Our Opportunity

Work Location: Perth & significant site travel

Roster: Monday - Friday - with flexibility to support site-based rosters

Fortescue is building the next wave of operational innovation by bringing Physical Artificial Intelligence (Physical AI) into our sites. This Manager role leads the strategy and deployment of robotics, autonomous and assistive systems, computer vision and large-scale sensing that make operations safer and more productive.

Reporting to the GM Operations and Projects AI, the Manager Physical AI – Site Operations is accountable for developing Fortescue’s enterprise Physical AI strategy and capability roadmap and translating that strategy into practical deployments across site operations.

The role works in close partnership with site General Managers, safety and operational leaders, and frontline teams to identify priorities, deliver outcomes and embed solutions into the way work is done. It will build a scalable enterprise capability while staying closely connected to site needs, working across site teams, the AI team, Health and Safety, Integrated Technology and other relevant functions.

Key Responsibilities

• Own and deliver Fortescue’s enterprise Physical AI strategy, capability roadmap and operating model, aligned with business priorities and the needs of site operations.
• Build and maintain a prioritised portfolio of opportunities, developing compelling business cases and assessing potential safety, productivity, reliability, scalability and business-value outcomes.
• Partner with site General Managers, operational/safety leaders and frontline teams to understand operational challenges, identify and prioritise use cases, and build trust and adoption.
• Lead site deployments in collaboration with site teams, from use-case definition and rapid prototyping through engineering integration, commissioning, operational readiness, change management, support and continuous improvement.
• Develop and scale robotics, drones, autonomous and assistive systems, computer vision and large-scale sensing. Capture learnings from successful site deployments and turn them into repeatable solutions that can be adopted across Fortescue.
• Establish a disciplined trial, learn, iterate and scale approach, accelerating solutions that demonstrate value and stopping or reshaping those that do not. Develop reusable engineering, safety, cybersecurity and assurance practices with relevant enterprise and site teams.
• Build, hire and lead a high-performing multidisciplinary team, and work closely with the AI team, Health and Safety, Integrated Technology and other functions to align enterprise capability with site delivery.
• Mobilise and maintain a strong international network of robotics, drone, automation and industrial technology suppliers, manufacturers and research partners. Assess technologies, form effective partnerships and hold vendors accountable for safe, scalable operational outcomes.

Qualifications and Experience

A successful candidate must have

• Substantial experience leading the deployment of robotics, autonomous systems, industrial automation or other physical systems into live, safety-critical operations.
• Credibility from heavy industry such as automotive manufacturing, advanced manufacturing, shipbuilding, mining, resources, logistics or a comparable high-throughput operational environment.
• A track record of taking physical technology beyond pilots into reliable, maintainable and scaled operational use, including integration with equipment, controls, work practices and support models.
• Strong safety leadership and practical experience applying risk management, engineering assurance and operational controls to systems that interact with people, vehicles and plant.
• Collaborative and engaging leadership, with the change-management capability to work alongside frontline teams, build trust, redesign work and sustain adoption under real operating conditions.
• Strategic and commercial judgement to identify high-value use cases, create a plan from ambiguity, make clear trade-offs, engage directly with General Managers and deliver at pace.

Additional key skills that would be beneficial

• Experience scaling computer vision, industrial sensing, edge and OT integration, telemetry, wireless networks or fleet-scale device management.
• Experience with robotics, drones, autonomous or assistive systems, machine vision or specialist engineering suppliers.
• An international network across robotics, automation, machine vision or industrial technology.
• Qualifications in engineering, robotics, mechatronics, automation or controls, or equivalent relevant experience.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary technical teams and complex technical programs.

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.