Rio Tinto

Geologist

Rio Tinto$70K — $95K *
Energy & Utilities
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Geology, Earth Science, Geologic Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering, or related field, or equivalent experience
  • Two or more years of experience in exploration or mining geology preferred
  • MSHA metal non-metal certification is a plus
  • Strong communication skills for technical and scientific reporting
  • Experience with geoscientific databases and software

Responsibilities

  • Collect and validate high-quality geological and drilling data
  • Manage daily core inflows and ensure thorough logging and QAQC
  • Supervise drilling operations and enforce safety standards
  • Conduct underground mapping and LIDAR scanning
  • Synthesize and report geologic interpretations for resource modeling
  • Prepare periodic reports on drilling and data collection progress
  • Support technical projects to improve understanding of geological structures

Benefits

  • Safety-focused and inclusive working environment
  • Access to family-friendly health programs including medical, dental, and vision
  • Generous retirement plan with 401k matching
  • Comprehensive leave policies including PTO and paid holidays
  • Child-caregiver leave program with salary top-up
  • Employee share program for purchasing company shares
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP) available for personal and family support
Full Job Description
  • The opportunity to build deep underground geology experience on one of the most significant copper deposits in North America
  • Hands-on exposure across the full resource evaluation workflow, from drilling and logging through modeling and interpretation
  • Long-term career opportunity on a major underground project near Superior, Arizona, backed by a global mining leader


About the Role

As a Geologist, you are part of the team building the foundation of orebody knowledge that underpins all future mining decisions. You will work across surface and underground environments, collecting, validating, and interpreting high quality data in collaboration with drilling, core handling, and modeling teams. This is a rare opportunity to develop well rounded technical capability within a large, complex underground deposit. We are currently hiring for Geologists to support this growing work.

In this role, you start the day with clear priorities across drilling, core logging, or underground data collection. Core flows smoothly through logging and QAQC, drilling activities are well coordinated, and underground mapping or scanning is completed safely and efficiently. Data is captured accurately, communicated clearly, and integrated into models that the broader technical team can rely on. You finish the shift knowing your work directly advanced understanding of the deposit.

You will be guided and supported by the Resource Evaluation leadership team and work closely with core handling, drilling operations, geotechnical, modeling, and contractor teams. You will be part of a collaborative technical environment where data quality, safety, and learning are shared responsibilities as you carry out the work below.
  • Always work safely and actively promote a strong safety culture during field, drilling, and underground activities
  • Collect high quality geologic, geotechnical, and drilling related data in a timely and disciplined manner
  • Manage daily core inflows including logging, photography, scanning preparation, geotechnical logging, and data QAQC
  • Support and supervise drilling operations, reinforcing safe work practices and site standards
  • Interpret drill core, core scanning outputs, and downhole geophysical data to support geologic understanding
  • Conduct underground mapping, LIDAR scanning, and sampling during drift development and drilling activities
  • Synthesize and communicate geologic interpretations to support updates to geologic and resource models
  • Prepare daily and periodic reports on drilling progress, underground development, and data collection results
  • Update and maintain geologic and drilling databases, reports, and diagrams
  • Support focused technical projects that enhance understanding of structure, alteration, and mineralization


About You
  • You are committed to safety, data quality, and professional field practices
  • Bachelor's degree in Geology, Earth Science, Geologic Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent demonstrated experience
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills, including technical and scientific reporting
  • Willingness and ability to work underground, including rotating or night shifts as required
  • Ability to work effectively with technical, operational, and contractor teams from diverse backgrounds
  • Comfortable working in a digital environment using tools such as Excel, Word, and geoscientific databases like acQuire
  • Ability to meet productivity targets and deadlines in a dynamic project environment
  • Valid driver's license and ability to meet site access requirements


Preferred Qualifications
  • Two or more years of experience in exploration or mining geology, with MSHA metal non-metal certification preferred
  • Experience with resource drilling programs, contractor supervision, and directing field activities in line with safety requirements
  • Background in geotechnical or geomechanical applications for underground mining
  • Knowledge of porphyry copper systems, including alteration, mineralization, and geochemical signatures
  • Experience with scripting or data tools such as SQL, Python, or similar for geoscientific data management
  • Understanding of geoscientific database structure and functionality
  • Proficiency with 3D geologic modeling software such as Deswik, Leapfrog, or Vulcan


What we offer

We are committed to providing our employees with a generous benefits package. Be recognized for your contribution, your thinking, your hard work, and go home knowing you've helped the world progress, we provide:
  • A safety-focused and inclusive working environment
  • Advantageous salary package with annual cash incentive awards (STIP) for eligible employees
  • 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
  • Generous Rio Tinto employee share program, which allows you to purchase Rio Tinto Company shares.
  • Comprehensive leave policies which cover all moments that matter in life: PTO (paid time off), paid holidays, and paid bereavement leave.
  • A favorable child-caregiver leave program (Up to 100% salary top-up)
  • Discount programs for leisure purposes and access to Virgin Pulse with incentives supporting your wellbeing
  • Ongoing Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for you and your family; to help in addressing educational opportunities, addiction treatment, depression, stress, domestic issues, financial management, and legal concerns.
  • Our team and industry experts are here to support and work with you to explore your learning potential and career goals


Where you will be working

Resolution Copper has the potential to supply nearly 25% of the US copper demand and create several thousand direct and indirect jobs in the Pioneer Mining District of Arizona, with an economic value of several billion dollars over the estimated mine life.

The project will rely on a technique called block caving to extract the deposit that lies more than 2,000 meters deep. This technique uses gravity to help remove the ore and is the most viable way to recover the resource.

Resolution Copper will continue underground development, conduct extensive drilling and orebody testing, plus maintain the permitting and public engagement process.

About Rio Tinto

Rio Tinto Group is a British-Australian multinational mining and metals corporation. The company was founded in 1873 and is headquartered in London, England. Rio Tinto operates in over 35 countries and is one of the largest mining companies in the world. The company produces a wide range of commodities, including aluminum, copper, diamonds, gold, iron ore, and uranium. Rio Tinto is committed to sustainable mining practices and has been recognized for its efforts in this area. The company is listed on the London Stock Exchange and the Australian Securities Exchange.
Learn more about Rio Tinto
Size
49,000 employees
Market Cap
$116.2 billion
Industry
Net Income
$9.7 billion
5 Year Trend
+13.5%
Revenue
$44.6 billion
NASDAQ

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