Senior Process Engineer Mining

About the Gebr. Pfeiffer Australia

Gebr. Pfeiffer develops grinding and processing technologies for cement, industrial minerals and mining. Our expanding mining business works with mining companies and engineering partners to assess and develop applications for vertical roller mill (VRM) technology within mineral processing flowsheets, with a focus on grinding performance and integration with downstream operations.

Position Overview

As Senior Process Engineer Mining, you will provide the process engineering and metallurgical expertise behind our mining proposals and project evaluations. Working directly with customer metallurgists, site process teams and EPC/EPCM engineers, you will translate ore characteristics and project requirements into practical grinding and process solutions in collaboration with Gebr. Pfeiffer’s sales, engineering and testwork teams.

You will develop project-specific flowsheets incorporating Gebr. Pfeiffer mills, interpret testwork and assess how grinding affects downstream processing. The role combines hands-on process evaluation with active customer engagement: leading technical discussions, delivering presentations and workshops, and helping customers understand the performance, constraints and practical implications of proposed flowsheets. You will work alongside the colleague responsible for sales and business development, who leads commercial relationships, negotiations and the sales pipeline.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the technical link between customer metallurgists and process engineers, EPC/EPCM firms, consultants and Gebr. Pfeiffer’s sales team. Translate customer needs into clear process requirements, explain proposed solutions and coordinate specialist input to resolve detailed technical questions.
• Develop and assess conceptual process flowsheets integrating Gebr. Pfeiffer mills with upstream and downstream operations. Prepare process design criteria, preliminary mass and water balances, and clearly documented assumptions for engineering review.
• Evaluate ore characteristics, mineralogy, liberation, feed variability and particle size requirements. Assess how grinding conditions affect separation, recovery, product quality and subsequent processing.
• Assess dry and wet processing routes, including classification, magnetic separation and flotation. Compare circuit options and identify technical constraints, evidence gaps and further testwork needs.
• Plan and coordinate grinding and beneficiation testwork with customers, laboratories and Gebr. Pfeiffer teams. Interpret results, assess their relevance to plant operation and scale-up, and prepare clear technical recommendations.
• Support PEA, PFS and DFS studies with process input and technical comparisons of VRM and alternative comminution circuits, including implications for energy, water, operating costs and plant integration.
• Prepare technical scopes, proposal inputs and tender clarifications with internal engineering teams. Support technical reviews and provide a documented handover of process requirements to project execution.
• Lead technical customer discussions, present findings and deliver workshops. Represent Gebr. Pfeiffer at site visits, conferences and technical events, explaining complex process concepts to technical and commercial audiences.
• Document technical discussions, decisions, risks and follow-up actions. Share relevant project information with the sales team and use customer feedback and testwork findings to guide the development of mining applications.
• Develop and deliver practical training for Gebr. Pfeiffer’s team on mining processes, ore characteristics, comminution and beneficiation. Use project examples and testwork findings to strengthen the team’s ability to identify suitable applications, explain process benefits and recognise when specialist technical input is needed.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Degree in Metallurgy, Mineral Processing, Process Engineering, Chemical Engineering or a closely related discipline, with a strong foundation in mineral processing and metallurgical principles.
• At least 10 years of relevant experience in mining or mineral processing, gained through plant operations, process design, metallurgical testwork, project studies or engineering consultancy.
• Practical experience developing and interpreting mineral processing flowsheets, process design criteria and mass balances, with an understanding of how unit operations interact across the full circuit.
• Strong understanding of comminution, classification, mineral liberation and beneficiation, including magnetic separation and flotation, and the chemical and metallurgical principles that influence process performance.
• Experience interpreting laboratory or pilot testwork and translating results into process recommendations, including recognition of scale-up limitations and operating variability.
• Working knowledge of SAG mills, ball mills, HPGR or vertical mills and their role in mineral processing circuits. Direct VRM experience is an advantage.
• Experience working with mining companies, EPC/EPCM teams or engineering consultants during project studies or plant improvement projects.
• Demonstrated ability to present technical findings, lead customer discussions and respond to detailed process questions. Technical sales experience is an advantage; strong customer-facing engineering experience is equally relevant.
• Fluent English, with the ability to write clear technical reports and deliver effective presentations. German language skills and experience with process simulation or flowsheet modelling software are advantages.

Key Skills and Working Style

• Confident, approachable communicator who actively engages customers, builds trust and explains complex technical issues clearly.
• Sound analytical judgement, with the ability to distinguish demonstrated results from assumptions, identify uncertainty and recommend practical next steps.
• Commercial awareness when comparing process options, including trade-offs between technical performance, capital cost, operating cost and project requirements.
• Collaborative and organised, able to work independently, coordinate international specialists and follow through on agreed actions.

Additional Requirements

• Based in Perth or willing to relocate, with full Australian work rights.
• Willingness to travel across Australia and internationally, visit remote mine sites and attend industry events as required.
• Valid driver’s licence, compliance with site HSE requirements and ability to meet medical requirements for mine site access.
• Flexibility to work across international teams and adapt to changing project priorities and customer timelines.

What We Offer

• Competitive base salary aligned with senior mining process engineering and metallurgy roles, with a performance-based bonus linked to agreed technical, customer and team objectives.
• Superannuation in line with Australian requirements; laptop and phone; and coverage of business travel expenses.
• Flexible working environment within a supportive international engineering team, with access to technical training, test facilities and global expertise.
• Opportunity to develop Gebr. Pfeiffer’s mining applications from early process evaluation through testwork and project studies, working directly with mining companies and EPC/EPCM partners as the mining business grows.