Principal Metallurgist

Location

Trail, BC, Canada

Regular Full Time

Hybrid

Teck’s Trail Operations, located in the community of Trail in British Columbia, is one of the world’s largest fully integrated zinc and lead smelting and refining complexes.

Located in the beautiful West Kootenay region of southeastern British Columbia.

Reporting to the Manager, Projects Metallurgy, the Principal Metallurgist provides technical leadership in extractive metallurgy, delivering deep expertise that supports Teck’s operations. The position includes leading all aspects of metallurgical and mineral processing test programs, managing technical staff, and ensuring the timely delivery of high‑quality metallurgical outputs.

As an SME in metallurgy, the Principal Metallurgist establishes and governs metallurgical practices that underpin geo‑metallurgical models, plant design, and technical decision making. The role actively fosters internal and external collaborations to advance core technical competencies, encourage innovation, and remain at the forefront of emerging processing technologies and modelling approaches.

• Be a courageous safety leader, adhere to and sponsor safety and environmental rules and procedures.
• Act as metallurgy SME, providing expert guidance across projects and operations as needed, and driving development and optimization of metallurgical models and processes.
• Define and implement metallurgical best practices to ensure reliable, cost‑effective programs that improve operational efficiency, metallurgical recovery, and overall business value.
• Lead and coordinate metallurgical test programs, overseeing technical staff, contractors, and external partners, to ensure high quality execution and timely delivery.
• Communicate metallurgical study outcomes through high‑quality technical reports and presentations at all organizational levels, ensuring metallurgical data is clearly interpreted and employed to support transparent, evidence‑based decisions.

• Bachelor’s degree in Metallurgical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Materials Engineering, or a related technical field; MSc or PhD is considered an asset.
• Registered Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) under EGBC, or eligible for registration.
• Minimum 15 years of relevant experience in extractive metallurgy and mineral processing (particularly in comminution and flotation), including process optimization, flowsheet development, metallurgical balancing, and laboratory or pilot‑scale test work.
• Demonstrated ability to rapidly learn and integrate current technical ideas through deep critical thinking, strong conceptual understanding, and continuous professional development.
• Clear communicator who fosters robust leadership, collaboration, and trust among operations teams, project participants, and external partners.
• Confirmed ability to support and influence highly collaborative, multi‑disciplinary teams, sharing best practices and driving alignment across operations and projects.
• Strong capability in data interpretation, risk management, and application of critical thinking to make sound, transparent, and defensible metallurgical decisions.

CAD $147,000 - $182,000 per year. The actual amount offered is determined based on the successful candidate’s relevant experience, skills, and competencies and considers internal equity.