Supervisor Drill Control

Fortescue; Perth; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Fortescue, based in Perth, seeks a Supervisor - Drill Control to lead a team of HIVE Drill Controllers and oversee the remote operation of autonomous drill rigs across our mining operations.

You will coordinate with site mining, maintenance and technology teams, drive drill plans, respond in real time to changing conditions and coach your team to embed new autonomous technologies and safer, more productive ways of working.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in drilling, remote operations or control-room environments.
• Proven experience leading teams in high-tempo operational settings.
• Strong understanding of drilling operations, drill plans and patterns.
• Ability to interpret operational and system data and coordinate across multiple teams.
• Excellent communication and decision-making under time-critical conditions.
• Experience with Epiroc, Flanders or comparable autonomous drill systems is highly regarded.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach and develop a team of HIVE Drill Controllers, building capability in autonomous operations and decision-making.
• Oversee safe remote control and monitoring of multiple autonomous drill rigs, ensuring activities align with plans.
• Coordinate with site Mining, Maintenance, Engineering and Technology teams to manage drill priorities and operational constraints.
• Lead response to faults, communications loss, or anomalies with risk management and continuity.
• Monitor performance and utilisation to identify opportunities for safer, more productive operations.
• Maintain governance through effective handovers, reporting and compliant procedures.

Skills

Team leadership

Decision making

Safety focus

Communication

Education

Engineering or Leadership qualification

Tools

Epiroc drill systems

Flanders automation

Job description

Our Opportunity

Work Location: Perth CBD- Fortescue's Perth office is located on the traditional lands of the Whadjuk people.

Roster: 4 Days / 4 Nights / 8 Off

Lead the people and technology behind Fortescue's autonomous drilling operations. As Supervisor - Drill Control, you'll lead a team of Drill Controllers from the HIVE, overseeing the safe, efficient and optimised remote operation of multiple autonomous drill rigs across our mining operations.

This is a hands-on operational leadership role where strong decision-making, technical understanding and people leadership come together. You'll coordinate closely with site mining, maintenance and technology teams to deliver drill plans, manage operational priorities and respond to changing conditions in real time. Just as importantly, you'll coach and develop your team, drive improvements in system utilisation and drilling performance, and help embed new autonomous technologies and better ways of working across our remote operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, coach and develop a team of HIVE Drill Controllers, building capability in autonomous operations, situational awareness, problem-solving and effective decision-making.
• Oversee the safe remote control and monitoring of multiple autonomous drill rigs, ensuring drilling activities align with approved plans, patterns and operational priorities.
• Coordinate with site Mining, Maintenance, Engineering and Technology teams to manage drill priorities, equipment readiness, access, maintenance windows and operational constraints.
• Lead the response to system faults, loss of communications, equipment anomalies and other abnormal situations, ensuring effective risk management, escalation and business continuity.
• Monitor drilling performance, system utilisation, delays and downtime data to identify improvement opportunities and drive safer, more productive and reliable operations.
• Maintain strong operational governance through effective shift handovers, accurate reporting, disciplined procedures and compliance with safety, risk and escalation requirements.

Qualifications And Experience

• Significant experience in drilling, remote operations or control-room environments, with demonstrated exposure to autonomous or remotely operated mining equipment.
• Proven experience leading teams within high-tempo operational environments, with the ability to coach, develop and confidently guide people through changing priorities.
• Strong understanding of drilling operations, drill plans and patterns, geo-boundaries, access coordination and safe interaction with autonomous equipment.
• Demonstrated ability to interpret operational and system data, manage competing priorities and coordinate effectively across site, maintenance and technical teams.
• Strong communication and decision-making skills, with the composure to lead effectively through abnormal, time-critical or high-consequence operational events.
• Experience with Epiroc, Flanders or comparable autonomous drill systems is highly regarded, along with relevant qualifications in Drilling, Mining, Engineering or Leadership.

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.

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.