Principal Mine Ventilation Engineer

Placements24; Gauteng; Hybrid; ZAR 1,800,000 - 2,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fully remote work arrangement

Executive-level salary

Health, dental, and vision insurance

Generous paid time off

International travel opportunities

Professional development support

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Principal Mine Ventilation Engineer to lead global, remote mine ventilation design and strategy. The role emphasizes safe underground environments, CFD analytics, and advanced environmental controls across multiple operations.

The successful candidate will drive standards, mentor engineers, and deliver energy-efficient, compliant ventilation solutions with strong remote collaboration capabilities.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Mining or Mechanical Engineering with ventilation specialization.
• Minimum 10 years of progressive mine ventilation experience, including underground operations.
• Demonstrated expertise in ventilation design principles, air monitoring and CFD modeling.
• Proficiency with ventilation software such as Ventsim, DiffSim, and ANSYS Fluent.

Responsibilities

• Develop and approve ventilation designs and strategies for underground mines, ensuring safety and environmental compliance.
• Conduct CFD modeling and simulations for airflow, contaminant dispersion, and thermal analysis.
• Oversee commissioning and optimization of ventilation systems (fans, ducting, controls).
• Lead remote guidance for global mine engineering teams, staying updated on best practices.

Skills

Remote leadership

Project leadership

Regulatory knowledge

Communication

Education

Master’s degree in Mining/Mechanical Engineering (ventilation specialization)

10+ years of underground mine ventilation experience

Tools

Ventsim

Ventsim+

DiffSim

ANSYS Fluent

Job description

About the Role

Our client is a distinguished leader in the global Mining sector, actively seeking an accomplished and visionary Principal Mine Ventilation Engineer to spearhead their remote operations. This is a unique, fully remote position designed for an expert who can provide world-class ventilation design, analysis, and strategic planning without requiring a physical presence at any specific mine site. You will be instrumental in ensuring safe, healthy, and productive underground mining environments across various global operations by leveraging advanced simulation tools and remote collaboration technologies. The role demands a proactive approach to managing thermal conditions, air quality, and gas management, ultimately safeguarding our workforce and optimizing operational efficiency. This position offers the flexibility of a remote setup combined with the challenge of influencing critical safety and operational aspects of major mining projects worldwide. We are looking for an individual with a proven track record in complex mine ventilation systems and a passion for innovation in environmental engineering within the mining context. As a Principal Engineer, you will set the technical direction and standards for mine ventilation across the organization, ensuring compliance with international best practices and regulatory requirements. Your expertise will be vital in developing sustainable ventilation strategies that consider energy efficiency and environmental impact. This is an exceptional opportunity to shape the future of mine ventilation engineering from anywhere in the world.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, review, and approve mine ventilation designs and strategies for underground mines, ensuring compliance with safety, health, and environmental standards.
• Conduct advanced computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling and simulations for airflow, contaminant dispersion, and thermal analysis.
• Oversee the commissioning and optimization of mine ventilation systems, including fans, ducting, and environmental controls.
• Develop and implement strategies for managing fugitive dust, toxic gases (e.g., methane, radon), and thermal comfort in underground environments.
• Provide expert technical guidance and support to mine engineering and operational teams globally via remote channels.
• Stay current with emerging technologies and best practices in mine ventilation, industrial hygiene, and environmental control.
• Lead and mentor ventilation engineers and technical staff through remote supervision and training initiatives.
• Perform audits and reviews of existing ventilation systems to identify areas for improvement and risk mitigation.
• Contribute to the development of company standards, guidelines, and procedures for mine ventilation.

Requirements

• A Master's degree in Mining Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related discipline with a specialization in ventilation or environmental engineering.
• A minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in mine ventilation engineering, with extensive experience in underground mining operations.
• Demonstrated expertise in mine ventilation design principles, air monitoring, and computational modeling (CFD).
• Proficiency in ventilation modeling software (e.g., Ventsim, Ventsim}^{+}$, DiffSim, ANSYS Fluent).
• Strong understanding of thermodynamics, heat transfer, and gas dynamics, and dust control principles relevant to mining.
• Excellent remote communication, collaboration, and leadership skills.
• Ability to interpret and apply national and international mining health and safety regulations.
• Professional Engineer (Pr.Eng.) registration or equivalent professional certification is highly desirable.
• Experience working in a remote-first or distributed team environment is a significant advantage.

Benefits

• Fully remote work arrangement offering flexibility and work-life balance.
• Competitive executive-level salary and performance-based bonuses.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance coverage.
• Generous paid time off and annual leave policy.
• Access to cutting-edge software and technology for remote collaboration.
• Opportunities for international travel (see edges) for occasional site visits or strategic meetings.
• Professional development support, including conferences and training.