Drill & Blast Engineer – Technical Services

Blastcon Pty Ltd; Townsville City; On-site; AUD 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive remuneration

Full-time opportunities

DIDO across North Queensland

Accommodation, meals & travel provided

Uniforms and PPE provided

Career development

Safety-focused team environment

Job summary

Blastcon Australia is seeking an experienced Drill & Blast Engineer or Technical Services Specialist for field-based roles across Townsville, Charters Towers and North Queensland. You will work with our operational teams to design, plan and execute blasting activities with a focus on safety, efficiency and continuous improvement.

The role requires strong field capability, deep practical knowledge of drill and blast, and the ability to contribute from day one on site.

Qualifications

• Degree in Mining Engineering or related discipline.
• 5+ years post-graduate drill and blast experience or 15+ years hands-on experience.
• Strong practical field-based blasting knowledge in hard rock mining.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, planning and optimisation of drill and blast designs.
• Provide hands-on technical support on blasting activities.
• Conduct on-bench QAQC inspections and verify hole layouts and depths.
• Analyse blast performance and identify practical improvements.
• Maintain technical records and ensure compliance with safety standards.

Skills

Field-based execution

Drill & blast techniques

Operational collaboration

Education

Mining Engineering degree

Tools

drill & blast software

GPS guidance systems

QAQC methods

Job description

Drill & Blast Engineer – Technical Services

Blastcon Australia is seeking an experienced, technically proficient and hands-on Drill & Blast Engineer / Technical Services Specialist to join our expanding operations across Townsville, Charters Towers and North Queensland.

This is a predominantly field-based role, suited to an experienced professional who thrives in an operational environment and enjoys being directly involved in drill and blast activities.

We are looking for someone who can combine strong technical expertise with extensive practical experience, working alongside our operational teams to deliver safe, efficient and high-quality blasting outcomes.

This is not an office-based engineering position. You will be actively involved on the blast bench, supporting operations from initial design and planning through to execution, performance assessment and continuous improvement.

What You'll Be Doing

• Leading digitalisation of internal and external software and technologies.

• Prepare, review and optimise drill and blast designs, including drill patterns, burden and spacing, charging parameters and initiation sequences.

• Provide hands-on technical support to drilling and blasting activities within active mining and quarrying operations.

• Conduct on-bench QAQC inspections, verifying drill hole locations, depths, angles and compliance with approved blast designs.

• Monitor drilling accuracy, blast preparation and operational performance to ensure technical specifications are achieved.

• Work collaboratively with Shotfirers, Drillers, the Drill & Blast Supervisor and wider mining teams to ensure designs are practical, achievable and safely executed.

• Analyse blast performance, including fragmentation, dilution, dig ability, vibration and other relevant operational outcomes.

• Utilise a range of drill and blast design software, GPS systems and technical applications to support operational requirements.

• Identify opportunities to optimise blast designs, improve productivity, reduce costs and enhance overall blasting performance.

• Maintain accurate technical records, blast reports, performance data and operational documentation.

• Ensure technical activities comply with relevant legislation, safety standards and site-specific requirements.

• Contribute to the implementation of improved drill and blast methodologies, technologies and operational practices.

What We're Looking For

We are seeking a highly capable technical professional who can confidently apply their knowledge in the field and contribute effectively to operations from day one.

Essential Experience & Qualifications:

Applicants must meet one of the following experience pathways:

• Degree-qualified applicants: A relevant tertiary qualification in Mining Engineering or a closely related engineering discipline, together with a minimum of 5 years' post-graduate experience in drill and blast engineering.

OR

• Industry-experienced applicants: A minimum of 15 years' relevant, hands-on drill and blast experience, including substantial technical services, blast design and operational responsibilities.

All applicants must also demonstrate:

• Extensive practical knowledge of opencut drill and blast operations, including blast design, drilling methodologies, explosives applications and initiation systems in hard rock mining.

• Proven experience preparing, interpreting, reviewing and optimising drill and blast designs.

• Demonstrated competency across various drill and blast and mining design software packages.

• Strong field-based experience conducting drill and blast QAQC, operational inspections and technical assessments.

• Ability to analyse blast performance, identify operational challenges and implement practical improvements.

• Strong analytical, technical and problem-solving capabilities.

• Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgement and deliver accurate technical outcomes.

• Excellent communication skills and the ability to collaborate effectively with operational teams.

• Demonstrated commitment to workplace health and safety and proactive risk management.

• Willingness and ability to work predominantly in the field, including active mine and quarry environments.

• Current manual driver's licence.

• Ability to successfully complete a pre-employment medical, including drug and alcohol screening.

• Ability to provide recent, relevant employment references.

Highly Regarded:

• Formal qualifications in Mining Engineering or a related discipline.

• Previous hands-on experience in Shotfirer, Blast Technician or other operational drill and blast roles.

• Current Shotfirer license

• Queensland Explosive Security Clearance (QESC)

• Experience with GPS guidance systems, survey equipment and drone technology.

• Experience in blast performance analysis, fragmentation assessment and vibration monitoring.

• Experience with electronic initiation systems and emerging drill and blast technologies.

• Demonstrated success implementing drill and blast optimisation and continuous improvement initiatives.

What We Offer

At Blastcon Australia, we value practical expertise, technical capability and people who take pride in delivering quality outcomes.

We offer:

• Competitive remuneration reflective of experience, qualifications and technical capability.

• Full-time employment with long-term opportunities.

• Predominantly DIDO opportunities across North Queensland.

• Roster arrangements dependent on project requirements.

• Accommodation, meals and work-related travel provided.

• Company-supplied uniforms and PPE.

• Exposure to diverse drill and blast operations, technologies and projects.

• The opportunity to work alongside experienced operational and technical professionals.

• Ongoing professional development and career progression.

• A supportive, safety-focused team environment within a rapidly growing organisation.

Join Our Team

If you're an experienced Drill & Blast Engineer or Technical Services Specialist who enjoys applying technical expertise in a practical, operational environment, we'd love to hear from you.

We're looking for someone who doesn't just design the blast — they want to be on the bench helping deliver it.