Copper & Zinc Hydrometallurgist / Process Engineer – SWAT Assignment

About the role

Minopex is seeking experienced copper and zinc hydrometallurgists and process engineers for a short‑term SWAT assignment in Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo. You will join a specialist deployment team to support plant re‑commissioning, ramp‑up, stabilisation and optimisation, delivering measurable production outcomes.

Key responsibilities

• Support commissioning, start‑up and stabilisation of copper hydrometallurgical circuits.
• Troubleshoot leaching, solid‑liquid separation, solvent extraction and electrowinning performance.
• Analyse metallurgical data to improve throughput, recovery, product quality and reagent efficiency.
• Develop operating control philosophies, metallurgical operating windows and performance‑monitoring systems.
• Plan and evaluate plant trials and process‑improvement initiatives.
• Strengthen metallurgical accounting, sampling and reconciliation practices.
• Coach plant metallurgists and operators, transferring practical operating capability.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary operations, maintenance, laboratory and engineering teams to resolve plant constraints.

Required profile

• Bachelor’s degree in metallurgy, chemical engineering or a closely related discipline.
• Minimum 3 years of experience in hydrometallurgical plant operations, technical support, commissioning or process optimisation.
• Practical exposure to copper leaching and copper and/or zinc solvent extraction‑electrowinning unit operations.
• Strong data‑analysis, fault‑finding and structured problem‑solving capability.
• Confidence to work in an operational environment and translate technical findings into practical action.

Required skills

• Copper leaching
• Zinc solvent extraction
• Electrowinning
• Solid‑liquid separation
• Metallurgical data analysis
• Metallurgical accounting and reconciliation
• Process optimisation
• Plant trial planning and evaluation
• Control philosophy development

What we offer

• Direct exposure to an international copper hydrometallurgical operation.
• Hands‑on experience across commissioning, ramp‑up, troubleshooting and optimisation.
• Responsibility for technical and production outcomes with measurable impact.
• Development alongside experienced Minopex commissioning and operational specialists.
• Pathway toward specialist, commissioning, operational leadership and international project roles.