Senior Engineer, Tailings and Closure

Job Description

Location: Spokane, Arizona, Montana, Pend Oreille - Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Missouri.

Employment Type

Regular Full Time

Workplace Type

Hybrid

Role Overview

Reporting to TAI’s Manager, Dormant Properties, the Senior Engineer, Tailings & Closure is responsible for acting as the Responsible Tailings Facility Engineer (RTFE) for facilities across the U.S. portfolio. This includes primary responsibility for both closed and actively transitioning tailings facilities at the Pend Oreille Mine, located in northeast Washington (WA).

The successful candidate will bring strong field and analytical skills, demonstrating the capacity to work independently and collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams. Taking initiative, proactively anticipating needs, and handling challenging priorities effectively.

Candidates may be based in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Arizona, and Missouri. This position requires periodic travel to sites, with an expectation of on-site presence at the Pend Oreille Mine.

Key Responsibilities

Be a courageous safety leader, adhere to and sponsor safety and environmental rules and procedures.

Act as the RTFE for tailings facilities across the U.S. portfolio, with primary responsibility for Pend Oreille Mine facilities, ensuring dam safety, structural integrity, and alignment with closure objectives.

Lead and influence the development, evaluation, and implementation of tailings closure design strategies for the Pend Oreille Mine, including closure-aligned dam safety management approaches, surveillance evolution, water management considerations, and long-term performance objectives.

Provide geotechnical and geoenvironmental technical leadership for tailings and water-retaining structures, including support for investigations, construction, instrumentation, monitoring programs, and other closure-related field activities.

Lead and participate in dam safety inspections, reviews, Independent Tailings Review Board engagements, and internal governance reviews, ensuring findings inform closure decisions, prioritization, and future programs.

Evaluate and prioritize recommendations from inspections, reviews, and audits, driving implementation and integrating outcomes into closure planning, capital prioritization, and long-term stewardship strategies.

• Ensure Operation, Maintenance, and Surveillance (OMS) documentation and training programs are suitable and appropriate for closure-stage and closed tailings facilities.
• Support the management of closed tailings facilities across the U.S. dormant property portfolio, ensuring alignment with regulatory and corporate governance requirements.
• Prepare technical, regulatory, and internal reports and maintain clear, detailed communication with the Accountable Executive and relevant interested parties.

Provide rigorous contractor and consultant management, including scope development, budgeting, execution oversight, safety compliance, quality control, and critical review of technical deliverables related to investigations, designs, reviews, and construction support.

Lead the identification, assessment, and documentation of tailings and environmental risks across the U.S. dormant and closure portfolio, including maintenance of tailings-specific risk registers in accordance with Teck’s risk management standards.

Collaborate closely with internal teams across environment, water management, closure planning, regulatory affairs, operations support, and corporate tailings governance to ensure integrated and effective closure outcomes.

Remain current with industry best practices, evolving regulations, and new technologies related to tailings management, dam safety, closure engineering, and long-term surveillance.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Geotechnical, Environmental, Geological, or Mining Engineering, preferably with specialization in Geotechnical / Tailing Engineering, Environmental Engineering, or Mine Closure. A master’s degree or equivalent experience in a relevant field is regarded as an advantage and may be credited toward experience.

Minimum of 10 years of experience in geotechnical, tailings, environmental, or mining engineering, gained through a combination of operational roles, closure-focused work, consulting, regulatory compliance, and/or technical leadership.

Demonstrated experience supporting or leading tailings facilities transitioning from operation to closure, including involvement in closure design development, evaluation of alternatives, implementation planning, or execution-phase support.

Experience in geotechnical and geo-environmental data analysis, surveillance and monitoring systems (including remote and automated monitoring), dam safety inspections, geotechnical investigations (e.g. drilling and testing programs), and project management.

Proven experience working on complex or legacy tailings facilities where conditions, configurations, or historical data may be evolving or incomplete.

Demonstrated experience in leading external consultants and contractors, with a proven ability to identify and address deficiencies in a timely, constructive, and collaborative manner.

Strong understanding of tailings governance principles, dam safety management practices, and the role of RTFE within regulated and corporate governance frameworks.

Understanding of applicable U.S. federal and state regulatory requirements relevant to mine closure and tailings management, including OSHA, CERCLA, RCRA, and state environmental programs.

• Experience working within Washington, Montana and Missouri State regulatory frameworks is considered an asset.
• OSHA 40-hour HAZWOPER certification, or the ability to obtain certification is preferred.
• Registration as a Professional Engineer or eligibility to register is preferred.

Pay Range: USD $101,000 to $131,000 per year

The actual amount offered is determined based on the successful candidate’s relevant experience, skills, and competencies and cons