Senior Project Engineer

The Company

The Position

Senior Project Engineer

Job Summary

Project Background

Imerys has launched a lithium mining project (the EMILI Project) at its Beauvoir site in Echassières (Allier, France). The EMILI Project schedule foresees production starting in 2028, with a production target of 34,000 tonnes of lithium hydroxide per year for at least 25 years.

In 2023 the preliminary mine design was completed as well as the overall process validated and tested at the lab scale. By 2024 the deposit will be characterized in detail and the construction of the industrial/demo pilot plant will commence. 2025 sees the commissioning of the industrial/demo pilot plant. The opening of the mine and commissioning of the commercial plant is scheduled by 2028. The projected timetable will be reassessed at each stage of the project, in particular based on the results of the environmental impact assessments and stakeholder consultations.

The run of mine material will be first concentrated to separate the lithium bearing minerals (mica) from other by-products or waste material. The concentrate is transported to the refining site where it will be calcined with a mix of sulphate salts to convert the insoluble lithium species to lithium soluble ones. After calcination the calcined material is leached and the pregnant leach solution purified through several steps in the flowsheet. Lithium carbonate is precipitated using sodium carbonate and later converted to lithium hydroxide using quicklime. The lithium hydroxide is finally crystallized to obtain the final product in powder form. It can then be marketed to companies in the electric vehicle battery industry.

More information available in the website:
Job Objective

As part of the Conversion plant project organization and reporting to the Conversion plant Project Director:

- To provide Owner’s guidance and supervision to engineering and design Companies engaged to develop the various stages of the EMILI project through close coordination of all disciplines.
- Ensure that designs are in accordance with project requirements and company objectives and are produced in a timely and cost-effective manner.

The job offers a high potential of career evolution within Imerys.

Key tasks of the Project Engineer:
Supported by external Engineering Companies, key technologies suppliers and in close cooperation with EMILI Process Team and discipline leaders, the role of the Project Engineer will consist of the following:

- Coordinate project discipline leaders (mechanical, electrical, automation, piping, civil works, etc );
- Liaise with Process lead;
- Coordination with project purchasing manager;
- Supported by discipline project leaders, Check and Approve technical specifications, contract specifications, calculations, reports, design criteria and other documents done by Engineering contractors required by the project;
- Oversight Engineering contractors and specialized companies while producing designs in accordance with project, discipline, statutory regulations, good-practice and company procedural requirements;
- Review and/or coordinate technical design documents (PFD, PID, equipment Data Sheets, Main Design Criteria, Layouts, Discipline Documentation; CAPEX estimates,...);
- Ensure design is completed as per assigned scope;
- Ensure designs produced are optimal in terms of maintainability, serviceability, equipment operating cost and safe operation and actively contributing to key Project reviews like: Hazop, SIL, 3D model review, Constructability review..etc
- Review, coordinate and approve design documents and drawings prepared by Engineering Companies and commented by Imerys project discipline leaders;
- Has a global view on overall design across all disciplines;
- Provide feedback on the quality, use and value of systems used in design.
- Provide technical guidance to Project staff on various aspects of design.
- Provide timely reports regarding all discussions held and progress made. Ensure all correspondence is recorded.
- Review of technical documents prepared by Engineering Companies to support Calls for Tenders;
- Coordination of technical bid evaluations in liaison with Engineering Company and discipline leads;
- Approve technical adjudications /recommendations for supply and service contracts done by Engineering companies;
- Compare procurement costs against budget and provide feedback to Project Control;
- Estimate, control and review design scope changes (validation after approval by Project Manager/Director)
- Input into progress reports, including listing achievements and highlighting issues as required.
- Check compliance with Imerys technical standards and Engineering Companies contracts;
- Manage priorities in accordance with the project overall schedule and the global EMILI project Team;
- Coordination with Plant resources;
- Liaise with Site construction staff on technical queries on resolution of engineering design issues:

- Support for the Construct