What are the responsibilities and job description for the Underground Geotechnical Technician - Kennecott Copper position at Rio Tinto?
- Work at a world-class copper mine, supporting the development of underground mining at Rio Tinto Kennecott, Salt Lake City
- Be home every night, with the rare opportunity to enjoy more time with the people, places, and activities that matter most to you and your family
- Competitive pay and benefits, alongside long-term job security and career development in a global mining company
We’re Finding Better Ways™ to provide the materials the world needs, now and in the future. Our values – care, courage and curiosity – guide how we work and how we treat each other.
About The Role
We are looking for an Underground Geotechnical Technician to support the development of underground mining at Bingham Canyon. This is a field-based role focused on ground support quality assurance and quality control, with much of the work performed underground in a hands-on, operational environment.
Reporting to the Senior Geotechnical Engineer, 8 days on, 6 days off on a rotating roster and working collaboratively with operational and functional teams, you will be responsible for
- Tracking sampling compliance and completing strength testing for shotcrete and cemented rock fill
- Completing rock-bolt pull testing in an underground environment
- Installing and overseeing geotechnical monitoring equipment
- Troubleshooting geotechnical monitoring hardware
- Maintaining QAQC data in relevant systems and producing monthly reports
- Supporting geotechnical engineers with underground inspections, monitoring, and related technical tasks
- Overseeing calibration of geotechnical monitoring and testing equipment
- Completing other duties as assigned
- A commitment to the safety of yourself and your team
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Ability to work safely in a physically demanding, hands-on underground mining environment
- Strong communication skills, including the ability to prepare technical reports and present information to a range of stakeholders
- Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to identify and communicate practical technical solutions
- Ability to work effectively in cross-functional and multi-disciplinary teams
- It will also be beneficial if you have
- Underground mining experience
- Post-secondary education in a technical discipline
- Experience using Microsoft Excel, Deswik, Vulcan, or similar 3D modelling software
- Minor electrical wiring skills or experience connecting sensors
Even if your experience doesn’t align perfectly, we encourage you to apply — transferable skills and the right attitude are highly valued.
What We Offer
- A work environment where safety is always the number one priority.
- Competitive base salary reflective of your skills and experience with an annual incentive bonus.
- Access to top-tier family-friendly health programs including medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, life insurance coverage, and various voluntary benefits.
- Excellent retirement plan including up to 6% defined company contribution; Generous 401k matching program.
- Attractive share ownership plan.
- Comprehensive leave policies which cover all the moments that matter in life PTO (paid time off), paid holidays, and paid bereavement leave.
- A generous parental leave policy, which ensures you’re able to spend quality time with your new family.
- Discount programs for leisure purposes and access to Virgin Pulse with incentives supporting your wellbeing.
- Access to our Employee Assistance Program (EAP), which provides confidential counselling or expert guidance for you and your family to help get through life’s challenges.
Our Kennecott mine is a world-class, fully integrated copper mining operation, including a concentrator, smelter, and refinery, located just outside Salt Lake City, Utah, in the United States. We produce copper, precious metals including gold and silver, molybdenum, and sulfuric acid. Kennecott has been mining and processing minerals from the rich ore body of the Bingham Canyon Mine since 1903 and is one of the top producing mines in the world, comprising approximately 11 percent of U.S. annual copper production.
About Rio Tinto
Rio Tinto is a leading global mining and materials company. We operate in 35 countries where we produce iron ore, copper, aluminium, critical minerals, and other materials needed for the global energy transition and for people, communities, and nations to thrive.
We have been mining for 150 years and operate with knowledge built up across generations and continents. Our purpose is finding better ways to provide the materials the world needs – striving for innovation and continuous improvement to produce materials with low emissions and to the right environmental, social and governance standards. But we can’t do it on our own, so we’re focused on creating partnerships to solve problems, create win-win situations and meet opportunities.
Respect and Inclusion
Rio Tinto is committed to equal employment opportunity. All qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, sex, age, religion, national origin, disability, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.
We are committed to an inclusive environment where people feel safe, respected and valued. We want our people to feel that all voices are heard and that a variety of perspectives are not only welcome but are essential to our success. We treat all our people fairly and with dignity.
Rio Tinto participates in E- Verify to confirm work authorization. Please visit http //www.ucis.gov/ for more information.