Engineering Manager - Jinidi Project

Join BHP's WA Major Projects team on the Jinidi Project, a major greenfield iron ore development and key part of WAIO's future growth. This senior Engineering Manager role will shape the project's engineering strategy, delivery model and technical direction through its early study phase, leading major trade-off decisions, EPC/EPCM strategy, procurement planning and execution readiness across mining, materials handling, rail and supporting infrastructure.

Engineering Manager - Major Projects

BHP | WA Major Projects | Perth
Long-term Contract | Competitive hourly rate negotiable depending on experience

The Opportunity

BHP's WA Major Projects team is seeking an experienced Engineering Manager to join the Jinidi Project, a major greenfield iron ore development and a key part of WAIO's future growth.

Jinidi combines the scale of a new mine with a significant integrated infrastructure development, encompassing mine development, crushing and ore handling facilities, rail infrastructure, autonomous haulage systems, non-process infrastructure, accommodation, utilities and a new rail spur connecting into the existing WAIO network.

Reporting to the Technical Director, this is a senior project leadership position responsible for shaping the engineering strategy, delivery model and technical direction of the project through its study phase and into future execution.

The role will suit a major-project engineering leader who can look beyond technical design alone and make sound decisions across engineering, commercial, cost, schedule, risk, procurement, constructability and long-term operational value.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the overall engineering strategy, plans, standards and delivery model for the Jinidi Project.
• Provide engineering leadership across project scope, schedule, cost, risk, value and execution readiness.
• Lead major technical and commercial trade-off studies, assessing engineering options, execution models, capital intensity, operability and whole-of-life value.
• Challenge conventional design and delivery assumptions to identify safe, practical and commercially effective solutions.
• Help shape the project's EPC/EPCM delivery strategy, including assessment and selection of engineering and delivery partners.
• Explore new-market delivery and supply options, including international EPC/EPCM partners, engineering houses, OEMs and specialist suppliers.
• Establish appropriate technical governance around vendor qualification, equipment selection, performance requirements and engineering risk.
• Manage and hold EPC/EPCM partners, engineering consultants, OEMs and other technical partners accountable for quality, schedule and deliverables.
• Lead engineering integration from early studies and business case development through project tollgates, execution planning, commissioning and handover.
• Work closely with construction, commissioning, operations, procurement, commercial and project controls teams to develop an executable project delivery model.
• Provide strong commercial input into engineering decisions, including contract models, procurement strategy, package strategy, contingency, cost risk and schedule.
• Develop clear engineering scope packages, interfaces and execution plans to support future construction and commissioning readiness.
• Drive value engineering, standardisation, lessons learned and repeatable design solutions across the project.
• Establish the engineering team structure, responsibilities, technical ownership and decision-making framework as the project develops.
• Provide technical and engineering input into EPCM tendering, assessment and contract-owner responsibilities.

About You

You will be an established engineering or major-project leader with experience working on large-scale Tier 1 mining or infrastructure developments, ideally with exposure to projects valued above $3 billion.

You will ideally bring:

• An Engineering qualification in a relevant discipline.
• Significant experience working on multi-billion-dollar mining, infrastructure, processing, rail, NPI or materials handling projects.
• Senior leadership experience as an Engineering Manager, Engineering Director, Technical Director, Study Director, Project Director or senior EPCM leader, or in a comparable major-project position.
• Strong experience across both front-end studies and project execution/delivery.
• Demonstrated experience developing engineering strategies and making significant technical and commercial trade-off decisions.
• Strong knowledge of EPC, EPCM and major engineering delivery models.
• Experience working with major engineering houses, EPCM contractors, consultants, OEMs and specialist suppliers.
• Strong commercial understanding across contracts, procurement, estimating, project controls, risk, contingency, package strategy and schedule.
• Experience contributing to contractor/EPCM evaluation, procurement strategy and delivery-model selection.
• An understanding of construction readiness, interface management, commissioning and operational requirements.
• Exposure to international or alternative supply chains and delivery models. Experience with Chinese EPC/EPCM organisations, engineering houses, OEMs or vendor supply chains would be highly regarded but is not essential.
• Strong stakeholder-management capability and the confidence to challenge established thinking while working collaboratively across a complex project organisation.

The Person

BHP is looking for more than a traditional discipline Engineering Manager.

The successful candidate will combine technical credibility with strategic, commercial and project-delivery judgement. You will be comfortable operating in ambiguity during the early stages of a major project, assessing competing options and turning complex engineering information into clear recommendations.

You will be collaborative and relationship-focused while remaining confident in your technical and commercial views. This position requires someone capable of influencing senior stakeholders, challenging assumptions and helping establish the foundations for successful delivery of a major Tier 1 project.

Location & Contract

The position is Perth-based and offered on a long-term rolling contract, reflecting the extended study and development horizon of the project.

The project is currently in its early study phase, providing the successful candidate with the opportunity to influence engineering and delivery strategy from an early stage. Site travel is expected to be limited initially and will increase as the project progresses towards execution.

BHP is open to considering high-calibre candidates from Australia and internationally, with relocation support potentially available for the right individual.

Remuneration: Highly competitive hourly rate, negotiable depending on experience.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples are encouraged to apply.

To apply please click apply or call Harry Presdee on [08 9266 0962](tel:08 9266 0962) for a confidential discussion.