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Be part of a team that is safety‑driven and values inclusion
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Join a supportive leadership group committed to your growth and development
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Residential role – live and work in Weipa, Far North Queensland
About the role
We are seeking experienced and safety‑focused Boilermaker to join our Main Workshop maintenance team at Rio Tinto Weipa Operations.
In this residential role, you will support the reliability and availability of mobile and ancillary equipment through high‑quality fabrication, repair, and maintenance activities carried out within the main workshop environment.
You’ll be part of a welcoming and inclusive team, where leaders actively support development opportunities and encourage you to build a long‑term career while enjoying the unique lifestyle Weipa has to offer.
Reporting to the Maintenance Supervisor – Workshop, you will work on a residential roster of 4 days on, 5 days off, 5 days on, 4 days off, then 5 days on, 5 days off, averaging 42 hours per week, and return home to Weipa after each swing.
Key responsibilities include:
- Championing a strong safety culture and ensuring all work is completed in line with Rio Tinto’s safety standards and procedures
- Carrying out planned and reactive maintenance activities within the main workshop
- Fabrication, welding, and repair of components supporting mobile plant, attachments, and ancillary equipment
- Completing quality checking and quality control activities to ensure work meets specification, compliance, and safety requirements
- Reading and interpreting drawings, job scopes, and work instructions
- Performing cutting, gouging, welding, and fabrication across a range of material types
- Supporting continuous improvement initiatives within the workshop environment
- Maintaining accurate work records, inspection outcomes, and job documentation using SAP or similar work management systems
What you’ll bring
- A strong commitment to the safety of yourself and your team
- A recognised trade qualification in Boilermaking / Welding / Fabrication
- A current C‑class driver’s licence
- Experience working in mining, heavy industrial, or workshop maintenance environments
- The ability to communicate effectively and work collaboratively within a team
- Basic computer skills, including experience with Microsoft Word and Excel
- A sense of ownership over equipment and work quality, with a continual improvement mindset
It will be beneficial if you have:
- High Risk Licences such as Forklift, Dogging, Rigging, or Elevated Work Platform
- Confined Space and Working at Heights certifications
- Previous experience in a mine site or heavy maintenance workshop environment
What we offer
Be recognised for your contribution, your thinking, and your hard work — and go home knowing you’ve helped the world progress.
- A permanent residential position working directly for Rio Tinto
- A work environment where safety is always our number one priority
- Competitive base salary reflective of your skills and experience, plus an annual incentive program
- Weipa accommodation benefit
- Remote area allowance
- Remote area holiday travel assistance
- Comprehensive medical benefits, including subsidised private health insurance for employees and immediate family
- Attractive share ownership plan and company‑provided insurance cover
- Extensive salary sacrifice and salary packaging options
- Career development and education assistance to support your technical or leadership ambitions
- Ongoing access to family‑friendly health, wellbeing, and medical support
- Leave for all of life’s reasons (annual, personal, parental, and cultural leave)
- Paid parental leave of up to 18 weeks for all parents, taken at a time that suits your family
- Exclusive employee discounts across banking, accommodation, vehicles, retail, and more
Where you’ll be working
Located on the western coast of the Cape York Peninsula, Weipa Operations includes three bauxite mines, processing facilities, ship loaders, an export wharf, ports, power stations, and supporting infrastructure. The operation produces more than 35 million tonnes of bauxite each year and is supported by a diverse workforce of around 1,900 people.
Living in Weipa offers a relaxed coastal lifestyle, strong community connections, and access to world‑class fishing, camping, and water‑based activities — all while working in a well‑supported, residential mining operation.
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
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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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.
At Rio Tinto, we particularly welcome and encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples, women, the LGBTQIA+ community, mature workers, people with disabilities, and people from different cultural backgrounds.
We are committed to an inclusive environment where people feel comfortable being 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 who we are.
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.
Our application process
01
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.
02
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.
05
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.