Principal Engineer Metallurgy📣 Job Ad

About the Principal Metallurgist Role

Maaden is seeking a Principal Metallurgist to serve as the technical authority for metallurgy, guiding metallurgical inputs throughout the entire project lifecycle. This full-time position is based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and requires over 10 years of experience.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide metallurgical input for project screening, concept evaluation, and business case development, including recovery assumptions, process routes, and economic model inputs.
• Identify and manage key metallurgical risks, opportunities, and trade-offs to support decision-making.
• Define initial process options, conceptual flowsheets, and mass balances during the scoping stage, overseeing preliminary testwork programs and developing the initial risk register.
• Lead advanced laboratory testing and variability analysis during the Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS), defining grind size, comminution parameters, and recovery processes.
• Develop preliminary process design criteria, base flowsheets, mass balances, and support trade-off studies and process optimization.
• Direct pilot-scale and variability test work programs during the Feasibility Study (FS)/Bankable Feasibility Study (BFS), finalizing process design criteria, equipment sizing, specifications, and water and metallurgical balances.
• Approve final flowsheets and design basis, ensuring alignment with investment and financing requirements.
• Provide inputs to capital and operating cost estimates and define BFS-level design parameters and risk mitigation measures.
• Design and oversee end-to-end metallurgical test work strategy, including sample selection, compositing, and laboratory and pilot programs.
• Ensure data quality, QA/QC, traceability, and alignment of test work with project decision gates.
• Interpret and validate metallurgical results for integration into flowsheet and process development.
• Support and guide processing methodologies including refractory, CIL, flotation, and heap leach, while leading investigations to improve efficiency.
• Coach and mentor metallurgical personnel and support optimization initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with company and site policies, standards, and procedures, recommending improvements where required.
• Provide technical support in metallurgy and processing engineering across affiliates, contributing to the development and effectiveness of corporate policies and standards.
• Support the interpretation and implementation of standards and assist corporate SME teams in aligning technical practices.
• Contribute to technical communications, including incident briefings and periodic updates aligned with corporate policies.
• Perform additional duties as assigned by management.

Minimum Qualifications and Experience

• Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in Metallurgical, Minerals/Chemical Engineering.
• Minimum Experience: Project management experience. A minimum of 20 years of experience in metallurgical operations, engineering, and laboratory environments related to gold and base metal extraction processes.

Required Competencies and Skills

• Generic Maaden Behavioral Competencies: Leadership, Achievement Drive, Communication, Teamwork & Collaboration, Analytical Thinking.
• Technical Skills: Champion of change for improvement in all aspects of metal processing. Responsible for delivering resource models in quality and timely manner. Knowledge of life-of-mine planning, budgeting, and metal planning. Knowledge of Metallurgical Accounting Standards. Experience with plant control systems and use of data historian trends. Ability to present to and collaborate with corporate executives and site Senior Leadership Team. Strong computer skills and proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Access). Knowledge in Safety requirements. Ability to work in a multi-cultural environment. Frequent communication with all internal and external stakeholders on Metallurgy and Process Engineering matters.

Work Location and Type

This is a full-time position located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.