Graduate Mining Engineer

If you want to drive real change, we have just the place to do it. Our Graduate Program is an opportunity for you to shape Rio Tinto from the inside out. We want you to be part of our leading global company to help take us forward by solving the emerging challenges of our time. At Rio Tinto, we believe the best ideas come from bringing people together with different perspectives to work toward a common goal - to create a better tomorrow.

About the role

Finding better ways™ to provide the materials the world needs.

We're looking for graduates from a range of degrees for different areas across our business. This requisition is for a role of Graduate Mining Engineer based Rio Tinto Kennecott in Salt Lake City, Utah.

We are an open, connected international team of technical specialists using some of the most exciting data and tools on the planet. We are the world leader in automation and smart mining. We have technical development programs that are industry-leading and recognize the unique nature of your role. These provide opportunities to grow your career through a dedicated technical path while being rewarded for your unique skills.

Working in a collaborative community, you will:

Join a supportive and experienced team where you will build a broad foundation in underground mining engineering through technical assignments, operational exposure, mentoring, and practical learning.

As a Graduate Underground Mining Engineer, you will:

• Develop the ability to communicate technical information clearly and effectively to a broad range of stakeholders, including operators, supervisors, technical specialists, contractors, senior leaders, and other business functions.

• Work cohesively within multidisciplinary teams, contributing your ideas, listening to different perspectives, and supporting the team in delivering safe and practical outcomes.

• Remain curious and open to learning, actively seeking feedback, asking questions, and applying new knowledge as you progress through the graduate program.

• Gain exposure to core underground mining engineering disciplines, including:

  • Mine planning and Scheduling
  • Mine Design using 3D CAD
  • Underground Mine Ventilation
  • Drill & Blast
  • Mine Surveying
  • Backfill Planning and Management
  • Production analysis, reconciliation, and continuous improvement

• Use mine planning, scheduling, and 3D design tools to help develop safe, practical, and optimized mine designs and schedules.

• Work closely with Operations to ensure that engineering plans are safe, achievable, clearly understood, and aligned with operational priorities.

• Spend time in operational areas to develop a practical understanding of underground mining activities, equipment, work processes, and the challenges faced by frontline teams.

• Participate in structured graduate development activities, including leadership simulations, masterclasses, coaching, networking, collaborative innovation challenges, and digital learning.

What you’ll bring

• A strong and visible commitment to the safety of yourself and your team.
• A bachelor’s or master’s degree in Mining Engineering or a closely related field.
• To be eligible for the Graduate Program, you must have completed your studies in 2025 or 2026, or be working toward graduation in 2027.
• Less than two years of relevant work experience, including local and international experience.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage with stakeholders at different levels of the organization.
• The ability to work cohesively and respectfully within a team, including with people from different technical disciplines, operational backgrounds, and levels of experience.
• A genuine eagerness to learn and a willingness to ask questions, seek feedback, and remain open to new ideas and different ways of working.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills, with the ability to balance technical detail with safe and practical outcomes.
• Initiative, accountability, and the willingness to take ownership of assigned work while seeking support when required.
• Flexibility and autonomy, including the ability to adapt to changing operational priorities and work across different technical areas.

*To be eligible, you must have the right to work full-time in the United States and have a valid driver’s license.

What we offer

Be recognized for your contribution, your thinking and your hard work, and go home knowing you’ve helped the world progress.

• 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 global Graduate Development Program is designed to prepare the leaders of the future through a series of engaging, progressive and future skills activities. Visit our webpage for a detailed overview of our program.

Where you will be working

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.

*Rio Tinto reserves the right to remove job postings as there is enough applicants, therefore, if you are interested in applying for this vacancy, please submit your application as soon as possible.

#Graduate

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.