Mining Engineering Intern (Summer 2027)

USA Rare Earth; Sierra Blanca (TX); On-site; USD 25,000 - 39,000; Full time

Job summary

You will collaborate with mining, geology, processing, and project development teams to support a critical minerals project and gain experience across engineering disciplines in a mining environment.

Qualifications

• Pursuing a bachelor's or master's in Mining Engineering or related field.
• Strong foundation in surface mining and mine planning concepts.
• Ability to analyze data and support engineering decisions.
• Familiarity with Excel and data analysis.

Responsibilities

• Support mine planning and design activities for a developing surface rare earth mine.
• Assist with pit design, mine sequencing, haul roads, material movement, and production planning.
• Analyze geological and mine planning data to support engineering and development decisions.
• Assist with mine development studies, engineering evaluations, cost estimates, and technical documentation.
• Support field investigations, surveying, site assessments, and data collection activities.
• Prepare maps, drawings, reports, spreadsheets, and other engineering deliverables.
• Collaborate with geology, mineral processing, environmental, permitting, and project teams.
• Support the evaluation and development of practical, safe, and efficient mining methods for rare earth ore.

Skills

Analytical skills

Organizational skills

Problem solving

Microsoft Excel

Office suite

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Mining Engineering or related

Tools

CAD

GIS

Mine planning tools

Job description

We are on a mission to become a leading supplier of critical materials that enable the green energy and technology revolution. Our materials and technologies are required for the electric vehicle, green energy, consumer electronics, and defense industries, and our battery grade lithium and tech metals are needed for chipsets, semiconductors, and 5G.

We have a substantial interest in the Round Top, Heavy Rare Earth, Lithium and Critical Minerals deposit in West Texas. We have also developed the United States’ first rare earth and critical minerals processing facility and we own the only scalable, sintered neo-magnet manufacturing system in the Western Hemisphere. By developing this fully integrated, US-based “mine-to-magnet” critical mineral supply chain, we are poised to become the leading domestic supplier to these industries.

What you can expect:

Build Solutions

If our task was a simple one, it would already be done. We are creative and solution-oriented, and we think outside the box to solve important problems. We know that a range of expertise and technologies is needed for success, and we work across sectors and alongside customers to deliver world-class solutions in sustainable ways.

Deliver Quality

When we do things, we do them well. We believe that top-tier quality leads to industry competitiveness and we hold ourselves to the highest quality standards. We move fast when executing, but safety, quality, and excellence always come first.

Lead responsibly

We have a responsibility to the planet, our consumers, our country, and each other. We put safety at the center of all we do, take accountability for our actions, incorporate sustainable practices in our processes and act with the financial best interest of our investors and consumers in mind.

Win Together

Establishing a rare earth magnet supply chain is a big undertaking – and getting there is a team effort. We communicate openly, work together and challenge each other in pursuit of our goals. With every step we take we learn and get better.

Position Summary

We are seeking a Mining Engineering Intern to support the development of a new surface rare earth mining operation at the Round Top Mine in Sierra Blanca, Texas. This onsite role will provide hands-on exposure to mine planning, engineering analysis, site development, and field activities as the project advances toward construction and future operations. The intern will work alongside mining, geology, processing, and project development teams to support the development of a critical minerals project.

Key Responsibilities

• Support mine planning and design activities for a developing surface rare earth mine.
• Assist with pit design, mine sequencing, haul roads, material movement, and production planning.
• Analyze geological and mine planning data to support engineering and development decisions.
• Assist with mine development studies, engineering evaluations, cost estimates, and technical documentation.
• Support field investigations, surveying, site assessments, and other data collection activities.
• Prepare maps, drawings, reports, spreadsheets, and other engineering deliverables.
• Collaborate with geology, mineral processing, environmental, permitting, and project teams.
• Support the evaluation and development of practical, safe, and efficient mining methods for rare earth ore.

Required Qualifications

• Currently pursuing a bachelor's or master's degree in Mining Engineering or a related engineering discipline.
• Strong academic foundation in surface mining, mine planning, engineering principles, or related coursework.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, particularly Excel.
• Ability to work safely and effectively in both office and field environments.

Preferred Qualifications

• Coursework or experience in surface mine design, mine planning, production engineering, or critical minerals.
• Familiarity with mining engineering software, CAD, GIS, or mine planning tools.
• Previous mining, geology, engineering, or field experience.
• Interest in rare earth elements, critical minerals, and the development of domestic mineral resources.

Physical Demands

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and distance vision. While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to walk, stand, move, sit, carry, bend, kneel, reach, push, pull, lift, use hands and fingers, handle, or feel and talk and hear. May be required to lift and move boxes or packages not exceeding 20 pounds in weight. Some work stress inherent to the position and extended work hours may be required.

Work Environment:

The work environment will be a mix of a typical office environment, construction site, and active mining site. This work will be performed on-site at Round Top Mountain, including on drilling pads, and in the on-site core storage facility.

Exposure will vary and include normal office noise, mining site noise (i.e. drilling activity and heavy equipment noise), and construction site noise depending on project phase and location.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and distance vision. While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to walk, stand, move, sit, carry, bend, kneel, reach, push, pull, lift, use hands and fingers, handle, or feel and talk and hear. May be required to lift and move boxes or packages not exceeding 20 pounds in weight. Some work stress inherent to the position and extended work hours may be required.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, skills required of personnel so classified.

USA Rare Earth proudly supports Equal Employment Opportunities

USA Rare Earth's policy is to provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants and will provide reasonable accommodations according to applicable federal, state, and/or local laws.

For assistance applying for employment through this site due to disability, please contact People & Culture, [e-mail], to discuss reasonable accommodations.