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Rio Tinto
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Australia
Graduate Program 2027 – Process Engineer – Tiwai Point, New Zealand
Graduate Program 2027 – Process Engineer – Tiwai Point, New Zealand
Ready to drive meaningful change? We’re on the lookout for passionate individuals who are eager to join our team and help us tackle the challenges shaping our future. At Rio Tinto, we believe innovation thrives when diverse minds collaborate toward a common purpose – creating a better tomorrow. Let’s shape the future together.
Finding better ways™ to move our people forward.
Start your career as a Graduate Process Engineer at the New Zealand Aluminium Smelter at Tiwai Point, based close to Invercargill, where largescale operations, safety and teamwork come together every day. We’re looking for graduates with a minimum of a bachelors degree in Chemical, Process or Metallurgical Engineering who want hands-on exposure early and who take safety seriously. In this role, you’ll work alongside experienced engineers, gain insight into how equipment, systems and processes interact, and contribute to improving how the operation runs safely and reliably. Based in Invercargill, this is an opportunity to build strong technical foundations, grow confidence, and create momentum at the very start of your career.
About the program
Our Graduate Program offers you the chance to help shape Rio Tinto from within. The Graduate Program extends over two years, focusing on developing both foundational and future-focused skills.
What we offer
Be recognised for your contribution, your thinking and your hard work, and go home knowing you’ve helped the world progress.
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A work environment where safety is always the number one priority
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A permanent position working directly for Rio Tinto
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A competitive base salary reflective of your skills and experience with annual incentive program
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Comprehensive medical benefits including subsidised private health insurance for employees and immediate family
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Attractive share ownership plan
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Company provided insurance cover
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Extensive salary sacrifice & salary packaging options
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Career development & education assistance to further your technical or leadership ambitions
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Ongoing access to family-friendly health and medical wellbeing support
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Leave for all of life’s reasons (vacation/annual, paid parental, sick leave)
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Exclusive employee discounts (banking, accommodation, cars, retail and more)
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Domestic relocation assistance
Where you will be working
New Zealand’s Aluminium Smelter (NZAS) converts alumina into aluminium using renewable hydroelectricity, resulting in one of the lowest carbon footprints for an aluminium smelter in the world. The smelter is located on Tiwai Peninsula in Southland and the majority of the plant's alumina is supplied from our Yarwun and Queensland Alumina Limited refineries. Around 90% of the aluminium produced at NZAS is exported. NZAS is a joint venture owned by Rio Tinto (79.36%) and Japan’s Sumitomo Chemical Company (20.64%).
Eligibility
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Graduate Program – final year of study/have recently graduated with less than 2 years of relevant work experience
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Have the right to work in Australia or New Zealand (citizens, permanent residents, student or postgraduate work visa holders)
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A current "C Class" Manual Driver’s License at the time of your Graduate Program commencement
Next steps
We’re Finding Better Ways™ to provide materials the world needs, now and in the future. Our values – care, courage and curiosity – guide how we work and how we treat each other.
Please note, to be considered for this role, you must complete all pre-screening questions.
Applications close 17 April 2026
About Rio Tinto
Rio Tinto is a leading global mining and materials company. We operate in 35 countries where we produce iron ore, copper, aluminium, critical minerals, and other materials needed for the global energy transition and for people, communities, and nations to thrive.
We have been mining for 150 years and operate with knowledge built up across generations and continents. Our purpose is finding better ways to provide the materials the world needs – striving for innovation and continuous improvement to produce materials with low emissions and to the right environmental, social and governance standards. But we can’t do it on our own, so we’re focused on creating partnerships to solve problems, create win-win situations and meet opportunities.
Respect and Inclusion
At Rio Tinto, we particularly welcome and encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples, women, the LGBTQIA+ community, mature workers, people with disabilities and people from different cultural backgrounds.
We are committed to an inclusive environment where people feel comfortable to be themselves. We want our people to feel that all voices are heard, all cultures respected and that a variety of perspectives are not only welcome – they are essential to our success. We treat each other fairly and with dignity regardless of race, gender, nationality, ethnic origin, religion, age, sexual orientation or anything else that makes us different.