Senior Exploration Geologist - Contract

Careermine; California; On-site; USD 105,000 - 138,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Lodging provided

Daily per diem

Travel paid

Potential for extension

Job summary

Mariposa Gold Mines Inc. seeks a Senior Exploration Geologist for a 4-month contract in Mariposa, California. You will lead the geology aspects of the first drill program, log core in detail, design drillholes, and supervise a small team of core technicians during your rotation.

You’ll coordinate with the drilling crew, maintain QA/QC, build 3D vein models, and report progress to management while promoting safety on site. This on-site role requires a geology background and US work eligibility.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Geology or related field.
• 5+ years of exploration experience including time running core drilling programs.
• Experience with orogenic or quartz-vein-hosted gold systems preferred.
• Able to design drill holes and manage drill programs in the field.
• Experience supervising geologists and technicians.
• Strong core logging and structural geology skills.
• Proficiency with Leapfrog, Micromine, ArcGIS/QGIS, or similar tools.
• Solid understanding of sampling QA/QC and industry reporting standards.
• Professional registration (PG, P.Geo., or equivalent) preferred.
• Valid driver’s license and ability to work outdoors on rugged terrain.
• Authorized to work in the United States or CN/TN status eligibility under USMCA Geologist category.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate daily with the drilling crew on hole setup, orientation, downhole surveys and priorities.
• Log NQ core in detail including lithology, alteration, veining, structure and mineralization.
• Manage core handling, sampling and chain of custody with QA/QC program.
• Supervise, train and schedule a team of local core technicians.
• Maintain the drill database and build sections, plans and 3D models of vein geometry and grade.
• Provide clear handovers at crew changes for smooth program execution.
• Report progress and results to management.
• Promote a strong safety culture at the core shed and drill sites.

Skills

Exploration geology

Core logging

Drillhole design

Team leadership

Field risk management

Education

Bachelor’s degree or higher in Geology

Tools

Leapfrog

Micromine

ArcGIS/QGIS

drillhole database software

Job description

Senior Exploration Geologist – Contract

Mariposa Gold Mines Inc. | Mariposa, California | 4-month contract | 3 weeks on / 3 weeks off

Start date: November 24, 2026

About us

Mariposa Gold Mines is a privately held gold exploration company with 1,330 acres of private land (surface and mineral rights) on the southern end of California’s Mother Lode gold belt. The property holds many historic gold mines, including the Princeton and Mt. Ophir mines, but it has never been drilled.

The role

This is a 4-month contract to lead the geology side of our first drill program, managing core logging, designing drillholes, and providing recommendation on drill targeting . You’ll work closely with our in-house drilling crew and train and lead a small team of local core technicians during your rotation.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate daily with the drilling crew on hole setup, orientation, downhole surveys, depths and priorities.
• Log NQ core in detail: lithology, alteration, veining, structure and mineralization, including oriented core and geotechnical data.
• Manage core handling, sampling, cutting and chain of custody, along with a QA/QC program using standards, blanks and duplicates.
• Supervise, train and schedule a team of local core technicians.
• Maintain the drill database and build sections, plans and 3D models of vein geometry and grade.
• Provide clear handovers at each crew change so the program runs smoothly while you’re off site.
• Report progress and results to management.
• Promote a strong safety culture at the core shed and drill sites.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Geology or a related field.
• 5+ years of exploration experience, including significant time running core drilling programs.
• Experience with orogenic or quartz-vein-hosted gold systems preferred.
• Proven ability to design drill holes and manage drill programs in the field.
• Experience supervising geologists and technicians.
• Strong core logging and structural geology skills.
• Proficiency with Leapfrog, Micromine, ArcGIS/QGIS, or similar and drillhole database software.
• Solid understanding of sampling QA/QC and industry reporting standards.
• Professional registration (PG, P.Geo., or equivalent) preferred.
• Valid driver’s license and ability to work outdoors on rugged terrain.
• Must be authorized to work in the United States, or be a Canadian citizen eligible for TN status under the USMCA Geologist category.
• Available to start November 24, 2026.

Compensation and schedule

• US$660 per 12-hour day (inclusive of overtime)
• 3 weeks on / 3 weeks off rotation
• Travel to and from site paid each rotation
• Lodging in Mariposa provided plus a daily per diem
• Potential for extension or full-time employment in the future

Location

The project is a few miles from the historic Gold Rush town of Mariposa, less than an hour from the entrance to Yosemite National Park. The foothill climate is mild, with field work running year-round.

Why join us

• Be part of the first drilling ever on a historic high-grade Mother Lode property.
• Have real influence over targeting and program design with a small, fast-moving team.
• Join at the ground floor of a project with a planned path to resource definition and mine development.