Senior Byproducts Engineer – Technical Projects
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Our friendly teams look after each other because your safety and wellbeing are always our priority
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Join an encouraging leadership group, committed to your growth and development
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Role based in Salt Lake City, Utah
We’re Finding Better Ways™ to provide materials the world needs, now and in the future. Our values – care, courage and curiosity – guide how we work and how we treat each other.
About the role
We are looking for a Senior Byproducts Engineer – Technical Projects to join our Technical Projects team. This is great opportunity to be in a senior technical role driving process improvements and delivering sustaining and capital projects across the Acid Plant, Powerhouse, Filter Plant, Slag Mill, and Hydromet plant.
The role provides focused technical leadership for defect elimination, reliability improvement, cost reduction, and HSE compliance. This position complements day‑to‑day process engineering by leading initiatives that require cross‑functional coordination, senior technical judgment, and sustained focus.This position supports both routine operations and shutdown activities, balancing hands-on service coordination with governance oversight, continuous improvement, and strong engagement with internal teams and external contractors.
Reporting to the Superintendent, Technical Projects, you will:
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Lead process improvement initiatives to eliminate recurring defects and improve safety, reliability, efficiency, and metal recovery across byproducts processing facilities.
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Provide senior technical leadership for short term improvement projects and sustaining capital projects within the Acid Plant, Powerhouse, Filter Plant, Slag Mill, and Hydromet plant.
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Act as technical owner for improvement and capital projects from problem definition through implementation and benefit realization.
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Drive structured problem solving, including root cause analysis, development of permanent solutions, and verification of sustained performance improvement.
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Identify, evaluate, and challenge existing practices to optimize acid plant process performance, energy efficiency, and variable operating costs.
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Develop project scopes, technical evaluations, and business cases in collaboration with operations, maintenance, environmental, and Projects and Engineering teams.
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Provide technical oversight during detailed engineering, commissioning, startup, and performance testing to ensure projects deliver intended outcomes.
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Coordinate cross functional stakeholders to ensure improvements are integrated, operable, safe, and environmentally compliant.
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Provide technical input to management of change, hazard reviews, and risk assessments related to process changes and project execution.
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Mentor and provide technical guidance to day-to-day process engineers, contributing to capability development within the byproducts area.
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Support development and maintenance of technical standards, best practices, and long-term plant knowledge.
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Track and report improvement outcomes to ensure benefits are sustained and aligned with site objectives.
What you'll bring
To be successfully considered for this role, you will have:
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Bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering, Metallurgical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
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Minimum of 7 years of engineering and operations experience, primarily focused on sulfuric acid plant process or closely related byproducts processing systems.
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Demonstrated experience leading process improvements, defect elimination initiatives, or technical projects in complex, continuous processing operations.
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Strong understanding of acid plant operations, process control, gas handling, energy recovery, and environmental performance drivers.
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Proven ability to lead cross functional teams and influence outcomes without direct authority.
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Strong analytical, problem solving, and communication skills.
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, 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.
R54190
Rio Tinto is a leading global mining and materials company. We operate in 35 countries where we produce iron ore, copper, aluminum, 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.
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.
Start your application
Take your leadership career to the next level.
Where can Rio Tinto take you?
You’re passionate and ambitious with tremendous career aspirations. The breadth and growth of our organisation empowers you to define your ideal career path.
Take a look at Katie’s career journey
Take a look at Shona’s career journey
- 2022 - PresentManager Projects - Energy DevelopmentBrisbane, Queensland, Australia
- 2021Superintendent Operations CentreBrisbane, Queensland, Australia
- 2020Development / Drill and Blast SuperintendentPilbara, Western Australia
- 2019Deputy Quarry ManagerPilbara, Western Australia
- 2018Development SupervisorPilbara, Western Australia
- 2017Senior Engineer of Drill, Blast and SurveyPilbara, Western Australia
- 2016Production EngineerPilbara, Western Australia
- 2015Mine scheduler - 2 week plannerPilbara, Western Australia
- 2014Drill and Blast EngineerPilbara, Western Australia
- 2012Graduate Mining EngineerPilbara, Western Australia
- 2022 – PresentGeneral Manager Weipa OperationsWeipa, Far North Queensland, Australia
- 2020General Manager Bell Bay AluminiumLaunceston, Tasmania, Australia
- 2017Metal products DepartmentBoyne SmeltersGladstone, Queensland, Australia
- 2014Reduction line Manager – Boyne SmeltersGladstone, Queensland, Australia
- 2012Services department Manager Boyne SmeltersGladstone, Queensland, Australia
- 2011Manager Health, Safety, Environment and business improvement Boyne SmeltersGladstone, Queensland, Australia
- 2010Lean Six Sigma Black Belt – Boyne SmeltersGladstone, Queensland, Australia
- 2009Operations SuperintendentGladstone, Queensland, Australia
- 2005Operations SuperintendentLaunceston, Tasmania, Australia
- 2004Graduate EngineerLaunceston, Tasmania, Australia
Working at Rio Tinto
Help us deliver the materials that make human progress possible.
The plane you’re flying in just landed. You fire up your phone and get your laptop out of the overhead bin. Immediately, you’re in work mode – thousands of miles from your office. Do you ever stop to think about all the materials that make life in the 21st century possible? At Rio Tinto, we discover, develop and deliver the materials that drive human progress. When you work with us, you’ll experience advantages you won’t find anywhere else.
Working in our Operations teams
The most important thing you’ll uncover is your own potential.
Working in Operations at Rio Tinto means you can make a hands-on difference in the discovery and delivery of the materials that make human progress possible. In return, we strive to help you achieve and even exceed your career goals. Join us and experience:
Our application process
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Apply
The first thing you’ll need to do is apply to the role. You can do this with your LinkedIn profile or you can upload your resume. We’ll also ask you to complete a few questions before you submit your application.
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Undergo assessments
Our assessments are designed to help us work out whether you are suitable for the role. We will let you know which ones you’ll need to complete.
03
Interview(s)
Our interviews could be in person or online. It’s a great opportunity for us to get to know you a bit better, answer any of your questions and talk about the exciting career opportunity you have applied for.
04
Offers and checks
At this stage, we will let you know if you have been successful. If you have been, we’ll need to conduct a couple of checks, such as a background or security check. You may also need to do a medical assessment depending on the role you have applied for.
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Join the Rio Tinto team
Once the checks have been completed, we’ll be in touch to talk with you about your start date and answer any questions you may have before you start with us.