Senior Blasting Technician

Solar Mining Services; Middelburg; On-site; EUR 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Solar Mining Services is seeking a Senior Blasting Technician to ensure effective blast designs, on-bench surveys, quality checks and performance monitoring on site in Middelburg, Zeeland. You will mentor junior staff and support production goals through precise blasting operations.

Responsibilities include on-bench monitoring, VoD tests, high-speed video analyses, shift feedback, and maintaining safety and compliance with site standards. A strong background in explosives management is essential.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 3 years’ experience within an Explosives / Mining Environment.
• Knowledge of Mining / Construction / and Explosives Principles.
• Valid rock breaker certificate of Competency / Blasting Ticket advantageous.
• Valid driver’s license code 08.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and facilitate training sessions for Solar Mining Services and client personnel.
• Provide on-the-job coaching and mentoring to junior technicians and site personnel.
• Deliver technical support services to SMS northwest business unit as required by operations managers or clients.
• Perform on-bench blast monitoring, including product quality checks, performance evaluations, blast result analysis, and blast optimization.
• Conduct technical field measurements to support product quality assurance and client-specific requirements, including VoD tests, high-speed video analysis, density checks, rock response time studies, and hot hole assessments.

Skills

Explosives management

Mine safety compliance

Coaching & training

Education

Grade 12

Blasting Engineering

Rock breaker certificate / Blasting Ticket

Driver's license code 08

Remote Pilot Certificate

Mining principles knowledge

Job description

Introduction

Senior Blasting Technician is required to ensures effective implementation of blast designs, on-bench surveys, quality checks, and performance monitoring. The technician will also assists with field measurements, data collection, and mentoring of junior staff, ensuring all activities comply with safety and operational standards. The role requires strong technical skills, attention to detail, and a commitment to continuous improvement to optimize blasting efficiency and support production goals.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Coordinate and facilitate training sessions for both Solar Mining Services and client personnel, ensuring alignment with operational standards and site requirements.
• Provide on-the-job coaching and mentoring to junior technicians and site personnel to build technical competence and support continuous improvement.
• Deliver technical support services to all SMS northwest business unit as required by operations managers or clients, ensuring timely and professional responses to site needs.
• Perform on-bench blast monitoring, including product quality checks, performance evaluations, blast result analysis, and blast optimization.
• Conduct technical field measurements to support product quality assurance and client-specific requirements. These include:
  • Velocity of Detonation (VoD) tests
  • High-speed video analysis
  • Density checks
  • Rock response time studies
  • Hot hole and reactive ground assessments
• Support the fulfilment of technical Service Level Agreements (SLAs) between Solar Mining Services and its clients, ensuring consistent delivery of high-quality technical services.
• Adhere to Service Level Agreement with customer onsite
• Ensure work performed by employees is done in a safe efficient manner
• Communication, feedback reporting between shifts, to line management, mine (responsible person) and recorded.
• Daily planning related to blasting activities, coaching with regard to blast related activities
• Monitoring and recording of blast related activities (face focus)
• Document control, sign off, submission, files and notice boards to be kept up to date
• Feedback reports electronically to customer and line management on a daily basis as and when required
• Perform Planned task observations, audits, risk assessment and over inspections surface operations
• Assist customer with Value Added Business Projects on respective mines where required with permission from line management
• Assist mine with implementation of Explosives related services
• Vehicle (Fuel) card / Credit card expense reports are submitted as per arrangement with head office and ensure that company vehicles are well looked after (clean, services are done as per vehicle manufacturers requirements and inspected for damage)
• Daily site/blast inspection, record, recommend, assist and rectify
• Ensure all Equipment is inspected and all deviations to be reported in daily, weekly & monthly reports.

Desired Experience & Qualification

• Grade 12
• Blasting Engineering
• Valid rock breaker certificate of Competency / Blasting Ticket advantageous
• Valid driver’s license code 08
• Knowledge of Mining / Construction / and Explosives Principles
• Knowledge of Company Policies and Procedures
• Remote Pilot Certificate
• Familiar with surface mining, worked previously on mines with a minimum of 5 Years in explosives management
• Minimum of 3 years’ experience within an Explosives / Mining Environment