Senior Research Engineer (Rio Tinto Minerals)

Rio Tinto Minerals (RTM), part of the Rio Tinto group, has an immediate opening for a Senior Research Engineer that will be based at out pilot plant in Boron, California.

 

Context: 

 

The position of Senior Research Engineer is part of the Pilot Plant team.  A Senior Research Engineer provides advice and assistance to the business unit as a whole, particularly Operations and also Research and Development in Denver to some extent.  The role includes developing processing options and improvements, troubleshooting plant problems, and general Research and Development for new processes.  Work on these projects is often at the request of the Pilot Plant Manager or Operations, but many are initiated by the Senior Research Engineer.  The Senior Research Engineer is responsible for developing the detailed plan for completing these projects.  As time and expertise permits, he may also provide assistance to other Rio Tinto business units on their request.

 

Purpose: 

• Identify and develop ideas for process improvements.
• Develop processes for new products.
• Develop, direct, and execute plans to test proposed processes, from laboratory bench scale through pilot scale to full commercial implementation. 
• Direct teams of technicians, craftsmen, and other engineers on research projects.
• Analyze and interpret data (from experiments or plant operations, for example).
• Provide technical support for other departments.
• Communicate results of work with others inside and outside the department.

Accountabilities: 

• Plan research and experiments - includes reviewing internal / external literature and consulting with other technical staff to set goals and devise action plans.
• Collect and analyze data from experiments - includes acquiring or building equipment and devising experimental methods and procedures.
• Direct technicians - includes training and supervision of personnel carrying out R&D work.
• Coordinate work with Operations - includes setting up procedures for obtaining ores and plant liquor streams needed for pilot-scale projects.
• Write reports, present and interpret results - includes oral presentations, e-mail communication of interim results, etc.
• Consult and provide technical support for other departments (Operations, Environmental, etc.)
• Maintain technical and commercial awareness by attending conferences and reviewing internal and external reports, publications, and patents.
• Find new projects worth working on - includes developing ideas for new or improved products and processes.

Qualifications: 

 

College/University Education: 

• Bachelor's (required) but an advanced degree (MS or PhD) in a relevant engineering discipline such as Chemical, Metallurgical or Mineral Processing is preferred.   

Other Qualifications:

• 5-7 years of progressively responsible experience including supervision of a technical workforce.
• Experience in the mineral industry is a plus

 

Rio Tinto is a global mining and metals group, dedicated to the smartest discovery, extraction and processing of the earth's natural resources.

 

From our operations to our community involvement, everything we do is done with the future firmly in mind.  We're committed to the most sustainable, most efficient and most forward-looking ways to do business and deliver results.  So we reward our employees with a responsible, open and diverse culture of opportunity - a working environment in which they can go further.

Learn more at www.riotinto.com. 

 

 

Rio Tinto Minerals supplies nearly half the world's demand for refined borates from our mine in California, one of the richest deposits on the planet. Borates are essential for plants, part of a healthy human diet, and essential ingredients in building materials that make homes safer and more energy efficient; flat-screen televisions and laptop computers; wind and solar energy systems; and fertilizers that help farmers feed the world. The business also manages a lithium-borate project in Serbia which, if developed, has the potential to supply more than 20 percent of global demand for lithium. Lithium is used in a vast array of products, most notably, batteries for hybrid and electric cars. Our team of 1,300 people works from our operations and offices in Argentina, China, England, France, Germany, Holland, Malaysia, Serbia, Singapore, Spain and the US to serve more than 1,000 customers in 100 countries. We are world leaders in product quality, supply reliability and technical support - the services that create value for customers and differentiate us from competitors. We are also industry leaders in continuously improving how our products and practices contribute to sustainable development. For more information, please visit www.riotintominerals.com.

 

Working along side the team at our Boron, California Operations allows you the opportunity to work in a dynamic and exciting organization with a wide variety of places to make your home.  Only two hours from Los Angeles, the beach and ski slopes, you can choose from big city convenience and country lifestyle.  Most employees live approximately 60 miles from the site in Lancaster, Palmdale, Tehachapi, or Victorville.  These cities all pose a great place to live and work with outstanding lifestyle and career prospects.  For more information, please visit www.cityoflancasterca.org, www.cityofpalmdale.org, www.tehachapicalifornia.com, and www.ci.victorville.ca.us.

 

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