Underground Chief Engineer

Kinross Gold Corporation; Nevada (IA); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Sign-on bonus

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Kinross Round Mountain seeks a Chief Underground Mining Engineer to lead the underground technical services group, guiding design, scheduling, and execution for the Round Mountain Underground Mine in Nevada.

You will supervise engineers, planners, surveyors, ventilation engineers, and technicians, ensuring safe, profitable operations and integration with geology and management. Eligible candidates may receive sign-on and relocation support.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mining Engineering or related field.
• 8-15+ years of underground hard-rock mining experience, with significant exposure to long-hole stoping.
• Demonstrated experience with paste backfill and CRF operations.
• Prior leadership or superintendent-level experience in technical services.
• Proficient in mine planning software – Deswik experience required.
• Knowledge of MSHA regulations and site safety practices.
• Proficient in Microsoft Software.
• Strong understanding of geotechnical principles, stope design, and backfill engineering.
• Familiarity with ventilation modeling, survey practices, and underground infrastructure design.
• Strong communication and cross-departmental coordination abilities.
• Ability to coach and mentor engineers at various experience levels.
• Strategic thinking with a focus on safety, efficiency, and long-term value creation.
• Requires a valid driver’s license.

Responsibilities

• Mine Planning & Design: Develop and oversee short, mid, and long range mine plans for a long hole stoping operation using paste backfill and cemented rockfill.
• Technical Leadership & Team Management: Lead, mentor, and develop mine engineers, surveyors, and technical staff.
• Operational Support: Provide real time technical guidance to underground operations, including drilling, blasting, backfilling, and ground support installation.
• Safety, Regulatory, and Environmental Compliance: Ensure all engineering designs comply with MSHA regulations and Nevada state mining requirements.
• Backfill & Geotechnical Integration: Coordinate with geotechnical engineers on stope stability and backfill design.
• Budgeting & Project Management: Manage engineering budgets, staffing, and capital project planning.
• Data Management & Reporting: Oversee production reporting, stope reconciliation, and variance analysis. Present updates to senior leadership.

Skills

Mine Planning

Leadership

Communication

Problem Solving

Cross-Department Coordination

Strategic Thinking

Safety Awareness

Mentoring

Driver's license

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mining Engineering

Tools

Deswik

Microsoft Office

Job description

Kinross Round Mountain is a leading mining company dedicated to sustainable and safe mining practices. We are committed to innovation and excellence in all our operations. Join our team to contribute to challenging and rewarding projects in a dynamic and supportive environment. Round Mountain is renowned as one of the most geotechnically challenging mines in Nevada.

Our Round Mountain Technical Services team is seeking an experienced Chief Underground Mining Engineer to lead the underground tech services group comprising of mine engineers, planners, surveyors, ventilation engineers, and technical technicians for the Underground Mine at Round Mountain Gold Mine. Reporting to the UG Technical Services Manager, you will ensure that the mine’s long-hope stoping mining method is designed, scheduled, and executed safely and profitably. This role will also act as the primary technical liaison between operations, geology, and management. The underground is currently in its early development stages and now transitioning from exploration development to capital development. This is a great opportunity for a motivated individual to build the foundation for the underground mining engineering group, standards, and procedures that will be used for the life of mine. Qualified candidates may be eligible for both a sign-on bonus and relocation assistance.

Essential Functions

• Mine Planning & Design: Develop and oversee short , mid , and long range mine plans for a long hole stoping operation using paste backfill and cemented rockfill. Approve stope designs, drill patterns, sequencing, and ground support strategies. Ensure backfill requirements (strength, timing, curing windows) are integrated into the mine schedule. Optimize stope sequencing to balance geotechnical stability, ventilation constraints, and production targets.
• Technical Leadership & Team Management: Lead, mentor, and develop mine engineers, surveyors, and technical staff. Foster a collaborative environment between engineering and operations, emphasizing problem solving and continuous improvement. Set technical standards, review engineering work, and ensure quality control across all engineering deliverables.
• Operational Support: Provide real time technical guidance to underground operations, including drilling, blasting, backfilling, and ground support installation. Troubleshoot stope performance issues (dilution, overbreak, paste delivery, drilling accuracy). Coordinate with maintenance, backfill plant personnel, and production supervisors to ensure alignment with engineering plans.
• Safety, Regulatory, and Environmental Compliance: Ensure all engineering designs comply with MSHA regulations and Nevada state mining requirements. Support and reinforce site Health & Safety Management Systems and environmental compliance programs. Lead risk assessments for new stopes, mining methods, or ground conditions.
• Backfill & Geotechnical Integration: Work closely with geotechnical engineers to ensure stope stability, pillar design, and sequencing meet safety and production needs. Oversee paste backfill and CRF design parameters, QA/QC, and scheduling to maintain mine stability and minimize dilution.
• Budgeting & Project Management: Manage engineering department budgets, staffing, and capital project planning. Lead or support underground capital projects (ventilation upgrades, dewatering systems, new development headings, backfill plant improvements). Evaluate and justify new technologies, equipment, or software to improve efficiency.
• Data Management & Reporting: Oversee production reporting, stope reconciliation, and variance analysis. Ensure accurate survey control, mine modeling, and engineering databases. Present engineering updates to senior leadership and contribute to life of mine planning.

Qualifications and Skill Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Mining Engineering or related field
• 8-15+ years of experience in underground hard-rock mining experience, with significant exposure to long-hole stoping
• Demonstrated experience with paste backfill and CRF operations
• Prior leadership or superintendent-level experience in technical services
• Proficient in mine planning software – Deswik experience required
• Knowledge of MSHA regulations and site safety practices
• Proficient in Microsoft Software
• Strong understanding of geotechnical principles, stope design, and backfill engineering
• Familiarity with ventilation modeling, survey practices, and underground infrastructure design
• Strong communication and cross-departmental coordination abilities
• Ability to coach and mentor engineers at various experience levels
• Strategic thinking with a focus on safety, efficiency, and long-term value creation
• Requires a valid driver’s license.

Health, Safety, and Environmental Requirements

• Adheres to all safety and environmental considerations.
• Have a strong commitment to safe working practices.
• Wears Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) at all times while in the production environment.
• Is alert and observes, corrects, and reports unsafe conditions.
• Follows operating procedures and complies with all regulatory requirements.

• Creates an environment where nothing is more important than every employee returning home safe and healthy every day.
• Creates an environment in which people are unfailingly treated with respect.
• Fosters the talent and potential of all employees by enabling them to grow, develop, and make a difference in the organization.
• Demonstrates that leadership in the areas of environmental performance and community and stakeholder relations is fundamental to the way we plan and manage our business.
• Holds self and others accountable for the decisions, commitments, and behaviors required to deliver outstanding results.
• Uses judgment to manage business complexities, prioritize and balance conflicting demands to make timely decisions that best advance Kinross strategy.
• Builds and brings teams and people together to achieve organizational goals. Models’ humility by going beyond self-interest for the good of the group.
• Understands the economic implications of decisions and consistently uses all resources effectively and efficiently to maximize shareholder value.
• Relentlessly champions, develops and embeds best practices.