Concept Design Specialist, Renewable Energy - Perth, Australia

Concept Design Specialist – Renewable Energy

• Help drive our business towards a greener future

• Provide early-stage engineering support for renewable energy projects

• Be part of a collaborative, creative and innovative team who are working to integrate and optimise the renewable energy program in Western Australia

• Flexible working arrangements such as job share, part time and full time, based in Central Park – Perth CBD

As one of the world’s largest industrial users of energy, Rio Tinto has a unique challenge in the energy transition. The Renewable Energy Western Australia (REWA) team is part of the Rio Tinto Energy & Climate (RTEC) group led by the Chief Decarbonisation Officer. The team leads the renewable energy program within Western Australia by working collaboratively across the business to deliver on our climate commitments while ensuring our business is well positioned for the future low-carbon economy.

Rio Tinto’s iron ore operations include an electrical network of 1,000km of transmission lines, multiple 220kV substations, gas turbine generators, solar generation and battery storage feeding mines across the Pilbara region.

About the role

We are looking for a collaborative and talented Concept Design Specialist to complete early-stage engineering designs to support Concept, Order of Magnitude and Pre-feasibility studies for projects which include wind and solar generation, battery storage, substation, transmission and high voltage switchyard designs to connect renewable energy projects to our transmission system.  

Reporting to the Engineering Manager working as part of a dynamic and exciting team, you will be:

• Leading engineering design and identifying concept design solutions to ensure a safe, secure and reliable power system is maintained throughout the renewable energy transition.

• Shaping and developing robust concept solar PV, BESS or wind designs according to budgets, schedules and quality.

• Demonstrating trust and teamwork to optimise designs and technical configurations in conjunction with the REWA team, Iron Ore product group, functional support groups and utility teams.

• Reviewing, directing and technical assurance of consultant deliverables to support study teams on various renewable projects.

• Ensuring all approval processes are followed and designs compliant with Rio Tinto standards and industry best practice.

• Developing engineering scopes of work, collating and incorporating lessons learned, drafting and review of major equipment specifications and technical specifications.

About You

• Innovative mindset with experience in solar and wind farm electrical design and associated renewable energy modelling software tools, such as OpenWind, WindPRO, PVSyst, PlantPredict, HST, AutoCAD, 3D Modelling and ArcGIS. 

• Experience with integrating renewable energy projects to transmission networks, considering grid connection and operations.

• Experience with solar and wind farm project evaluation and facilitating handover of concept design and development work for early-stage study phases.

• High levels of accuracy and attention to detail, strong report writing skills and the effective use of graphical information.

• Ability to build and maintain effective relationships across all levels of the business

• Preference to have a tertiary qualification in electrical or related discipline.

What we offer

Be recognised 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

• A culture that is supportive of flexible working options

• 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

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.

Every Voice MattersAt 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.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.