Senior Long Term Planning Engineer

WorkNovaX; Tucson (AZ); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

WorkNovaX in Tucson, AZ seeks a Senior Long Term Planning Engineer to define the strategic direction and maximize the economic value of the mining operation.

You will develop and maintain the Life-of-Mine plan, conduct pit optimizations, and perform trade-off studies to guide major capital investments and operational strategy, while collaborating across Geology, Geotechnical, Hydrogeology, Processing, Environmental and Finance teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mining Engineering is required; a post‑graduate degree is a strong asset.
• 7–10+ years of proven experience in open pit mining; at least 2+ years in short/medium term planning and 3+ years in long term planning.
• Expert knowledge of mine planning/optimization software (Whittle, MinePlan, Deswik).
• Strong knowledge of open pit optimization principles, NPV modeling, and strategic mine design.
• Financial modelling and economic analysis including DCF valuation.

Responsibilities

• Strategic and Long Range Mine Planning & Mine Design.
• Life-of-Mine (LOM) Plan development, updates based on resource models and constraints.
• Economic optimization using pit design, pushbacks, and phase sequencing to maximize NPV.
• Design and layout of long-term mine infrastructure and sequencing of operations.
• Build and validate long-term mine schedules (5-year and LOM).
• Perform Reserve/Resource estimation and reporting.
• Ensure safety compliance in all mine designs and plans.

Skills

Strategic mine planning

NPV modeling

Open pit optimization

Cross-functional collaboration

Safety compliance

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mining Engineering

Post-graduate degree

Tools

Whittle

Hexagon MinePlan 3D/MPSO

Deswik Go

Job description

Tucson, United States | Posted on 08/13/2026

Our client is looking for a Senior Long Term Planning Engineer who will be responsible for defining the strategic direction and long-term economic value of the mining operation. This role develops and maintains the Life-of-Mine (LOM) plan, conducts pit/phase optimizations, and performs trade-off studies that guide major capital investments and operational strategy. Role accountabilities include:

• Strategic and Long Range Mine Planning & Mine Design
• Life-of-Mine (LOM) Plan Development: Develop, maintain, and update the comprehensive LOM plan based on the latest resource models, cost data, and geotechnical/regulatory and operational constraints.
• Economic Optimization: Conduct ultimate pit limit optimizations, pushback designs, and phase sequencing using strategic planning tools (e.g., Whittle, NPV Scheduler) to maximize Net Present Value (NPV) of the project.
• Design & Layout: Design long-term mine infrastructure, including ultimate pit limits, waste storage facilities, stockpiles, haul roads, and primary crushing/material handling sequencing.
• Long-Term Mine Scheduling: Build and validate long-term (5-year and LOM) mine schedules, defining the annual movement of ore and waste and the progression of mining phases.
• Mineral Reserves: Perform annual Reserve/Resource estimation and reporting.
• Safety and Compliance: Prioritizes safety in mine plans and mine designs ensuring that all work supports safe operations, adhering to all relevant safety protocols and regulations.
• Cost Modeling: Develop and maintain detailed long-range cost models, incorporating capital expenditures (CapEx) for equipment and infrastructure, and operating expenditures (OpEx) for drill/blast, loading/haulage, and processing.
• Scenario & Trade-Off Analysis: Conduct in-depth economic trade-off studies (e.g., cut-off grade optimization, stockpiling strategies, pit expansion timing) using Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) modeling to support business decisions.
• Budget Support: Translate the long-term strategic models into the foundation for actionable 5-year plans and support the annual budgeting and rolling forecast updates.
• Technical Integration Compliance
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Act as a key interface between Geology, Geotechnical Engineering, Hydrogeology, Processing, Environmental and Finance to ensure all technical and cost inputs are integrated and aligned within the strategic plan.
• Geotechnical & Hydrological Integration: Incorporate slope stability parameters, dewatering requirements, and other critical technical constraints into mine designs to ensure safety and practicality.
• Reporting & Compliance: Prepare technical documentation for Reserve Reporting (e.g., 43-101), permitting, and business case presentations for senior management and stakeholders.
• Reconciliation: Support the reconciliation process by comparing actual performance to the long-term plan, identifying variances, and updating the plan accordingly
  

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree: A bachelor’s degree in Mining Engineering is required. A post-graduate degree is considered a strong asset.
• Experience: 7-10+ years of proven experience in mine engineering in open pit operations, of which at least 2+ years as a short/medium term mine planning experience and 3+ years in long term mine planning, preferably in a similar operation.
• Mine Planning Software Proficiency: Expert-level knowledge of specialized mine planning and optimization software (e.g., Whittle, Hexagon MinePlan 3D/MPSO, Deswik Go).
• Optimization Principles: Strong theoretical and practical knowledge of open pit mine optimization principles, NPV modeling, and strategic mine design.
• Financial Acumen: Competency in financial modelling and economic analysis, including DCF valuation and cost-benefit analysis.