Principal Engineer I - Heat Transfer

Why You Should Apply for This Job

At Freeport-McMoRan, we are committed to providing employment that recognizes excellence and encourages safe production, with a culture supported by our core values. Here, you’ll find a collaborative environment where safety is a top priority. Apply Today!  

Where You Will Work   

Our global headquarters is in Phoenix, Arizona. Several hundred employees support our operations in finance, human resources, health and safety, information technology, planning, and more. Our flexible work program allows employees to work virtually as well as come together in person when needed at our Collaboration Hub in Phoenix and/or one of our site locations. Employees can work remotely from most states in the U.S., with the exception of California, Connecticut, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma and South Carolina. Additional states may be excluded from remote work based on business factors. Should the position shift to in-person (office/site) work in the future, the company will offer relocation benefits at that time, so long as the position meets the established eligibility for these benefits.

What You Will Do

Provide technical leadership and subject matter expertise in mechanical heat transfer principles, including conduction, convection, radiation, and heat exchanger design, supporting heap leach and hydrometallurgical operations. Serve as the organization's leading expert in heat exchanger selection and design, stockpile thermal modeling, and thermal management within leach environments.

Lead the development, calibration, and validation of thermal models to predict heat generation, distribution, and loss within stockpiles. Drive the design and optimization of heat exchanger systems and heated raffinate distribution networks, while developing thermal retention strategies that improve sulfide leaching kinetics and maximize metal recovery.

• Lead heat transfer studies involving conduction, convection, and radiation heat transfer within heap leach stockpiles, applying first-principles thermal analysis to predict pile temperature behavior.
• Provide technical leadership for the design, specification, sizing, selection, optimization, and troubleshooting of heat exchanger systems, including shell-and-tube, plate-and-frame, and specialty equipment. Apply advanced thermal design methodologies such as LMTD and effectiveness-NTU analyses while developing strategies to address fouling and improve heat transfer performance.
• Develop, calibrate, and validate advanced thermal models to predict heat generation, propagation, temperature distribution, heat penetration, and thermal breakthrough within heap leach stockpiles, supporting process optimization and operational decision-making.
• Monitor, evaluate, and recommend emerging technologies, industry best practices, and technical advancements in heat transfer, thermal modeling, heat recovery, and thermal management systems to enhance operational efficiency and metallurgical performance.
• Perform other duties as required.

What You Bring To Freeport

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related engineering discipline and seven (7) years of experience in related engineering field; OR
• Master’s degree in Engineering or related engineering discipline and five (5) years of experience in related engineering field; OR
• PhD in Engineering or related engineering discipline and three (3) years of experience in related engineering field.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated expertise in heat exchanger design, sizing, and troubleshooting (LMTD, effectiveness-NTU, fouling, pressure drop).

• Ability to develop and validate thermal models of large-scale systems such as heap leach stockpiles (heat pile modeling and retention).

• Working knowledge of thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and transport phenomena; proficiency with thermal modeling tools (e.g., ANSYS, COMSOL, CFD, MATLAB/Python).

• Experience with heated-raffinate delivery, boilers, steam systems, or industrial water heating in a mining or process environment.

• Able to research and analyze information of considerable difficulty and draw valid conclusions.

• Ability to develop and maintain awareness of occupational hazards and safety precautions.

• Ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly and effectively to both technical and non-technical stakeholders, both verbally and in writing.

What We Offer You

The estimated annual pay range for this role is currently $112,000-$160,000. This range reflects base salary only and does not include bonus payments, benefits or retirement contributions. Actual base pay is determined by experience, qualifications, skills and other job-related factors. This role is eligible for additional incentive compensation considerations based on company and individual performance.  Additionally, this position is currently eligible for annual long-term incentive consideration.  Long-term incentives are contingent upon authorized approval under the terms and conditions of the Company's plan and award agreements.  More details will be shared during the hiring process. 

Click here to view a sample of Total Rewards Estimate for this role. 

• Affordable medical, dental and vision benefits 
• Company-paid life and disability insurance 
• 401(k) plan with employer contribution/match 
• Paid time off, paid sick time, holiday pay, parental leave 
• Tuition Assistance 
• Employee Assistance Program 
• Discounted insurance plans for auto, home and pet 
• Internal progression opportunities 
• Learn more about our competitive and comprehensive benefits package! 

What We Require

Freeport-McMoRan promotes a drug/alcohol-free work environment using mandatory pre-employment drug testing as allowed by applicable laws.

Ability to travel domestically 1-2 times per month (typically up to 3 days per trip) and internationally 2-3 times per year (typically up to 2 weeks per trip).

Equal Opportunity Employer

Please be advised Freeport-McMoRan will never request payment for job-related expenses from applicants. If you receive any suspicious emails, please disregard them, and report the incident to HRSC@fmi.com.