Chief Systems Engineer

Chief Systems Engineer

• Join our leading global business, offering outstanding personal development & global career opportunities
• Diverse & challenging projects
• Permanent role based at a Rio Tinto Hub including Salt Lake, Montreal, London, Brisbane or Perth

About the Role

Finding better ways to provide the materials the world needs.

Rio Tinto is seeking a highly experienced Chief Systems Engineer to join the Office of the Chief Scientist. This new role will have a Group-wide remit across all business areas and geographies. The ideal candidate will be responsible for providing technical leadership on how to apply advanced systems thinking and approaches to Rio Tinto's global mining and metals operations, and how to affect positive change in a complex organization. This role will require a strong understanding of systems engineering principles and applying these to mining and metal operations.

Working in a collaborative community within the Office of the Chief Scientist, you will be:

• The global leader for systems engineering at Rio Tinto
• Providing technical leadership in the application of advanced systems engineering principles and solutions to Rio Tinto’s Metals and Mining Operations and Projects. – helping to shape the Rio Tinto of the future
• Applying the principles of systems engineering to take a more holistic and long-term view of value, incorporating financial, carbon and other sustainability and community considerations
• Developing and leading implementation of strategies to optimize Rio Tinto's operational performance in-line with company’s core priorities of "Best operator", Impeccable ESG", "Excel in development" and "Social license"
• Developing and mentoring technical employees, building technical capabilities, and fostering a culture of innovation and continuous improvement
• Integrating pockets of systems expertise that exist across the company by building, fostering and leading a global Community of Practice for systems engineering 
• Building strong relationships with key stakeholders, including senior management, technical teams, and external partners
• Collaborating with cross-functional teams to identify opportunities for system improvements and optimization
• Assuring that the systems engineering approach is deeply embedded in projects from concept to implementation.
• Developing and maintaining systems engineering standards and guidelines to ensure consistency across existing operations and future projects
• Keeping abreast of emerging technologies and industry trends to identify opportunities for innovation and continuous improvement

What You’ll Bring

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or a related field
• 20+ years of experience in engineering for complex systems, technical strategy and leadership is a requirement (preferably with a focus on the resource sector or heavy industries, but not essential)
• Strong understanding of systems engineering principles and methodologies
• Proven experience in leading complex major engineering projects from concept to implementation
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to effectively collaborate with cross-functional teams
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a demonstrated ability to identify and mitigate risks
• Experience in working in complex organizations with challenging work cultures
• Experience in mentoring technical staff and building technical capabilities
• Experience with software and hardware systems used in mining operations is desired but not essential
• Experience with automation, artificial intelligence, and machine learning technologies would be helpful but not essential

What We Offer

Be recognized for your contribution, you’re 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
• 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 subsidized private health insurance for employees and immediate family
• Attractive share ownership plan
• Company provided insurance cover
• 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)

Where You’ll be Working

The Office of the Chief Scientist oversees the generation and management of a significant pipeline of technology projects, delivered at speed to create value for the group. The team is part of the Development and Technology (D&T) group, which partners with Rio Tinto businesses to help create value, manage risk, and innovate for the future.

At the Office of the Chief Scientist, we source and introduce new science, technology, and expertise to solve challenges and identify new opportunities. We accelerate value delivery from the many technology solutions being progressed.  Our focus is on the future, with a group technology roadmap to get us there underpinned by strong technology packaging and replication. We collaborate with business groups to support an inclusive R&D culture, framework and governance. We also drive skills and capability development across the group. We believe that Technology and R&D, and innovation more broadly, drives a competitive advantage for Rio Tinto.

About Rio Tinto

Rio 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 almost 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 and meet opportunities. 

Every Voice Matters 

We are committed to an inclusive environment where people feel comfortable to be themselves. We want our people to feel that all voices are heard, all cultures respected and that a variety of perspectives are not only welcome – they are essential to our success. We treat each other fairly and with dignity regardless of race, gender, nationality, ethnic origin, religion, age, sexual orientation or anything else that makes us different.