Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Tailings Process Engineer

🎯 Role Definition

Are you a forward-thinking engineer passionate about shaping the future of sustainable mining? We're on the lookout for a dedicated and experienced Tailings Process Engineer to join our dynamic technical services team. In this critical role, you will be the go-to expert for all process-related aspects of our tailings and water management systems. You will apply your deep technical knowledge to optimize current operations, steward new projects from design to commissioning, and champion the implementation of global best practices, including the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM). This position demands a unique blend of process engineering, geotechnical awareness, and environmental stewardship to ensure our operations are safe, efficient, and responsible.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Junior/Intermediate Process Engineer
Plant Metallurgist
Geotechnical Engineer-in-Training

Advancement To:

Senior Tailings Engineer / Tailings Superintendent
Manager, Tailings & Water Management
Chief Metallurgist

Lateral Moves:

Water Resources Engineer
Senior Environmental Engineer
Senior Project Engineer

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Develop, manage, and continuously optimize tailings deposition plans, including beach slope management, water pond control, and depositional sequencing to ensure long-term facility stability and capacity utilization.
Provide technical oversight and performance analysis of tailings dewatering circuits, such as thickeners and filtration plants, to achieve target slurry densities and maximize water recovery.
Conduct and maintain comprehensive water balance models for the entire tailings management system, forecasting water inventories, and identifying operational risks or opportunities related to surplus/deficit scenarios.
Serve as the technical lead for the design, construction, and commissioning of new tailings storage facilities (TSFs), expansions, and associated infrastructure like pipelines, pump stations, and decant structures.
Implement and manage robust surveillance and monitoring programs, including the review of instrumentation data (piezometers, inclinometers, GPS hubs), to assess dam performance and ensure compliance with design intent and safety standards.
Lead and participate in formal risk assessments, such as Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA) and bow-tie analysis, for all aspects of tailings operations and dam safety.
Act as a key technical resource and driver for the site's implementation of and conformance with the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM).
Prepare, review, and update critical technical documentation, including Operations, Maintenance, and Surveillance (OMS) manuals, Emergency Response Plans (ERPs), and annual dam safety performance reports.
Collaborate closely with geotechnical engineers to interpret monitoring data, evaluate physical stability analyses, and recommend corrective actions to mitigate potential geohazards.
Develop and manage operational and capital budgets for tailings management, diligently tracking costs and identifying opportunities for efficiency improvements without compromising safety or environmental commitments.
Interface with regulatory agencies to support permitting efforts for TSF modifications, expansions, and closure planning, ensuring all technical submissions are accurate, complete, and robust.
Champion continuous improvement projects focused on innovative tailings technologies, including paste/thickened tailings, filtered tailings, and co-disposal methods to reduce environmental footprint.
Analyze metallurgical process data to understand the impact of ore variability and plant performance on tailings characteristics such as particle size distribution, mineralogy, and rheology.
Provide process engineering support for tailings reclamation and closure activities, ensuring long-term landform stability and sustainable post-mining land use.
Oversee the planning and execution of geotechnical and hydrogeological site investigation programs required to characterize foundation conditions and support TSF design and risk analysis.
Develop and deliver targeted training programs for operations personnel on best practices for tailings deposition, water management, instrumentation monitoring, and emergency response procedures.
Manage external engineering consultants and contractors by defining clear scopes of work, reviewing technical deliverables, and ensuring quality, budget, and schedule adherence.
Conduct regular site inspections and formal audits of the TSF and related facilities to verify compliance with design, operational procedures, and regulatory requirements.
Utilize process and deposition modeling software (e.g., GoldSim, Muk3D, FlowJo) to simulate operational scenarios, predict tailings behavior, and optimize life-of-mine strategies.
Lead or participate in comprehensive incident investigations related to tailings management, identifying root causes and implementing effective corrective and preventative actions to prevent recurrence.
Evaluate and recommend new technologies for tailings management and water treatment, focusing on water conservation, footprint reduction, and enhanced physical and chemical stability.
Coordinate with the mine planning and geology departments to ensure the Life of Mine (LOM) plan is fully integrated with the long-term tailings and water management strategy.

Secondary Functions

Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis for operational performance and management reporting.
Contribute to the organization's overarching water stewardship and environmental strategy.
Collaborate with cross-functional business units (Mine Operations, Processing, Environmental) to translate data needs into actionable engineering requirements.
Participate in site-wide safety meetings, risk assessments, and agile project management ceremonies.
Mentor junior engineers and technical staff within the technical services department, fostering professional growth.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Deep expertise in tailings and water management principles, including slurry transport, rheology, thickening, filtration, and depositional mechanics.
Proficiency in water balance and/or process modeling software (e.g., GoldSim, METSIM, Bruno).
Strong working knowledge of geotechnical engineering concepts related to dam stability, seepage analysis, liquefaction, and soil mechanics.
Comprehensive understanding of the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM) and other relevant guidelines (e.g., CDA, ANCOLD, MAC).
Demonstrable experience in TSF design, construction quality assurance (CQA), operation, and closure planning.
Competency with mine planning, CAD, or specialized tailings deposition modeling software (e.g., Muk3D, Deswik, Civil 3D).
Advanced data analysis capabilities and familiarity with process data historians and analysis tools (e.g., OSIsoft PI, Power BI).
Understanding of hydrogeology and surface water hydrology as they apply to mine site water management.
Knowledge of mineral processing and metallurgical principles to predict and manage their impact on tailings characteristics.
Proven project management skills, including scope definition, cost control, scheduling, and contractor management.

Soft Skills

Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills with a first-principles thinking approach.
Superior written and verbal communication skills, capable of presenting complex technical information to diverse audiences.
A highly collaborative mindset with the ability to build relationships and work effectively across multi-disciplinary teams.
Strong leadership and influencing skills to drive a proactive safety and environmental culture.
Meticulous attention to detail and a commitment to producing high-quality, defensible work.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in a relevant engineering discipline.

Preferred Education:

Master of Science (M.S.) in a relevant engineering discipline.
Professional Engineer (P.Eng. / P.E.) designation or eligibility for registration.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Mining Engineering
Civil or Geotechnical Engineering
Metallurgical or Chemical Engineering
Environmental Engineering

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

5-10 years of progressive experience in tailings management, mineral processing, or geotechnical engineering within the mining or heavy civil industry.

Preferred:

Direct experience at an operating mine site with hands-on responsibility for a Tailings Storage Facility.
Experience with thickened, paste, or filtered tailings systems is considered a significant asset.
Proven experience in a role with direct exposure to dam safety programs and regulatory interaction.