Comminution Specialist

Ausenco is a fast-growing company with big ideas. We redefine what’s possible in some of the world’s most complex projects and toughest environments.

Delivering innovative, value-add consulting, project delivery, asset operations and maintenance solutions is what we do. From 26 offices in 15 countries, with projects in over 80 locations worldwide, we create sustainable outcomes for our people, clients, and communities.

At this time, we are seeking a Comminution Specialist to join our Consulting Services team and lead comminution‑related work across our North American study portfolio. This is a senior technical specialist role for a recognised authority in comminution circuit design and optimisation — someone clients and project teams turn to for an independent, defensible view on crushing and grinding circuit selection, sizing, and performance.

You will lead comminution studies from scoping through to feasibility‑level deliverables, working alongside process engineers, geometallurgists, and project managers to ensure comminution circuit decisions are technically sound, appropriately risk‑adjusted, and aligned with each project's economic drivers. You will also act as a technical reviewer and mentor across the wider process team, raising the standard of comminution work across our North American studies.

• Lead comminution circuit design and optimisation studies (scoping, pre‑feasibility, and feasibility level) for North American projects, including greenfield circuit selection and brownfield/expansion optimisation.
• Direct and interpret ore characterisation test work programs, selecting appropriate methodologies (e.g. Bond ball and rod mill work index, SMC/SAG mill comminution testing, JK Drop Weight, abrasion and crusher work indices, point load testing) based on project stage, ore variability, and study objectives.
• Apply and critically evaluate comminution models (e.g. JKSimMet,  methodologies, Bond‑based sizing, DEM‑based approaches) to size and simulate crushing, HPGR, SAG, ball, and vertical/stirred milling circuits.
• Lead technical evaluations and trade‑off studies comparing circuit configurations (e.g. SABC vs. crush‑HPGR‑ball, conventional vs. stirred fine grinding) on the basis of capital cost, operating cost, energy intensity, throughput risk, and ore variability.
• Contribute comminution expertise to broader flowsheet development, geometallurgical program design, and energy/carbon footprint assessments.
• Provide technical review, quality assurance, and mentoring for comminution deliverables prepared by project teams across North America.
• Support business development activities, including technical proposal input, client presentations, and scoping discussions.
• Represent Ausenco's comminution capability externally through conference papers, industry associations, and client relationships, maintaining and building Ausenco's reputation as a trusted technical authority in this field.
• Stay current with emerging comminution technologies, testing methods, and modelling approaches, and help embed relevant advances into Ausenco's standard practice.

• Minimum 10 years' experience in comminution, spanning operations, engineering, or a combination of both
• Recognised as a leading consultant or subject matter expert in comminution circuit design and optimisation, with a track record of technical leadership on studies of increasing scale and complexity.
• Deep, hands‑on familiarity with a broad range of comminution models and simulation platforms, and with the ore characterisation methods and test technologies that feed them.
• Strong grounding in the economic and risk trade‑offs behind circuit selection decisions, and the ability to communicate technical recommendations clearly to…