Fixed Plant Reliability Engineer
Position Overview
We are seeking an experienced Fixed Plant Reliability Engineer to provide professional engineering and reliability support to a Tier 1 mining operation.
The role will support the reliability and performance of a broad range of fixed plant and materials handling assets across both surface and underground operations. The successful candidate will work closely with the Reliability, Engineering, Maintenance and Operations teams to identify reliability risks, deliver improvement initiatives and provide practical, risk-based engineering solutions that improve safety, availability, performance and cost.
This is a contractor engagement, initially for three months , with no defined end date. The operation has a strong history of retaining high-performing contractors for extended periods.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide reliability engineering support across fixed plant and materials handling assets.
- Proactively monitor equipment reliability, availability and performance and identify emerging risks.
- Lead and support Root Cause Analysis (RCA) , defect elimination and reliability improvement initiatives.
- Apply structured cause-and-effect RCA methodologies to identify and eliminate recurring equipment failures.
- Develop and maintain reliability improvement strategies based on equipment performance, operational risk and available data.
- Undertake reliability analysis, including FMEA-based reliability modelling and related engineering assessments.
- Provide practical, evidence-based recommendations that consider safety, operational requirements, maintainability and lifecycle cost.
- Work closely with Maintenance Superintendents, Supervisors, Planners, Production personnel, Tradespeople, Operators and Engineering stakeholders.
- Identify opportunities to improve asset availability, reliability, maintainability and operating performance.
- Progress agreed engineering actions and initiatives through to implementation.
- Provide clear technical documentation, recommendations and regular progress updates.
- Escalate technical risks, constraints, delays or resource requirements early.
- Contribute to engineering and safety investigations, risk assessments and other site improvement activities.
- Maintain a strong connection with site stakeholders and develop a thorough understanding of site conditions and operational requirements.
Asset Scope
The position will provide reliability engineering support across a diverse fixed plant environment, including:
- Surface crushing and regrind facilities.
- Crushers and associated crushing equipment.
- Conveyors and materials handling systems.
- Screens.
- Paste plants.
- Site infrastructure.
- Underground materials handling systems.
- Two hoist systems.
- Hoist winches, cages and skips.
- Associated fixed plant and materials handling infrastructure.
Reliability Engineering
The Reliability Engineer will be expected to take ownership of assigned reliability outcomes rather than simply providing engineering hours.
Key focus areas include:
- Equipment reliability and performance monitoring.
- Failure analysis and defect elimination.
- RCA facilitation and implementation of corrective actions.
- FMEA-based reliability modelling and analysis.
- Identification and prioritisation of reliability risks.
- Development of practical reliability improvement initiatives.
- Collaboration with Maintenance and Operations to achieve sustainable improvements.
- Prioritisation of initiatives that deliver measurable improvements in safety, reliability, availability, performance and cost .
Stakeholder Engagement
Strong stakeholder engagement is an essential component of the role.
The successful candidate will develop effective working relationships with:
- Maintenance Superintendents.
- Maintenance Supervisors.
- Maintenance Planners.
- Production personnel.
- Tradespeople and Operators.
- Reliability Engineers.
- Engineering team members.
- Engineering and operational leadership.
The role requires the ability to work independently while remaining closely connected to site stakeholders and the broader Engineering and Reliability team.
Engineering Deliverables
The contractor will be expected to:
- Deliver agreed engineering outcomes within required timeframes.
- Take ownership of assigned actions and commitments.
- Maintain clear visibility of work progress and anticipated completion dates.
- Apply sound engineering judgement and evidence-based decision making.
- Produce professional-quality engineering documentation.
- Provide practical and risk-based recommendations suitable for implementation.
- Communicate technical issues, risks and constraints promptly.
- Identify and escalate matters that may affect delivery before they impact agreed outcomes.
Safety and Professional Standards
Safety is a core requirement of the role. The successful candidate will:
- Comply with all site safety standards, procedures and requirements.
- Actively participate in site safety processes and initiatives.
- Identify and communicate hazards, incidents and near misses.
- Participate in safety investigations and risk assessments when required.
- Consider safety, environmental and operational risks in all engineering recommendations.
- Contribute safety observations, workplace inspections and other required safety interactions.
- Share relevant safety experiences and lessons learned.
- Conduct themselves professionally and respectfully at all times.
Contractor Expectations
Contractors are engaged for their professional expertise and are expected to operate with a high degree of independence.
The successful candidate will be expected to:
- Take ownership of assigned work and deliverables.
- Manage priorities effectively with limited day-to-day direction.
- Maintain regular communication with the Reliability Team and Engineering Superintendent.
- Attend required meetings and stakeholder engagements.
- Respond to communications within one business day where practical.
- Remain accountable for agreed engineering outcomes.
- Raise technical, operational or resource constraints early.
- Maintain accurate records of work undertaken and progress against commitments.
Site Attendance and Roster
The roster is intentionally flexible and will be agreed based on operational requirements and stakeholder engagement.
Initially, the expectation is likely to be a 5/2 followed by 4/3 roster , alternating week by week, to establish site familiarity and relationships with key stakeholders.
Once established after the first 3 weeks on site, the arrangement may transition to:
- 1 week on site / 1 week working from home , or
- Another reasonable roster proposal agreed with the Engineering team.
A strong connection with site and stakeholders is considered essential. As a general expectation, contractors should maintain regular site attendance, with the specific arrangement agreed with the Senior Engineer or Engineering Superintendent.
Working Arrangements and Fatigue Management
The role may involve a combination of site-based and remote working.
Normal working hours are generally expected to fall between 5:30 am and 6:30 pm for site-based work, with remote working arrangements agreed with the relevant Engineering leadership.
Training and Compliance
The successful candidate must maintain all mandatory site and company training relevant to the role.
Training compliance is expected to be maintained at 100% , except for modules specifically identified by the Engineering