Process Engineer

About

The Process Engineer provides critical metallurgical and process engineering support to ensure the safe, stable and cost-efficient operation of the zinc concentrator. This role is responsible for driving process optimisation, improving recovery and concentrate quality, and enhancing operational discipline across key processing areas including crushing, grinding, flotation, thickening, filtration, water circuits and the tailings interface. The successful candidate will play a key role in supporting commissioning, ramp-up and steady-state operations, while ensuring alignment with safety, environmental and operational standards.

Duties & Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities:

Process Optimisation & Control

• Monitor and continuously optimise plant performance across all processing circuits
• Define and maintain operating ranges for critical process parameters
• Analyse plant performance and identify opportunities for improvement
• Identify process constraints and implement sustainable optimisation initiatives
• Support enhancements to control strategies to improve overall stability
• Assess ore variability and its impact on plant performance
• Drive short interval control and implement corrective actions

Metallurgical Performance

• Maximise zinc recovery and ensure consistent concentrate quality
• Minimise process losses, dilution and re-circulating loads
• Monitor and reduce zinc losses to tailings
• Maintain high standards of metallurgical accounting and sampling integrity
• Support quality control of final concentrate
• Collaborate with geology and mining teams on ore variability and blending strategies

Data Analysis & Reporting

• Gather, interpret and analyse metallurgical and process data
• Perform mass balance and water balance calculations
• Develop trend analyses to support decision-making
• Compile and deliver regular performance reports
• Monitor KPIs and leading indicators
• Translate data insights into actionable operational improvements

Test Work & Continuous Improvement

• Design and execute plant test work programmes
• Evaluate and optimise reagent schemes and processing technologies
• Support debottlenecking and process efficiency initiatives
• Drive a culture of continuous improvement

Safety, Health & Environment (SHE)

• Ensure compliance with MHSA and site-specific safety standards
• Identify, assess and mitigate operational risks
• Support SOP development, risk assessments and Management of Change (MOC) processes
• Maintain environmental compliance across operations

Operational Support

• Provide hands-on technical support to plant operations
• Troubleshoot process issues and implement solutions
• Support plant shutdowns, start-ups and ramp-up phases
• Collaborate with maintenance and reliability teams
• Participate in daily and weekly production meetings
• Reinforce metallurgical discipline across shifts

Projects & Commissioning

• Support commissioning activities (C3–C5 phases)
• Contribute technical input to projects and plant modifications
• Review process flow diagrams (PFDs), P&IDs and control philosophies
• Support plant performance testing and handover processes
• Liaise with OEMs, contractors and external consultants

Training & Knowledge Transfer

• Train and mentor operators and supervisors
• Develop and maintain operating procedures and technical documentation
• Promote process understanding and best practices across the plant

Job Experience & Skills Required (Ideal Candidate Profile)

• Degree in Metallurgical, Chemical or Process Engineering
• 3–6 years’ experience in mineral processing operations
• Strong understanding of flotation processes
• Proven analytical and problem-solving capability