Engineering Specialist

Who We Are

We are a global mining company dedicated to safely delivering nickel, copper, cobalt, and platinum group metals essential for the world’s energy transition.

Our mission is to improve lives and shape a better future together.

From utensils to cellphones to satellites, our operations simplify daily life and enhance connectivity. Our metals are integral to life-saving medical equipment and the electric vehicles driving the fight against climate change – our work truly matters.

The opportunity

We are currently seeking a Specialist Engineer, Life of Asset Planning (LoAP) to join our Research and Development team in Mississauga/Toronto.[Candidates wishing to locate in Sudbury will also be considered]

As a Specialist Engineer – LOAP, you will develop and provide the processing plant inputs for comprehensive Life of Mine (LOM) plans, ensuring the efficient and sustainable extraction of base metals. Your experience and skills will support the optimization of our global processing plants while ensuring compliance with safety, environmental, and regulatory standards.

Additionally, in this position you will:

• Serve as the global expert for processing plant LOAP planning and design considerations.
• Maintain the key processing inputs for the LOAP deliverables including process plant nameplate capacities (operating hours, hourly rates), input and output parameter plans and future changes (concentrate grades, matte grades), process plants limits (major deleterious limits, capacity changes as a function of input materials) and capacity gains expected from future capex plans
• Complete early processing plant trade-off and optimization studies for Vale Base Metals processing plants (e..g determine the optimum concentrate grade balance between the mill and smelter or determine the changes needed to handle increasing deleterious mine elements from future ore bodies)
• Build and maintain first principles consumption/cost models for key process plants
• Interface with plant operations managers and process technology team and research and development personnel
• Conduct technical and economic studies for new practices/processes, including engaging and supervising engineering firms or other external service providers
• Lead ad-hoc cross functional internal teams to define and solve major flowsheet challenges
• Define operational standards and seek new technologies to optimize processes.

Skills:

• A minimum of 8 to 10 years of relevant experience in Process Engineering,
• Strong understanding of process engineering deliverables including flowsheet design and mass/energy balances
• Knowledge in at least two relevant disciplines of metallurgy (e.g. mineral processing, pyrometallurgy, hydrometallurgy or carbonyl processing).
• Proficiency in processing engineering software is beneficial, but not required (e.g. METSIM, or equivalent)
• Advanced excel data analysis and modeling skills.
• Knowledge of operating cost estimation, processing economics and financial modelling.
• Ability to build relationships across multidisciplinary teams.
• Clear communication of complex topics.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Strong facilitation skills with proven ability to lead technical teams.
• Commitment to sustainable results and continuous improvement.

What We Offer You

• Competitive compensation including a variable annual incentive plan
• Participation in a competitive Defined Contribution Pension package
• Comprehensive benefits package (company paid core coverage, health and dental coverage, flex accounts, disability plans and optional insurances)