Senior Mine Engineer

Job Title: Senior Mine Engineer – Surface Copper Operations (Utah)
Location: Site-Based - La Sal, UT

Job Summary:
We are seeking a seasoned Senior Mine Engineer to provide technical leadership and drive operational excellence at our surface heap leach copper operation in Utah. This is a leadership role requiring a strategic individual to mentor a team of engineers while leveraging extensive surface mining experience. The ideal candidate will be instrumental in developing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), integrating cutting-edge technology, and optimizing all aspects of the mine plan to maximize ore recovery, minimize dilution, and enhance fleet utilization. A strong background in mine planning, grade control, reconciliation, and a relentless focus on safety is paramount.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Leadership & Team Development

• Provide leadership, mentorship, and professional development for a team of mine engineers.

• Foster a culture of safety, accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement within the technical services department.

• Develop, implement, and audit Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for mine planning, design, and survey field execution.

2. Strategic Mine Planning & Design

• Own the mine planning process, developing robust short, medium, and long-term mine plans using industry-standard software (e.g., MineSight, Vulcan, Deswik).

• Design and optimize pit phases, waste dump configurations, and haul road networks with an unwavering priority on geotechnical safety and pit slope stability.

• Conduct detailed mine sequencing and fleet analysis to ensure efficient material movement and achieve production targets.

• Integrate dewatering plans and understand the crushing/conveying system as it pertains to feed to the heap leach pad.

3. Grade Control & Ore Maximization

• Work intimately with the Geology team to develop and implement effective grade control strategies.

• Utilize blast hole sampling data to create accurate block models for ore/waste delineation.

• Lead the effort to minimize ore dilution and maximize ore recovery through precise design, field layout, and operator communication.

• Collaborate with Blasting Operations to ensure drill and blast patterns are designed and executed to achieve designed dig lines, fragmentation goals, and wall control.

4. Reconciliation & Performance Analysis

• Own and manage the monthly reconciliation process, comparing planned vs. actual data across multiple sources: blast hole models, survey data, truck counts, and the resource model.

• Establish, monitor, and report on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) including, but not limited to:

  • Ore Dilution & Ore Loss percentages

  • Total Material Moved (Ore & Waste)

  • Grade Control Accuracy (Planned vs. Actual Copper Grade)

  • Fleet Utilization & Availability

  • Drill & Blast Cost Efficiency ($/ton) and Fragmentation

  • Crusher Throughput (tons per hour)

• Use reconciliation results to identify areas for improvement and drive changes in planning and operational practices.

5. Technology Integration & Innovation

• Research, evaluate, and recommend new technologies (e.g., UAV surveying, GPS machine guidance, proximity detection, advanced modeling software) to improve safety, efficiency, and data accuracy.

• Implement technological solutions for slope monitoring, field mapping, and production tracking to enable rapid reporting and decision-making.

6. Safety & Compliance

• Champion safety as the absolute first priority in all planning and operational activities.

• Ensure all mine designs and plans meet or exceed MSHA regulations and company safety standards.

• Incorporate best practices for geotechnical pit design, haul road safety, and dump stability into all mine plans.

Required Skills & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Mining Engineering or related field; Master’s degree preferred.

• 8+ years of progressive experience in open-pit mine engineering, with significant experience in copper heap leach operations.

• Proven leadership experience with a demonstrated ability to lead, develop, and mentor a team of engineers.

• High proficiency in mine planning software (e.g., MineSight, Vulcan, Deswik) and grade control modeling.

• Expert knowledge of resource and reserve estimation techniques, pit and dump design, and mine sequencing.

• Strong understanding of drill & blast, haulage, crushing/conveying, and leach pad operations.

• Extensive experience with mine reconciliation processes and KPI development.

• Excellent communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills with the ability to work effectively with operations, geology, and maintenance teams.