corporate technical services on plans and projects.
• Ensure integration of mid-range and long-range mine infrastructure with mine planning with all site stakeholders.
• Monitor and provide guidance for daily/weekly planning meetings to ensure coordination of mining activities to meet safety and production targets.
• Manage technical work packages, including developing scope, schedule, and costs for life of mine projects.
• Manage critical underground risks in coordination with operations and safety teams.
• Build and maintain relationships with peers in other Kennecott operating areas to support the integrated value chain.
• Lead team engagement with internal stakeholders to establish clear lines of communication with the open pit operation and concentrator and ensure the underground is well integrated in the operation.
• Monitor compliance and ensure adherence to Rio Tinto standards, applicable engineering codes, and government regulations.
• Ensure month-end and year-end engineering reports and submissions are completed on time, meet the needs of the business, and comply with international best practice.
• Coordinate mine engineering work with geology and mine operations teams.
• Develop and maintain engineering policies, procedures, and processes.
• Drive accountability of compliance to plans in a coordinated effort with the mine operations department.
• Work cooperatively with the mine operations teams to develop engineered solutions to operational problems.  Ensure engineering provides adequate communication and support to mine operations.
• Recruit, mentor, and retain qualified engineering personnel and coordination team succession planning.
• Support and guide team members in their professional development goals.
• Provide clear work objectives, performance expectations, and provide feedback to team members through reviews and coaching.
• You will help foster a strong safety culture, promoting and exemplifying safe work practices throughout the organization.
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements

• Must have a Bachelor’s degree or foreign equivalent in Mining Engineering, Civil Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering, or a related field and 10 years of related work experience in underground mining, of which at least 7 years are progressive post-baccalaureate related work experience in the mining industry. Employer may accept an additional 2 years of related experience in the mining industry in lieu of a Bachelor's degree.
• Must have 7 years of experience in underground mine design and scheduling. 
• Must have 5 years of experience in each of the following:
• Underground drill and blast design; and
• Mine design and scheduling.
• Must have 3 years of experience leading a diverse technical team in the mining industry. 
• Must have strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Must have experience with strategic business analysis of mining options and projects.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience using Deswik CAD and Sched.
• 3+ years of experience in mine ventilation.
• Strong background in mine services, backfill QA/QC, mining QA/QC, and contractor management.
• Experience in integrating mine plans with continuous improvement initiatives to drive excellence in the operation.

What we offer

• Be recognized for your contributions, innovative thinking and dedication, and leave each day knowing you’ve helped the world progress.
• A work environment where safety is always the number one priority
• Competitive base salary reflective of your skills and experience with an annual incentive bonus
• Access to top-tier family-friendly health programs including medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, life insurance coverage, and various voluntary benefits
• Excellent retirement plan including up to 6% defined company contribution; Generous 401k matching program
• Attractive share ownership plan
• Comprehensive leave policies which cover all the moments that matter in life: PTO (paid time off), paid holidays, and paid bereavement leave
• A generous parental leave policy, which ensures you’re able to spend quality time with your new family
• Discount programs for leisure purposes and access to Personify Health with incentives supporting your wellbeing
• Access to our Employee Assistance Program (EAP), which provides confidential counselling or expert guidance for you and your family to help get through life’s challenges

Where you’ll be working

Our Kennecott mine is a world-class, fully integrated copper mining operation, including a concentrator, smelter and refinery, located just outside Salt Lake City, Utah, in the United States. We produce copper, precious metals including gold and silver, molybdenum, tellurium and sulfuric acid. Kennecott has been mining and processing minerals from the rich ore body of the Bingham Canyon Mine since 1903 and is one of the top producing mines in the world, comprising approximately 11 percent of U.S. annual copper production.

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.

Respect and Inclusion

Rio Tinto is committed to equal employment opportunity. All qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, sex, age, religion, national origin, disability, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

We are committed to an inclusive environment where people feel safe, respected and valued. We want our people to feel that all voices are heard and that a variety of perspectives are not only welcome but are essential to our success. We treat all our people fairly and with dignity.

Rio Tinto participates in E- Verify to confirm work authorization. Please visit http://www.ucis.gov/ for more information.

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