Freelance Minerals Processing Engineer Jobs in Iowa

The Process Control Engineer is responsible for developing, maintaining, and optimizing process control systems that support safe, reliable, and efficient mineral processing operations at the Round Mountain Gold Mine. This role focuses on improving plant stability, throughput, recovery, and equipment performance through effective control strategies, automation enhancements, and close collaboration with operations, metallurgy, and maintenance teams. Qualified candidates may be eligible for both a sign-on bonus and relocation assistance.

Process Control & Automation

• Design, implement, maintain, and optimize control strategies for crushing, grinding, classification, leaching, adsorption, detoxification, and ancillary systems as applicable.
• Configure, troubleshoot, and support plant control systems (e.g., DCS, PLCs, HMI/SCADA) to ensure high system availability and reliability.
• Develop and tune regulatory, advanced, and model-based control loops to improve process stability and metallurgical performance.
• Lead and support control system upgrades, logic changes, alarm management, and interface improvements in accordance with site change management procedures.

Operational Support

• Partner with Operations and Metallurgy to identify process constraints and variability, and implement control solutions that improve throughput, recovery, and reagent efficiency.
• Provide on-shift and off-shift technical support for control system issues impacting production or safety.
• Analyze process data and trends to proactively identify opportunities for improvement and risk mitigation.

Maintenance & Reliability Interface

• Work closely with the Process Maintenance Superintendent and maintenance teams to support instrumentation, control hardware, and network reliability.
• Support preventative maintenance strategies, control system documentation, and lifecycle management of automation assets.
• Assist with root cause analysis for process upsets and equipment or control-related failures.

Safety, Compliance & Standards

• Promote a strong safety culture by ensuring control systems support safe operating limits and critical safeguards.
• Participate in hazard analyses, management of change (MOC), and operational readiness reviews.

Projects & Continuous Improvement

• Provide process control expertise for capital projects, plant modifications, and technology trials.
• Develop functional specifications, FAT/SAT documentation, and commissioning plans for automation-related projects.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives focused on cost reduction, energy efficiency, and operational excellence.

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering, Automation, or a related discipline.
• 5-8 years of experience in process control or automation within mineral processing, mining, or heavy industrial environments.
• Familiarity with CMMS
• Hands-on experience with DCS and/or PLC platforms commonly used in mining operations (e.g., Honeywell, ABB, Emerson, Rockwell).
• Strong understanding of mineral processing unit operations and their control requirements.
• Control loop tuning, alarm management, and control system troubleshooting.
• Process data analysis and visualization tools (e.g., Wonderware, PI System or equivalent historians).
• Instrumentation fundamentals, including flow, level, pressure, density, and analytical measurements.
• Familiarity with advanced process control (APC) concepts is preferred.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Ability to work effectively across operations, maintenance, and technical disciplines.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate technical concepts into operational guidance.

• Has a strong commitment to Environmental, health and safety.
• Wears Personal Protective Equipment at all times while in the production environment.
• Is alert and observes, corrects, and reports unsafe conditions and behaviors.
• Follows operating procedures and complies with all regulatory requirements.

• Strategic Effectiveness
  Develops and communicates creative business strategies that drive sustainable value.
• External Engagement
  Understands and builds relationships with external parties that strengthen and sustain competitive advantage.
• Business Focus
  Applies commercial rigor and discipline to all business decisions and relationships.
• Living the Kinross Values
  Aligns behavior, decisions, and actions with Kinross values and principles.