DRI Specialist

Role Summary

A project-focused technical specialist role responsible for providing subject-matter expertise for the Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) facilities being developed as part of the integrated steel plant project in Iowa. The role will support the DRI package through engineering and design development, technical reviews, technology and equipment interfaces, project execution, construction support, commissioning, and start-up readiness. The position will work closely with project management, engineering consultants, technology licensors, equipment suppliers, contractors, and future plant operations teams to ensure that the DRI facility is designed and delivered in line with project specifications, schedule, budget, safety, operability, and performance requirements.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide DRI process and technical expertise throughout the project lifecycle, from concept and engineering development through procurement, construction, commissioning, and handover.
• Review and provide technical inputs on the DRI process design basis, process flow diagrams (PFDs), piping and instrumentation diagrams (P&IDs), heat and material balances, equipment specifications, and process design documents.
• Work with the technology licensor, engineering consultants, and project teams to review the selected DRI process technology and ensure that process design requirements are appropriately incorporated into the project.
• Review technical specifications, equipment datasheets, requisitions, vendor documents, and engineering deliverables for major DRI plant packages and process systems.
• Participate in technical bid evaluations, vendor discussions, design reviews, and technical clarifications related to DRI process technology, equipment, and plant systems.
• Coordinate process and engineering interfaces between the DRI facility and other plant areas, including raw material handling, pellet supply, gas systems, utilities, material handling, product storage, and EAF steelmaking.
• Review design provisions for feed material quality, reducing gas systems, process gas handling, product discharge, cooling, storage, and DRI transportation, as applicable to the selected technology.
• Identify design gaps, technical risks, constructability issues, operability concerns, and opportunities for optimization; coordinate resolution with the relevant engineering and project stakeholders.
• Support project planning and execution by providing inputs on engineering schedules, procurement priorities, package interfaces, technical dependencies, and critical-path activities.
• Review contractor and supplier submissions, respond to technical queries, and support timely closure of engineering comments and technical deviations.
• Provide technical support during construction and installation, including review of field changes, resolution of site technical issues, and verification that installation is consistent with approved design and project requirements.
• Participate in HAZID, HAZOP, design safety reviews, process hazard assessments, and other project risk reviews; ensure that relevant actions are tracked and closed.
• Support development and review of commissioning philosophies, commissioning procedures, operating manuals, performance test protocols, and start-up readiness plans.
• Coordinate with commissioning and future operations teams to ensure that process systems, operating procedures, training requirements, spares, and technical documentation are adequately addressed before handover.
• Maintain technical documentation, design review records, interface registers, technical query logs, risk registers, and action trackers relevant to the DRI package.
• Provide regular technical progress updates to project leadership, highlighting engineering status, critical issues, risks, decisions required, and mitigation plans.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Metallurgical, Chemical, Mechanical, or other relevant Engineering discipline; a postgraduate qualification in Metallurgy, Ironmaking, or Process Engineering is preferred.
• 10–20 years of relevant experience in DRI technology, ironmaking, process engineering, or engineering and project execution within the iron and steel industry.
• Strong technical understanding of gas-based Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) processes and associated plant systems.
• Experience in DRI plant projects, including engineering, design review, technology interfaces, equipment selection, procurement support, construction, commissioning, or start-up.
• Working knowledge of DRI process technologies such as MIDREX will be an advantage, particularly where relevant to the technology selected for the project.
• Ability to review and interpret process flow diagrams, P&IDs, heat and material balances, equipment datasheets, technical specifications, and engineering documents.
• Understanding of iron ore pellet feed requirements, reducing gas systems, DRI quality parameters such as metallization and carbon content, and interfaces with EAF steelmaking.
• Knowledge of project engineering practices, design reviews, technical bid evaluations, interface management, risk assessment, and project documentation.
• Familiarity with commissioning planning, performance guarantees, plant acceptance testing, and operational handover.
• Strong technical problem-solving, communication, coordination, and stakeholder-management skills.

Working Conditions

• Based in Iowa, United States, supporting the DRI project within the integrated steel plant development.
• Will work closely with project management, engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning, technology providers, EPC/EPCM contractors, and future plant operations teams.

Preferred Experience

• Prior involvement in a greenfield DRI plant project, preferably from engineering and design through commissioning and start-up.
• Experience with large-scale gas-based DRI facilities and major process equipment packages.
• Experience working with MIDREX technology providers, engineering contractors, or DRI equipment suppliers.
• Exposure to integrated steel plant projects with DRI supply to an EAF-based steelmaking facility.