Principal Engineer, Metallurgy

Job Purpose

The Principal Metallurgist is the technical authority / SME for metallurgy, responsible for leading metallurgical inputs across the full project lifecycle from early business case evaluation through feasibility study and into execution readiness.

• Provide metallurgical input into project screening, concept evaluation and business case development, including value drivers, recovery assumptions, process routes and economic model inputs.
• Identify key metallurgical risks, opportunities and trade‑offs to support informed decision‑making.
• Define initial process options, conceptual flow sheets, recovery assumptions and mass balances during scoping, while overseeing preliminary metallurgical test work programmes and developing the initial risk register.
• Lead advanced laboratory testing and variability analysis during PFS, including defining grind size, comminution parameters and recovery processes (flotation, leaching, gravity).
• Develop preliminary process design criteria, base flow sheets, mass balances and support trade‑off studies and process optimisation.
• Direct pilot‑scale and variability test work programmes during FS/BFS and finalise process design criteria, equipment sizing, specifications, water and metallurgical balances.
• Approve final flow sheets and design basis ensuring alignment with investment and financing requirements.
• Provide inputs to capital and operating cost estimates and define BFS‑level design parameters and risk mitigation measures.
• Design and oversee end‑to‑end metallurgical test work strategy, including sample selection, compositing, laboratory and pilot programmes.
• Ensure data quality, QA/QC, traceability and alignment of test work with project decision gates.
• Interpret and validate metallurgical results for integration into flow sheets and process development.
• Support and guide processing methodologies (refractory, CIL, flotation, heap leach) while leading investigations to improve efficiency and align with organisational strategy.
• Coach and mentor metallurgical personnel and support optimisation initiatives to enhance competitive advantage.
• Ensure compliance with company and site policies, standards and procedures, recommending improvements where required.
• Provide technical support in metallurgy and processing engineering across affiliates, contributing to development, improvement and effectiveness of corporate policies and standards.
• Support interpretation and implementation of standards and assist corporate SME teams in aligning technical practices.
• Contribute to technical communications, including incident briefings, programmes, initiatives and periodic updates aligned with corporate policies across multiple channels.
• Perform additional duties as assigned by management.

• Bachelor's degree in Metallurgical, Minerals or Chemical Engineering.
• Minimum 20 years experience in metallurgical operations, engineering and laboratory environment related to gold and base metal extraction processes.
• Project management experience.
• Leadership, achievement drive, communication, teamwork, collaboration, analytical thinking competencies.

• Operational leadership and corporate knowledge of life‑of‑mine planning, budgeting and metal planning.
• Knowledge of metallurgical accounting standard.
• Experience with plant control systems and use of data historian trends for operating and reporting.
• Ability to present to and collaborate with corporate executives and site senior leadership teams.
• Strong computer skills – Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Access).
• Knowledge of safety requirements.
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment.

As a technical services functional leader, the Principal Metallurgist will champion change for improvement in all aspects of metal processing, delivering resources in a timely and quality manner, cooperating with other functional areas and contributing to the development, improvement and effectiveness of corporate policies and standards.