Reliability Engineer

• Join a leader in mining & metals offering outstanding personal development & global career opportunities.
• Competitive salary and benefits, with relocation assistance available for eligible candidates
• Work in an underground project located near Superior, Arizona.

We’re Finding Better Ways™ to provide materials the world needs, now and in the future. Our values of care, courage and curiosity guide how we work and how we treat each other

About the Role

We are looking for a Reliability Engineer who is responsible for maximizing the safety, reliability, availability, and performance of underground mining assets through the application of reliability engineering principles, asset management practices, condition monitoring technologies, and continuous improvement methodologies.

The role partners closely with Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, and Technical Services teams to identify and eliminate equipment failures, reduce operational risk, improve asset life-cycle performance, and support achievement of production objectives. The Reliability Engineer ensures maintenance and reliability programs comply with applicable MSHA regulations, company standards, and industry best practices while supporting a safe and productive underground mining operation.

Role Responsibilities

• Create and manage a reliability program for underground, surface, fixed, and mobile assets.
• Conduct Asset Criticality Assessments (ACA) and identify operational risks.
• Develop and implement risk mitigation strategies through maintenance programs aligned with business objectives.
• Create and oversee formal asset management plans (AMPs) for new and existing critical assets.
• Develop, optimize, and continuously improve maintenance tactics using Reliability-Centered Maintenance (RCM), Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA), and Planned Maintenance Optimization (PMO) methodologies.
• Conduct critical spare parts analyses and present recommendations to inventory control.
• Manage asset lifecycle strategies and replacement forecasts.
• Support budgeting and planning activities for asset end-of-life, replacement, and capex.
• Develop and maintain condition monitoring programs for critical assets.
• Analyze condition monitoring data including vibration analysis, thermography, lubrication analysis, ultrasonic inspection, electrical testing, and other predictive technologies.
• Establish and report key asset health metrics, providing actionable recommendations to stakeholders.
• Lead Root Cause Analysis (RCA) investigations for significant equipment failures and recurring reliability issues.
• Support the commissioning, startup, and reliability assurance activities for new assets and infrastructure.

About You

We’re looking for someone whose experience aligns with the key requirements below. You do not need to meet every helpful-for-success item to apply. 

Required for Success 

• A commitment to the safety of yourself and your team.
• Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mining Engineering, or related engineering discipline.
• Minimum 5 years of maintenance, reliability, or asset management experience.
• Experience in mining, mineral processing, heavy industry, or industrial operations.
• Strong understanding of reliability engineering principles, failure analysis, and asset management systems.
• Demonstrated experience working with SAP or other CMMS platforms.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.

Preferred

• Underground mining experience.
• Experience in MSHA-regulated operations.
• Certification in Reliability Engineering, Asset Management, or Maintenance Excellence.
• Experience with:
  • RCM/FMEA/FMECA
  • RCA
  • Condition Monitoring Technologies
  • Asset Health Monitoring Systems
  • Reliability Data Analysis and Reporting
• Professional Engineer (PE) registration.
• Experience utilizing AI tools.

What we offer

We are committed to providing our employees with a generous benefits package. Be recognized for your contribution, your thinking, your hard work, and go home knowing you’ve helped the world progress, we provide: 

• A safety-focused and inclusive working environment
• Advantageous salary package with annual cash incentive awards (STIP) for eligible employees 
• 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
• Generous Rio Tinto employee share program, which allows you to purchase Rio Tinto Company shares.
• Comprehensive leave policies which cover all moments that matter in life: PTO (paid time off), paid holidays, and paid bereavement leave. 
• A favorable child-caregiver leave program (Up to 100% salary top-up)
• Discount programs for leisure purposes and access to Virgin Pulse with incentives supporting your wellbeing
• Ongoing Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for you and your family; to help in addressing educational opportunities, addiction treatment, depression, stress, domestic issues, financial management, and legal concerns. 
• Our team and industry experts are here to support and work with you to explore your learning potential and career goals 

Where you will be working

You will be joining Resolution Copper at a pivotal moment in the project’s history. With the Resolution Copper Land Exchange now complete, the project is advancing its next phase of technical work, community engagement, and state permitting activities.

Resolution Copper has the potential to supply nearly 25% of total U.S. copper demand and generate several thousand direct and indirect jobs in the Pioneer Mining District of Arizona, delivering an economic value of several billion dollars over the life of the mine. The project will rely on block caving, a proven underground mining method that uses gravity to extract ore from a deposit located more than 2,000 meters below the surface. This technique is the most viable way to safely and efficiently recover the resource.

As development continues, Resolution Copper will expand its underground operations, conduct extensive drilling and orebody characterization, and maintain both the permitting process and ongoing public engagement with Native American tribes, local communities, and stakeholders.

The Resolution Copper project is vital to securing America’s energy future, infrastructure needs, and national defense by providing a domestic supply of copper and other critical minerals. Once operational, it has the potential to become one of the largest copper mines in the United States, contribute approximately $1 billion annually to Arizona’s economy, and create thousands of local jobs in a region with more than a century‑long mining heritage.

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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