Automation Project Lead

Our Opportunity

Work Location: Multiple Fotescue mine sites, across Pilbara.

Roster: 5D2R / 4D3R - 50:50 Perth / Site

Take the lead on technology projects that are changing how mining operations work. As Automation Project Lead, you’ll coordinate the delivery and deployment of operational technology across Fortescue’s mining environments, spanning heavy mobile equipment (HME), drilling, autonomous and tele-remote systems, and the supporting technology infrastructure that brings these solutions to life.

Reporting to the Technology Projects Superintendent, you’ll take projects from planning through deployment, testing and operational handover, bringing together site operations, maintenance, engineering, OT, training, OEMs and contractors to deliver safe and reliable outcomes. This is a highly collaborative role for a practical project professional who understands the realities of deploying technology into live operational environments and can turn complex technical requirements into clear plans, coordinated action and successful delivery.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the planning and coordination of automation and operational technology projects, managing scope, schedules, milestones, dependencies and resource requirements.
• Coordinate technology deployments across HME, drilling, autonomous and tele-remote systems, ensuring operational readiness across equipment, infrastructure and site interfaces.
• Partner with Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, OT, Training, OEMs and contractors to align activities, resolve interfaces and keep delivery progressing.
• Maintain strong project controls and governance across risks, issues, decisions, changes, costs and schedules, providing clear and timely reporting to stakeholders.
• Coordinate commissioning, application validation, Site Acceptance Testing, defect resolution and readiness activities to ensure technology is safe and ready for operational use.
• Drive effective project handover and closeout, ensuring training, documentation, lessons learned and support requirements are embedded into sustainable operations.

Qualifications and Experience

• 5+ years’ experience in project delivery, project controls, technology delivery or project management within mining, HME, maintenance or industrial environments.
• Demonstrated experience delivering projects through planning, commissioning, testing, operational readiness, handover and closeout.
• Practical understanding of technology deployed across heavy mobile equipment and mining operations; drilling experience and exposure to autonomous or tele-remote systems is highly regarded.
• Strong project planning and controls capability, including schedules, budgets, forecasting, risk, change management and progress reporting.
• Proven ability to coordinate OEMs, contractors and multidisciplinary site teams, influence without direct authority and resolve complex delivery interfaces.
• Qualification in Project Management, Engineering, Technology, Mining or a related discipline is highly regarded, with relevant practical HME, automation, controls or site technology experience highly valued.

About Us

Be part of something big. Fortescue is leading the world with our plan to decarbonise our iron ore operations, projects that harness renewable energy and the development of technology that will change our planet forever.

Our Commitment

Fortescue celebrates individual strengths and team members are encouraged to bring their whole selves to work. Our global workforce drives and promotes an inclusive culture, both within our organisation and throughout the communities we interact with. Diverse backgrounds include First Nations Peoples, people with disabilities, LGBTQ+ community, gender, neurodiverse, cultural diversity, all age groups, and those with an intersectional or multiple diverse characteristics. We encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply.

https://fortescue.com/careers

Internal Candidates / Current Contractors please apply via Success Factors Careers Portal. For further information on how to apply please visit the Fortescue Hub.

Fortescue reserves the right to close applications early should a suitable pool of candidates be identified. Fortescue will never contact you to ask for payment of any kind, whether directly or through a third party.