Geotechnical Engineer

Jerritt Canyon; Elko (NV); On-site; USD 80,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

Jerritt Canyon, located in Elko, Nevada, is seeking a Geotechnical Engineer responsible for evaluating soil, rock, and groundwater conditions critical for mining project safety and efficiency. This role entails conducting investigations, analyzing stability, and designing necessary systems for both open-pit and underground operations.

The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor's degree in Mining or Geotechnical Engineering, along with 5-8 years of relevant experience. Opportunities to work closely with various engineering teams are essential for optimizing safety and production.

Qualifications

• 5-8+ years of mining geotechnical experience.
• Knowledgeable in rock mechanics and soil mechanics.
• Experience with slope stability analysis and technical reporting.

Responsibilities

• Conduct geotechnical investigations including drilling programs and field mapping.
• Analyze rock mass behavior, slope stability, and soil mechanics.
• Design stope dimensions and underground ground support systems.

Skills

Geotechnical investigations

Soil mechanics

Slope stability analysis

Ground support design

Advanced numerical modelling

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mining Engineering, Geological Engineering, or Geotechnical Engineering

Master's degree in Geotechnical Engineering or Rock Mechanics

Tools

FLAC3D

Rocscience Suite

GeoStudio

Surpac

Vulcan

AutoCAD

GIS platforms

Job description

About Jerritt Canyon

The Jerritt Canyon deposit was discovered in 1972, and the first gold production from the property occurred in 1981. The Jerritt Canyon property contains 30,821 hectares of mining claims located in the mining-friendly state of Nevada. First Majestic acquired the Jerritt Canyon Gold Mine from Sprott Mining Inc. on April 30, 2021. In May 2023, operations were suspended to prioritize exploration and technical studies. Jerritt Canyon is now entering a new phase of evaluation and planning, requiring substantial technical support to advance the work necessary for a potential future restart of operations.

The Opportunity

The Geotechnical Engineer is responsible for evaluating soil, rock, effects of groundwater, and geologic conditions to ensure the safe and efficient design, construction, and operation of mining projects. This role supports open-pit mines, underground mines, tailings storage facilities, waste dumps, haul roads, and related infrastructure by assessing ground stability and geotechnical risks.

Geotechnical Engineers work closely with mine planning, geology, operations, environmental, and civil engineering teams to optimize mine safety, production, and long-term stability.

Responsibilities

• Conduct geotechnical investigations including drilling programs, rock and soil sampling, laboratory testing, and field mapping.
• Analyze rock mass behavior, slope stability, ground support requirements, and soil mechanics.
• Develop geotechnical models for open-pit and underground mining operations.
• Perform advanced numerical modelling using FLAC3D and industry-leading constitutive models to support complex geotechnical assessments.
• Support stope sequencing, mine design optimization, and excavation stability assessments.
• Design and evaluate:
  • Stope dimensions and estimates of ore dilution and Equivalent Linear Overbreak Slough (ELOS)
  • Underground ground support systems
  • Pit slopes and bench configurations
  • Waste rock dumps
  • Tailings storage facilities
• Use geotechnical software for modeling and stability analysis including advanced numerical modelling approaches.
• Support and contribute to Ground Control Management Plans (GCMPs), TARPs, and geotechnical risk management processes.
• Monitor ground conditions using instrumentation such as prisms, piezometers, extensometers, and radar systems.
• Interpret and manage geotechnical monitoring data, including prism, MPBX/extensometer, radar, and other instrumentation outputs.
• Identify geotechnical hazards including slope failures, rockfalls, subsidence, and seismic risks.
• Develop mitigation plans and emergency response recommendations.
• Perform inspections and prepare stability assessments and technical reports.
• Provide day-to-day geotechnical guidance to mine operations teams.
• Work closely with operations teams to develop practical and implementable geotechnical solutions.
• Recommend operational changes to improve safety and production efficiency.
• Support drill-and-blast optimization from a geotechnical perspective.
• Participate in mine planning and scheduling meetings.
• Ensure compliance with mining regulations, environmental standards, and company safety policies.
• Prepare technical documentation, risk assessments, and engineering reports.
• Support permitting and regulatory submissions.
• Coordinate with geologists, mine engineers, surveyors, and environmental specialists.
• Manage contractors and geotechnical consultants when required.
• Mentor junior engineers and technicians.
• Present findings and recommendations to management and stakeholders.

The above duties and responsibilities are representative of the nature and level of work assigned and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Mining Engineering, Geological Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering or related field.
• Master's degree in Geotechnical Engineering or Rock Mechanics preferred.
• 5-8+ years of mining geotechnical experience
• Knowledgeable in rock mechanics and soil mechanics
• Experience with slope stability analysis, ground support design and data interpretation and technical reporting
• Experience with geotechnical and mine design software such as FLAC3D, Rocscience Suite (Unwedge and Dips), GeoStudio, Surpac, Vulcan, AutoCAD, and GIS platforms.
• Experience with advanced numerical modelling software, FLAC3D, will be viewed favorably; however, training and mentoring will be available for suitable candidates.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The Company is an equal employment opportunity employer committed to providing employment opportunities to employees and applicants in accordance with all applicable laws.