Smelter Operator

Position: Smelter Operator (02)

Employment Category: Permanent

Location: Uganda

Position Summary:

Operate and maintain smelting furnaces (electric induction or gas-fired) to melt and refine gold (dore bars, scrap, or concentrate) into high-purity as may be required. Ensure safety, quality, and efficient production.

Major Duties & Responsibilities:

·       Set up, operate, and monitor smelting furnaces (1–50 kg capacity) per standard procedures.

·       Prepare charge materials: weigh gold-bearing material, add flux (borax, silica, nitre) as per recipe.

·       Control furnace temperature, heating time, and pour sequence to achieve target purity (e.g., 99.5%+).

·       Pour molten gold into moulds to produce ingots/bars; clean and stamp bars.

·       Perform slag handling, sampling, and in-process quality checks.

·       Conduct routine furnace maintenance, cleaning crucibles, checking refractory, replacing parts.

·       Record batch logs. input weights, output weights, flux used, temperature, purity results.

·       Follow all safety protocols, wear PPE, handle hot materials with tongs/crucible carriers, maintain ventilation.

·       Assist in inventory reconciliation (gold intake vs. output).

·       Report equipment malfunctions, safety hazards, or quality deviations immediately Perform any additional related tasks as assigned by supervisors or management.

Education & Experience:

·       BSc Metallurgical Engineering, Materials Science, or Chemical Engineering or Industrial Chemistry (Process control, furnace design, alloying) Hands-on work with flux formulation (borax, silica, soda ash) or Diploma Metallurgy, Extractive Metallurgy, or Chemical Engineering. 

·       At least 2–5 years operating industrial furnaces (gold, precious metals, or similar high-temperature processes).

·       Knowledge of slag management, temperature control, gold recovery efficiency.

·       Experience with safety protocols (PPE, ventilation, emergency response)

·       Understanding of fire assay and cupellation (traditional method.

·       Flux chemistry – selecting correct fluxes for different feed materials (doré bars, scrap, concentrates)

·       Furnace operation – gas, electric, or induction furnaces; refractory maintenance

·       Alloying – adjusting fineness (e.g., 22K, 24K) by adding copper, silver, etc.

Core Competencies:

·       Basic math and weighing skills.

·       Ability to read thermocouples, dials, and simple gauges.

·       Familiarity with flux mixing and slag removal.

·       Hand-eye coordination for safe pouring.

·       Basic computer literacy for batch logging.

·       High integrity (handling valuable materials), attention to detail, safety-conscious

Working Conditions:

·       Environment: This role is 100% based in an industrial processing plant or gold room.

·       Work is performed near high-temperature furnaces (exceeding 1,000°C/1,800°F) and involves exposure to molten metal, heavy equipment, dust, and chemicals.

·       Schedule: Full-time station employment and off station where necessary.