Senior Advisor OBK Innovation Research
- Great opportunity to apply your knowledge to cutting edge projects
- Permanent employment which includes a huge range of additional benefits
- Domestic relocation assistance provided
About the role
All progress begins with pioneers. At Rio Tinto, it begins with you.
This is a rare opportunity to join a cutting-edge R&D team focused on automation, algorithms and technology for surface mining across Rio Tinto, with a proven track record of delivering innovations into production.
You will join a team working on high value projects that leverage Rio Tinto’s Mine Automation System and the expansive fleet of automated equipment and sensors in the field to improve, integrate and support the best use of geoscientific data and models for the automated mining value chain.
To strive for optimal recovery and responsible resource stewardship, there is a need to dynamically and automatically improve orebody knowledge (OBK) in our production mines. We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated individual to take on the role of Senior Advisor OBK Innovation Research, to focus on research into new and novel techniques that improve OBK – be that dynamic geological modelling, grade estimation, grade control optimisation, geometallurigcal modelling, drill, blast or planning optimisation.
What you will bring
You will apply your experience in a research environment (academic, institute or innovative-industry based) to source and/or develop ideas, and construct and evaluate hypotheses against real-world data to improve the understanding of orebodies using techniques such as machine-learning, optimisation, data science, data and software engineering.
Reporting to the Principal OBK Systems Innovation, you will:
- Bring an interest and enthusiasm for step-change via innovative, technology-backed solutions
- Bring experience in academic or industry research and experimental-based work
- Join a small yet diverse research and development team, including engineers, software developers, and data scientists
- Define, initiate and drive OBK innovation R&D projects for surface mining, applying your ability to understand a problem being faced by a site or business unit
- Work collaboratively with technical experts and practitioners across geoscience, engineering and mining disciplines
- Commit to work in an AGILE/SCRUM based team, with support and training provided as required
This is a Perth-based role, with opportunities to virtually connect within the international network supported by the Safety, Technical and Projects group. With offices in America, Canada and Australia, a worldwide network of partner university centres and 3rd party suppliers, the Surface Mining & Technology group operates within the STP collaborative environment. Travel to operational sites is on an infrequent, ad-hoc basis as required.
To be successfully considered for this role, you will have:
- Higher-level degree (PhD, masters) in an engineering, mathematics or science discipline
- Demonstrated research/experimental capability, with experience in a research setting
- Applied advanced algorithms, ML models and approaches to solving problems in a physical setting – mining, geo-modelling, robotics, machine automation, etc
- Excellent written and oral communication skills
Experience and/or a strong interest in the following are also important:
- Working within an engineering team to deliver results and solutions
- An understanding of geostatistics, or spatial modelling in a related discipline
- Software engineering and software development using AGILE processes
- Software skills in a variety of languages especially python, C++ and SQL
- Understanding of software testing procedures
What we offer
- A work environment where safety is always the number one priority
- A permanent position working directly for Rio Tinto
- A competitive base salary reflective of your skills and experience with annual incentive program
- Comprehensive medical benefits including subsidised private health insurance for employees and immediate family
- Attractive share ownership plan
- Company provided insurance cover
- Extensive salary sacrifice & salary packaging options
- Career development & education assistance to further your technical or leadership ambitions
- Ongoing access to family-friendly health and medical wellbeing support
- Leave for all of life’s reasons (vacation/annual, paid parental, sick leave)
- Exclusive employee discounts (banking, accommodation, cars, retail and more)
- Possible domestic relocation assistance
Where you will be working
The Safety Technical and Projects group operates through the entire life cycle of Rio Tinto’s mines and assets, creating value through exploration, project development and technical excellence. Working in close partnership with all product groups, it focuses on finding safer, smarter and more efficient ways to manage resources and operations.
About Rio Tinto
Every idea, every innovation, every little thing the world calls ‘progress’ begins with a first step, and someone willing to take it: explorers, inventors, entrepreneurs. Pioneers.
For nearly 150 years, Rio Tinto has been a company of pioneers – generations of people spanning the globe, all with the grit and vision to produce materials essential to human progress.
Our iron ore has shaped skylines from Shanghai to Sydney. Our aluminium – the world’s first to be certified “responsible” – helps planes fly and makes cars lighter. Our copper helps wind turbines power cities and our boron helps feed the world, and explore the universe.
Our diamonds help us celebrate the best parts of life.
Every Voice Matters
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.
