Process Engineer (Kwinana)

About Us

At Covalent Lithium, we are genuinely passionate about creating a clean energy future and supporting our teams who enable this vision.

Following the commissioning of our mine and concentrator at Mt Holland in 2024, we recently celebrated our first production of battery -grade lithium hydroxide at our Kwinana Refinery. We are now a fully integrated mine-to-refinery operation, supplying high quality lithium hydroxide to global markets and enabling approximately 1 million electric vehicles to go on the road, every year for the next 50 years.

We are proud to foster a culture where people with different skills, experiences and backgrounds are welcomed and set-up for success.

Employee Benefits 

We support, empower and reward our people with a range of benefits:

• Competitive remuneration, and annual incentives for eligible employees
• Access to discounts, recognition and rewards
• Access to flexible work arrangements
• Dedicated wellbeing program support and discounted health insurance
• Equal access to paid parental leave, financial support, return to work and parenting room
• Salary sacrifice options for superannuation and novated leasing

The Role

This position will provide process engineering expertise to optimise lithium hydroxide refining, resolve technical issues and improve operational performance. You will support the development and improvement of refinery procedures and processing strategies, with a strong focus on safety and environmental performance.

This permanent operational/technical role will support the ramp-up of the Kwinana Refinery. The position is primarily Monday to Friday day shift, with potential for rostered work (e.g. 6:6) as required. Flexibility in working hours will be required during ramp-up.

Key Responsibilities 
•    Provide process engineering expertise across lithium hydroxide refining, including process optimisation, troubleshooting and continuous improvement. 
•    Develop and maintain a thorough understanding of MEB balances, consumption factors, equipment sizing and process impacts. 
•    Lead process engineering activities and minor projects, working with internal stakeholders, vendors and operational teams. 
•    Support refinery ramp-up and standardisation, including the development of operating strategies, procedures and training materials. 
•    Provide technical support for process control troubleshooting and optimisation, including Functional Descriptions and Functional Specifications. 
•    Monitor key process parameters, control strategies and reagent consumption, and support metallurgical accounting and reconciliation. 
•    Identify and resolve process issues, risks and opportunities for improvement to deliver safe, reliable and competitive operations. 
•    Collaborate with the on-site laboratory and broader refinery teams to support ramp-up targets and operational performance.

Role Requirements
•    Chemical Engineering and/or equivalent qualification
•    4+ years in fixed plant processing (experience in lithium processing desired)
•    Experience in commissioning and operational readiness activities is highly desirable
•    Strong technical knowledge of pyrometallurgical processing, impurity removal, filtration and crystallisation.
•    Demonstrated track record of problem solving and solution implementation in a multi-discipline team-based environment
•    Experience in process trending and simulation software
•    Leading of risk assessments and systematic problem solving (HAZOP, HAZID, LOPA, RCA etc)
•    Exceptional report writing skills

A competitive remuneration package commensurate with the role, candidate experience, skills and qualifications will be offered.

Our team members are encouraged to bring their whole selves to work. Candidates from all backgrounds and ages are encouraged to apply, including First Nations People, those who identify as LGBTIQ+, people with disabilities and those with neurodiverse, intersectional, or multiple diverse characteristics.

Covalent Lithium is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer, with a focus on our employees. We recognise skills, expertise, commitment and living our values of Purpose, Care, Accountability and Collaboration. Our goal is to attract, develop, motivate, reward, and retain the best people in the industry.