Intern Program 2026/2027 – 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 an Intern 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 penultimate year or 2nd or 3rd year students studying a minimum 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 Intern Program offers you the chance to help shape Rio Tinto from within. The 12-week Summer Internship Program provides hands-on experience, with the potential to secure a graduate position upon completion.

What we offer

Be recognised for your contribution, your thinking and your hard work, and go home knowing you’ve helped the world progress.

• A work environment where safety is always the number one priority

• A competitive base salary reflective of your skills and experience

• Leave for all of life’s reasons (vacation/annual and sick leave)

• Exclusive employee discounts

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

• Intern Program – penultimate year or students in 2nd or 3rd year

• Have the right to work in Australia or New Zealand (citizens, permanent residents, student or postgraduate work visa holders)

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.

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