Intern

coal; Brookwood (AL); On-site; USD 57,308,000 - 82,656,000; Full time

Job summary

The Mining Engineering Intern position offers hands-on experience within a large-scale coal mining organization, focusing on applying engineering principles to real-world mining operations while developing technical and analytical skills.

You will work with experienced engineers and operations personnel across mining operations, preparation plant activities, and continuous improvement projects, gaining exposure to safety, planning, and data analysis.

Qualifications

• Current college student pursuing a relevant engineering degree.
• Willingness to learn and apply engineering principles to real mining operations.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and teamwork skills.

Responsibilities

• Understand day-to-day coal mining operations and production requirements.
• Gain knowledge of continuous and longwall mining methods.
• Observe field operations and assist in data collection.
• Assist with mine planning, scheduling, and reporting.
• Support plant operations and safety initiatives.

Skills

Mining operations

Field observations

Data analysis

CAD software

Excel proficiency

Team collaboration

Education

Pursuing degree in Mining Engineering

Tools

CAD software

Mine planning software

Excel

Data collection tools

Job description

The Mining Engineering Intern will gain practical, hands‑on experience supporting engineering and operations within a large-scale coal mining organization. This position is designed to provide a current college student with the opportunity to apply engineering principles in a real‑world mining environment while developing technical, analytical, operational, and problem‑solving skills.

The Engineering Intern will work closely with experienced engineers, mine management, operations, maintenance, safety, preparation plant personnel, and other departments. The intern will gain exposure to the complete coal production process, with an emphasis on understanding continuous mining, longwall mining, and coal preparation plant operations.

This position is intended for a current college student pursuing a degree in Mining Engineering, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or another engineering, technical, or mining-related discipline.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Mining Operations & Engineering

• Partner with underground mining operations and engineering personnel to develop a comprehensive understanding of day-to-day coal mining operations.
• Gain practical knowledge of continuous mining methods , including development, section operations, coal cutting, roof control, ventilation, haulage, material handling, and production processes.
• Gain practical knowledge of longwall mining methods , including shearer operations, shields, face conveyors, roof control, ventilation, face advancement, and production practices.
• Spend meaningful time in the field observing and learning how engineering principles are applied to active mining operations.
• Work with operations and engineering personnel to understand production requirements, operational constraints, equipment capabilities, utilization, cycle times, and productivity.
• Assist with mine planning and scheduling activities and develop an understanding of how short-term and long-term mine plans are translated into daily operating plans.
• Assist with mine engineering projects, field studies, measurements, data collection, calculations, reports, drawings, maps, and technical documentation.
• Participate in field inspections and assist with identifying operational, engineering, safety, and productivity opportunities.
• Assist with evaluating mining processes and developing recommendations to improve safety, productivity, efficiency, reliability, and operating costs.
• Develop an understanding of how geology, mine design, equipment selection, ventilation, ground conditions, maintenance, labor, and operating practices influence mine performance.
• Work with experienced engineers and operations personnel to investigate production and engineering challenges and assist in developing practical solutions.

Preparation Plant Operations

• Partner with preparation plant personnel to develop a working understanding of coal preparation and processing operations .
• Gain exposure to raw coal handling, crushing, sizing, screening, processing, clean coal production, refuse handling, stockpiling, and material handling.
• Develop an understanding of coal quality, recovery, product specifications, and customer requirements.
• Learn how preparation plant performance affects mine production, coal quality, product recovery, customer satisfaction, and overall business performance.
• Assist with collecting and analyzing preparation plant production and process data.
• Participate in projects designed to improve plant productivity, reliability, efficiency, quality, and cost performance.
• Gain an understanding of the relationship between underground mining, coal handling, preparation plant operations, product quality, and shipment.

Engineering & Continuous Improvement

• Collect, analyze, and interpret production, equipment, maintenance, process, and engineering data.
• Assist with identifying opportunities to improve equipment utilization, production, reliability, quality, safety, and cost performance.
• Participate in continuous improvement and process optimization initiatives.
• Assist with evaluating equipment performance, operational processes, and engineering designs.
• Support projects involving mining equipment, mechanical systems, electrical systems, conveyors, processing facilities, infrastructure, and other mining-related applications.
• Utilize Microsoft Excel and other analytical tools to organize, analyze, and present operational data.
• Work with engineering software, CAD systems, mine planning software, databases, and other technical applications as appropriate.
• Assist with preparing engineering reports, presentations, calculations, drawings, maps, and recommendations.
• Participate in project teams and collaborate with operations, maintenance, safety, environmental, geology, surveying, preparation plant, and other departments.
• Develop an understanding of the relationship between engineering decisions, operational execution, safety, productivity, quality, and profitability.

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