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Specialist, Research Metallurgist III
About Maaden
Maaden, established in 1997, is one of the fastest-growing mining companies in the world and the largest multi-commodity mining and metals company in the Middle East. We are leading the development of the mining industry to become the third pillar of Saudi Arabia’s economy by building a world-class, unique, and fully integrated mining value chain. We are pleased to share an exciting opportunity for the below mentioned position. This role offers a chance to contribute to our ambitious growth and play a key part in shaping the future of mining in the Kingdom.
Job purpose
The Research Metallurgist designs and executes laboratory and pilot-scale metallurgical programs to develop, optimize, and de-risk mineral processing and extractive metallurgy flowsheets. The role converts ore characterization and test work into clear, data-driven recommendations for process selection, scale-up, and operational improvement.
Key Accountabilities
- Plan and deliver metallurgical test work programs (bench/pilot), including sampling strategy, method selection, and experimental design.
- Execute and interpret test work across unit operations (comminution, classification, flotation, leaching, solid–liquid separation, impurity control).
- Develop and optimize flowsheets and operating windows; quantify impacts on recovery, grade, throughput, reagent use, energy, and product quality.
- Produce mass/metal balances, kinetics, and scale-up inputs; prepare technical packages that support engineering and design decisions.
- Implement robust QA/QC and safe lab practices; coordinate third-party laboratories and specialist testing when required.
- Prepare high-quality technical reports and present findings to stakeholders; support troubleshooting and continuous improvement in pilot/plant settings.
Minimum Qualification, Experience and Competencies
Minimum Qualification
- BSc/MSc in Metallurgy, Mineral Processing or a related discipline.
- Demonstrated hands-on lab/pilot experience with strong data interpretation and technical reporting capability (experience level aligned to role seniority).
- Strong safety mindset (HSE), documentation discipline, and stakeholder communication skills.
Minimum Experience
- 3 – 5+ years of progressive experience in metallurgical research, R&D, or advanced process engineering.
Skills
Metallurgical test work and interpretation:
Flotation and leach amenability testing; variability testing; locked-cycle testing where applicable.
Reagent scheme selection and optimization; residence time/kinetics; recovery–grade trade-off analysis.
Mineralogy and liberation awareness; linking mineralogical drivers to process response.
Solid–liquid separation, slurry behavior, and water quality:
Thickening/clarification and filtration fundamentals; flocculant selection and optimization.
Slurry handling and rheology awareness (yield stress/viscosity) and implications for pumping and settling.
Water recycles effects on chemistry, scaling, and performance.
Comminution and classification fundamentals:
Particle size distribution (PSD) control, classification efficiency, and impact of grind on downstream recovery.
Awareness of grindability concepts and test work outputs used for design.
Data quality and metallurgical accounting:
Representative sampling concepts and QA/QC planning (duplicates, blanks, standards, calibration).
Mass/metal balance reconciliation, uncertainty awareness, and defensible reporting.
Impurity control and product quality:
Deportment of penalty elements; solution chemistry control (pH/Eh) and precipitation/contamination risks.
Spec-driven optimization for concentration, cathode, or intermediate products (as applicable).
Scale-up and translation to design:
Turning lab/pilot outcomes into operating windows, consumptions, equipment duty ranges, and risk-based recommendations.
Clear documentation of assumptions, limitations, and next-step test work for de-risking.
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