Principal Engineer I - Process Engineering
Freeport-McMoRan · Phoenix, AZ
- Level
- Senior
- Team
- Process
- Base pay
- $120k–$168k
- Degree
- Required
- Industry
- Metals
- Posted
- 25 days ago
The role in 30 seconds
A senior process role at Freeport-McMoRan (metals) in Phoenix, AZ. Review, verify, and approve engineering documents including PFDs, P&IDs, design criteria, mass/energy balances, equipment specifications, and metallurgical test work scopes.
- They ask for
- degree required
- Base pay
- $120k–$168k
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of November 2, 2026
Process Engineer roles in Arizona: typical posted base $108k–$149k. This one lists $120k–$168k.
Median of the low and high ends of 7 live postings that list pay, out of 16 process engineer openings in Arizona, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
Arizona plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 15 other live process postings in Arizona.
- Base pay
- About 12% above similar roles
- Experience asked
- Not stated
Typical $108k–$149k, from 6 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 7+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- Root cause 56%
- Lean 31%
- Team leadership 25%
- SPC 25%
- DOE 25%
- Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ) 25%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
At a glance
Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.
How to get in at this plant
Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.
- 1
Pick 2–3 people on the Process team at Freeport-McMoRan
Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. Use the team search on this page to find them.
- 2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
- 3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- Is the work mostly new product launches or sustaining existing lines?
- How much time do you spend on the floor versus at a desk?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
- 4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
- 5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.
This plant: Freeport-McMoRan in Phoenix
8 other open roles at this site.
- Reliability Engineer II · Reliability
- Senior Process Automation Engineer · Controls · Senior
- Director Maintenance Strategy & Planning · Reliability · Director+
- Director Engineering Execution Projects · Manufacturing · Director+
- Senior Maintenance Planning Engineering Specialist · Reliability · Senior
- Senior Instrument and Controls Engineer · Controls · Senior
Full description from Freeport-McMoRanAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
What You Will Do
As a technical leader, this role focuses on large‑scale growth projects and strategic initiatives, providing process engineering expertise, engineering leadership, and high‑level guidance throughout the project development cycle while collaborating across the organization to deliver sound engineering judgment and strategic insight.
- ◆Review, verify, and approve engineering documents including PFDs, P&IDs, design criteria, mass/energy balances, equipment specifications, and metallurgical test work scopes.
- ◆Ensure engineering deliverables conform to internal standards, project requirements, and best practices.
- ◆In this role you investigate complex technical challenges and recommend practical, cost‑effective solutions grounded in engineering fundamentals
- ◆Collaborate with discipline engineers, site teams, EPC partners, and stakeholders to ensure high‑quality execution
- ◆Recommend improvements to engineering standards, workflows, tools, and design methodologies.
- ◆As the Principal Engineer I – Process Engineering you support long‑range technical planning, capital budgeting, and strategic project evaluation
- ◆Work closely with operations, geology, maintenance, project management, and corporate technical groups to deliver integrated solutions
- ◆Ensure project and site teams implement engineering improvements and design recommendations
- ◆Mentor and coach engineers and technical specialists to build internal capability, and contribute to internal technical guidelines, knowledge libraries, and best‑practice documents
Preferred Qualifications
- ✓Experience supporting prefeasibility, feasibility, and FEL design stages.
- ✓Experience with major capital project environments (EPC/EPCM experience advantageous).
- ✓Familiarity with process modeling and mass/energy balance tools (e.g., Metsim, HSC, JKSimMet).
- ✓Postgraduate degree or specialized training in extractive metallurgy or process design.
What We Offer You
The estimated annual pay range for this role is currently $120,000-$167,500 . 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
This position will require international travel up to two times per year for two weeks at a time.
Freeport-McMoRan promotes a drug/alcohol-free work environment using mandatory pre-employment drug testing as allowed by applicable laws.
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.
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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 Bring To Freeport
- •Bachelor’s degree in Metallurgical Engineering or Chemical Engineering and seven (7) years of experience in a related engineering field OR
- •Master’s degree in Metallurgical Engineering or Chemical Engineering and five (5) years of experience in a related engineering field OR
- •PhD in Metallurgical Engineering or Chemical Engineering and three (3) years of experience in a related engineering field
- •Strong analytical and problem‑solving capabilities
- •Ability to translate complex technical issues into actionable recommendations
- •High degree of professional judgment with the ability to influence at multiple organizational levels
- •Strong collaboration skills
- •Ability to research and analyze complex information 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 technical and non‑technical stakeholders, verbally and in writing
