Senior Mechanical Engineer

An inclusive environment for all
We are committed to creating an inclusive environment where employees feel comfortable being themselves. We also want everyone to feel that their voices matter, that all cultures are respected, and that perspectives, as diverse as they are, are not only welcome, but essential to our success. We treat each other fairly and with dignity, regardless of race, gender, nationality, ethnicity, religion, age, sexual orientation or any other distinguishing aspect.

At Rio Tinto, we welcome and encourage applications from women, older workers, persons with disabilities and representatives from diverse backgrounds.

Everyone is different, and we believe that these differences are our strength. The diversity of skills, life experiences, and perspectives within our team enhances the way we work and our ability to succeed together.

MPP Senior Mechanical Engineer

Position Overview

The Engineer is a subject matter expert who drives equipment reliability achieving and exceeding name plate capacity, directs preventative maintenance strategies, manages plant upgrades, modifications, and large-scale shutdowns safely on time and within budget. He leads multi-disciplinary teams and contractors to resolve machinery bottlenecks while ensuring strict compliance with health, safety, environmental and engineering standards

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the end-of-the-end plant performance process from crushing to train load out, ensuring safe, efficient, and reliable equipment with focus to cost efficiency. 
• Validating mechanical completion, lead commissioning activities, managing punch-list and NCR items to ensure a seamless handover.
• Drive systematic, timely clearance of all non-conformances and defects post commissioning.
• Foster a culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement aligned to operational excellence  
• Drive continuous improvement in safety, productivity, reliability and cost efficiency across all processing activities. 

Leadership & Team Supervision

• Lead and mentor execution team to build local capability and reliability culture supporting the life of mine operation.

Mechanical Maintenance Management

• Oversee mechanical engineering scope for plant upgrades, modifications, and large-scale shutdowns, ensuring all projects are delivered on time and within budget.
• Lead initiatives to improve equipment reliability above 95%, reducing downtime, and extending asset life with overall equipment effectiveness above 85%
• Manage shutdown and major overhaul planning, coordination, and execution.
• Perform Root Cause Analysis (RCA) on recurring equipment failures and develop permanent engineering solutions to prevent reoccurrence.

• Coordinate with external equipment vendors, contractors, and service personnel to ensure quality and compliance during installations.

• Provide advanced troubleshooting of mechanical faults, failures, and recurring plant issues.
• Ensure all equipment modifications comply with OEM standards and engineering best practices.

Safety & Compliance

• Participates in HSE awareness by ensuring the correct SOP’s/SWP’s and or JHA’s are used and is firmly in place for all tasks
• Enforce rigorous safety procedures, including LOTO, permits-to-work, and confined-space protocols.
• Lead investigations of mechanical incidents and implement corrective and preventative actions.
• Ensure compliance with internal policies, regulatory requirements, and industry standards.

Planning, Budgeting & Resource Management

• Drive mechanical maintenance cost efficiency including OPEX and CAPEX planning.
• Oversee procurement of materials, spare parts, and critical inventory to avoid downtime.
• Managing contractor performance with a focus on cost per ton for all allocated tasks. 
• Initiate and develop optimization plan, which can be translated to CAPEX projects.

Qualifications & Experience Required

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or equivalent
• 15 to 20+ years of mechanical and bulk material handling experience in design, construction, commissioning and maintenance experience in mining, mineral processing, or heavy industrial facilities
• Proven experience in implementation of reliability improvement projects and warranty management
• Minnig Work experience with wet products specially in West Africa will be advantageous 
• Proven experience in Rio Tinto is highly advantageous.
• Proven experience managing multidisciplinary maintenance teams towards harm zero.
• Strong technical knowledge of rotating equipment, hydraulics, piping systems, lubrication, and welding/fabrication.
• Experience working with CMMS platforms such as SAP, Pronto, or Maximo.

Preferred

• Experience with major shutdowns and plant commissioning.
• Certification in Reliability Engineering, Asset Management, or Maintenance Planning.
• Familiarity with international standards (CEMA, AS, API, ASME, ISO).
• Exposure to cross-functional and multicultural greenfield mining & operation projects preferably in West Africa
• English Speaking with intermediate French desirable.

Key Competencies

• Leadership and people development.
• Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills.
• Excellent organizational and planning capability.
• Ability to perform under pressure in continuous‑operation environments.
• High commitment to safety and operational discipline.

What we offer

Get recognition for your contributions, your ability to think, your hard work, and the satisfaction of knowing that you have helped the world move forward.

• Work environment where safety is always the top priority
• Competitive base salary based on your skills and experience
• Annual cash incentives for eligible employees
• Career development opportunities and training assistance to achieve your aspirations • Access to family-friendly health programs, top-notch retirement and savings plans
• Wellness benefits
• Rio Tinto's generous employee stock ownership plan
• Employee Assistance Program
• One-on-one wellness support (personal and professional matters) for you and your family
• Comprehensive leave policy covering all important life moments (vacation/annual, paid parental leave, etc.)  
   

About the Simandou Project
The Simandou Iron Ore Project is located in the Republic of Guinea, West Africa. It is Africa’s largest infrastructure and mining project and represents one of the largest known reserves of high-grade iron ore in the world.

Rio Tinto holds rights to Simandou Blocks 3 and 4 through SimFer, a joint venture between the Government of the Republic of Guinea, Rio Tinto and Chalco Iron Ore Holdings (CIOH). Construction of the mine, together with the associated rail and port infrastructure, is well underway with first production from the SimFer mine expected in 2025.

About Rio Tinto
Rio Tinto is a global leader in the mining and materials companies. We are established in 35 countries where we produce iron ore, copper, aluminum, critical minerals, and other materials needed for the global energy transition and the prosperity of people, communities, and nations. We have been in business for 150 years, drawing on knowledge accumulated over generations and on different continents. Our mission – to find better ways to provide the materials the world needs – guides us in our quest for innovation and continuous improvement, with the goal of making products that are low in emissions and meet the right environmental, social and governance standards. But because we can't do it alone, we focus on creating partnerships that allow us to solve problems, create mutually beneficial situations and seize opportunities.

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