If you want to drive real change, we have just the place to do it. Our Graduate Program is an opportunity for you to shape Rio Tinto from the inside out. We want you to be part of our leading global company to help take us forward by solving the emerging challenges of our time. At Rio Tinto, we believe the best ideas come from bringing people together with different perspectives to work toward a common goal - to create a better tomorrow.
About the roleFinding better ways to provide the materials the world needs.We're looking for graduates from a range of degrees for different areas across our business. This requisition is for a role of Graduate Process Engineer based at Rio Tinto Kennecott in Salt Lake City, Utah.
We are an open, connected international team of technical specialists using some of the most exciting data and tools on the planet. We are the world leader in automation and smart mining. We have technical development programs that are industry-leading and recognize the unique nature of your role. These provide opportunities to grow your career through a dedicated technical path while being rewarded for your unique skills.
Working in a collaborative community, you will be:- Monitor daily Smelter or Refinery plant performance (e.g., heat and mass balance, recoveries, energy use, throughput).
- Completing routine safety interactions with front line workers for different work fronts across the concentrator.
- Troubleshoot daily process issues by identifying root causes and implementing effective actions to restore stable and efficient operation
- Identifying areas for improvement in day to day processing by working with the processing technical team to complete projects.
- Working with the control room and production operations to understand and report on downtime events.
- Assist in scoping and executing small engineering projects to improve process stability, equipment reliability, and production capacity.
- Compile and interpret plant-performance data, KPIs, and metallurgical accounting information.
- Complete rotation assignments (if applicable) across areas such as Flash Furnace, Acid Plant, Anode Furnace, Tankhouse, Precious Metals, Slag Milling/Flotation or Hydrometallurgy
- Present findings to the operations team and contribute to weekly, monthly, and quarterly reports.
- Present findings to the operations team and contribute to weekly, monthly, and quarterly reports.
- Learning and implementing the Rio Tinto Safe Production System across the concentrator.
- Joining us as a Graduate, you'll experience our innovative, future focused Development Program where you will:
- Learn fundamental leadership skills by leading a virtual team through a gamified leadership simulation
- Challenge your thinking and gain outside perspective from futurists and external thought leaders
- Acquire a toolkit focused on future skills to inspire innovation and creativity through a series of masterclasses
- Team up with graduate colleagues to innovate solutions for future business and world challenges
- Grow your leadership skills with 1-1 coaching sessions with an experienced external coach
- Network with our senior leaders and subject matter experts
- Access world-class digital learning.
What you'll bring- A commitment to the safety of yourself and your team
- To be eligible for the Graduate program, you must have completed your studies within the last two years (2025, 2026) or working towards graduation in 2027.
- Bachelor or master's degree in Metallurgical, Mineral Process or Chemical Engineering, or other related field
- Less than two years of relevant work experience (local and international)
- Leadership skills, eagerness to learn and ready for the challenge ahead
- Flexibility and autonomy
- Good communication skills and ability to work in a team
- Valid driving license
- Experience in Vulcan and/or Leapfrog software is preferred
*To be eligible, you must have the right to work full-time in the United States.
What we offer Be recognized for your contribution, your thinking and your hard work, and go home knowing you've helped the world progress.
- A work environment where safety is always the number one priority.
- Competitive base salary reflective of your skills and experience with an annual incentive bonus.
- 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.
- Attractive share ownership plan.
- Comprehensive leave policies which cover all the moments that matter in life: PTO (paid time off), paid holidays, and paid bereavement leave.
- A generous parental leave policy, which ensures you're able to spend quality time with your new family.
- Discount programs for leisure purposes and access to Virgin Pulse with incentives supporting your wellbeing.
- Access to our Employee Assistance Program (EAP), which provides confidential counselling or expert guidance for you and your family to help get through life's challenges.
Our global Graduate Development Program is designed to prepare the leaders of the future through a series of engaging, progressive and future skills activities. Visit our webpage for a detailed overview of our program.
Where you will be workingOur 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.
*Rio Tinto reserves the right to remove job postings as there is enough applicants, therefore, if you are interested in applying for this vacancy, please submit your application as soon as possible.
#Graduate About Rio TintoRio 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 InclusionRio 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 for more information.
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