Mine Planning Engineer - Open Pit Specialist

Placements24; Soweto; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,350,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

competitive salary

comprehensive medical aid benefits

participation in a company pension

opportunities for professional growth

Job summary

Placements24 seeks a Mine Planning Engineer for open pit operations in Soweto, Gauteng. The role focuses on short- and long-term planning, pit design, slope optimization, and coordinating with geology and survey teams to ensure safe and economical mine plans.

The candidate will model and optimize production schedules using Deswik, Surpac, Vulcan, and XACT, while aligning with environmental regulations and feasibility studies.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mining Engineering or related discipline.
• Minimum 6 years experience in open pit mine planning and operations.
• Proficiency with Deswik, Surpac, Vulcan or similar packages.
• Strong understanding of open pit mining methods, equipment capabilities, and geotechnical principles.
• Experience with geological modeling and resource estimation concepts.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities; strong decision-making.
• Effective cross-functional communication and teamwork.
• Professional registration with a South African engineering council is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute detailed short-term (daily, weekly) and long-term (monthly, annual) mine plans for open pit operations.
• Design pit outlines, optimize pit slopes, and create production schedules that maximize resource recovery and economic viability.
• Collaborate with geological and survey teams to ensure accurate integration of resource models and spatial data into mine plans.
• Prepare waste dump designs and rehabilitation plans in accordance with environmental regulations.
• Conduct mine modeling and simulation using industry-standard software (e.g., Deswik, Surpac, Vulcan, XACT).
• Perform volumetric calculations, reconciliation, and cost estimations associated with mining plans.
• Monitor mining progress against the plan, identifying deviations and proposing adjustments to optimize performance.
• Ensure compliance with all health, safety, and environmental regulations in mine planning and execution.
• Contribute to feasibility studies and mine design reviews.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Decision making

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mining Engineering

Tools

Deswik

Surpac

Vulcan

XACT

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a significant contributor to South Africa's mining output, is seeking a proficient Mine Planning Engineer with specialized expertise in open pit operations to join their strategic team in Soweto, Gauteng . This role is pivotal in the short-term and long-term strategic planning of open pit mines, focusing on optimizing resource extraction, ensuring operational efficiency, and maintaining safety standards. The successful candidate will utilize advanced mine planning software to design pit layouts, production schedules, and waste removal plans, ensuring alignment with geological models and economic targets. We are looking for a technically adept and detail-oriented engineer with a strong understanding of open pit mining methods and a passion for innovative mine design. This position offers a compelling opportunity to shape the future of mining operations within a reputable organization.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute detailed short-term (daily, weekly) and long-term (monthly, annual) mine plans for open pit operations.
• Design pit outlines, optimize pit slopes, and create production schedules that maximize resource recovery and economic viability.
• Collaborate with geological and survey teams to ensure accurate integration of resource models and spatial data into mine plans.
• Prepare waste dump designs and rehabilitation plans in accordance with environmental regulations.
• Conduct mine modeling and simulation using industry-standard software (e.g., Deswik, Surpac, Vulcan, XACT).
• Perform volumetric calculations, reconciliation, and cost estimations associated with mining plans.
• Monitor mining progress against the plan, identifying deviations and proposing adjustments to optimize performance.
• Ensure compliance with all health, safety, and environmental regulations in mine planning and execution.
• Contribute to feasibility studies and mine design reviews.

Requirements

• A Bachelor's degree in Mining Engineering or a related discipline.
• A minimum of 6 years of experience in open pit mine planning and operations.
• Proficiency in mine planning software such as Deswik, Surpac, Vulcan, or similar packages.
• Strong understanding of open pit mining methods, equipment capabilities, and geotechnical principles.
• Experience with geological modeling and resource estimation concepts.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate across multidisciplinary teams.
• Professional registration with a relevant South African engineering council is an advantage.

Benefits

• competitive salary
• comprehensive medical aid benefits
• participation in a company pension fund
• opportunities for professional growth and advancement.