Senior Adviser Engineering

An inclusive environment for all
We are committed to creating an inclusive environment where employees feel comfortable being themselves. We also want everyone to feel that their voices matter, that all cultures are respected, and that perspectives, as diverse as they are, are not only welcome, but essential to our success. We treat each other fairly and with dignity, regardless of race, gender, nationality, ethnicity, religion, age, sexual orientation or any other distinguishing aspect.

At Rio Tinto, we welcome and encourage applications from women, older workers, persons with disabilities and representatives from diverse backgrounds.

Everyone is different, and we believe that these differences are our strength. The diversity of skills, life experiences, and perspectives within our team enhances the way we work and our ability to succeed together.

About the role

The Senior Advisor Engineering provides technical leadership in reliability engineering, asset integrity, functional safety, and risk management across the Fixed Plant operation. The role is responsible for ensuring critical assets and safety systems perform as designed, supporting safe, reliable, and sustainable plant operations.

The position will leverage best practices from Rio Tinto Iron Ore (RTIO) environments. The role plays a key part in establishing world-class operational standards, critical control effectiveness, and engineering governance during the reliable ramp up of Simandou operations.

Key Accountabilities

Reliability & Asset Performance

• Lead reliability improvement initiatives across Fixed Plant assets.
• Develop and optimize maintenance strategies for critical equipment.
• Facilitate Root Cause Analysis (RCA) investigations for significant failures.
• Drive defect elimination programs and reliability improvement projects.
• Monitor and improve asset performance through:
  • Availability
  • MTBF
  • MTTR
  • OEE
  • Maintenance compliance
• Support condition monitoring and predictive maintenance initiatives.
• Develop long-term asset management and equipment replacement strategies.

Functional Safety Governance

• Act as custodian of the site Functional Safety Management System.
• Ensure compliance with Rio Tinto Functional Safety Standard and lifecycle requirements.
• Maintain governance processes for Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS), Safety PLCs, Emergency Shutdown Systems (ESD), Fire & Gas Systems, and critical machine protection systems.
• Lead periodic Functional Safety audits, assessments, and compliance reviews.
• Participate in Functional Safety Assessments (FSA) throughout project and operational lifecycle phases.

Risk Management & Critical Controls

• Facilitate and review HAZOP, LOPA, Bowtie, SIL determination, and risk assessments.
• Verify that identified critical controls are effectively implemented and maintained.
• Ensure alignment between Major Hazard Management Plans and Functional Safety requirements.
• Support investigations involving critical control failures and high-potential incidents.

Safety Lifecycle Management

• Manage the Functional Safety lifecycle from concept through decommissioning.
• Ensure Safety Requirement Specifications (SRS) are developed, maintained, and validated.
• Review modifications through Management of Change (MOC) processes.
• Verify competency requirements for personnel involved in safety-related systems.
• Lead periodic proof-testing reviews and optimization programs.

Asset Reliability & Integrity

• Establish strategies for sustaining integrity of safety-critical assets.
• Monitor proof test compliance, demand rates, bypasses, overrides, and impairment management.
• Ensure preventive maintenance and inspection programs support required SIL performance.
• Drive continuous improvement through analysis of system failures and lessons

Coaching and Capability Development

• Develop Functional Safety capability across engineering, maintenance, and operations teams.
• Deliver awareness and competency training programs.
• Mentor engineers and planners in application of Functional Safety principles.
• Build site-wide understanding of critical control verification and performance monitoring.

Minimum Qualifications

• Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical, Mechatronics, Process Control, or equivalent.

• TÜV Functional Safety Engineer/Professional.
• Exida Functional Safety Practitioner.
• Certified Risk Management or Process Safety qualification.

• 10+ years' experience in mining, minerals processing, oil & gas, heavy industry, or similar high-hazard environments.

• Extensive experience in Asset management, Functional Safety Lifecycle Management, process safety, or control systems engineering.

• Demonstrated experience within Rio Tinto Iron Ore
• Demonstrates Courage, Care and Curiosity.
• Challenges unsafe conditions and ineffective controls.
• Uses data and risk-based decision making.
• Drives visible field engagement and verification of critical controls.
• English Speaker, French is advantageous

What we offer

Get recognition for your contributions, your ability to think, your hard work, and the satisfaction of knowing that you have helped the world move forward.

• Work environment where safety is always the top priority
• Competitive base salary based on your skills and experience
• Annual cash incentives for eligible employees
• Career development opportunities and training assistance to achieve your aspirations • Access to family-friendly health programs, top-notch retirement and savings plans
• Wellness benefits
• Rio Tinto's generous employee stock ownership plan
• Employee Assistance Program
• One-on-one wellness support (personal and professional matters) for you and your family
• Comprehensive leave policy covering all important life moments (vacation/annual, paid parental leave, etc.)  
   

About the Simandou Project
The Simandou Iron Ore Project is located in the Republic of Guinea, West Africa. It is Africa’s largest infrastructure and mining project and represents one of the largest known reserves of high-grade iron ore in the world.

Rio Tinto holds rights to Simandou Blocks 3 and 4 through SimFer, a joint venture between the Government of the Republic of Guinea, Rio Tinto and Chalco Iron Ore Holdings (CIOH). Construction of the mine, together with the associated rail and port infrastructure, is well underway with first production from the SimFer mine expected in 2025.

About Rio Tinto
Rio Tinto is a global leader in the mining and materials companies. We are established in 35 countries where we produce iron ore, copper, aluminum, critical minerals, and other materials needed for the global energy transition and the prosperity of people, communities, and nations. We have been in business for 150 years, drawing on knowledge accumulated over generations and on different continents. Our mission – to find better ways to provide the materials the world needs – guides us in our quest for innovation and continuous improvement, with the goal of making products that are low in emissions and meet the right environmental, social and governance standards. But because we can't do it alone, we focus on creating partnerships that allow us to solve problems, create mutually beneficial situations and seize opportunities.