Senior Drill & Blast Engineer — Open Pit/Underground, Bonuses

Placements24; Polokwane; On-site; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Performance-based bonuses

Medical aid

Retirement provisions

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Drill & Blast Engineer near Polokwane, Limpopo, to optimize fragmentation, safety, and efficiency in both open-pit and underground mining operations. You will design, plan, and analyze drill and blast activities, applying advanced blast modeling to improve outcomes.

The role requires 7+ years of experience, a Mining Engineering degree, and proficiency with Deswik Blast, BlastMap, and SRK.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mining Engineering or closely related field.
• Minimum 7 years of progressive experience in drill and blast engineering within the mining industry.
• Proven experience designing and executing complex blast patterns for open-pit and/or underground mining.
• Proficiency with drill and blast design and modeling software.
• Strong understanding of explosives, initiation systems, and safe handling.

Responsibilities

• Design and optimize blast patterns for varying mining conditions to achieve fragmentation, muckpile characteristics, and wall stability.
• Plan and schedule all drill and blast activities in coordination with mine production schedules.
• Select appropriate explosives and initiating systems based on geological conditions and operational requirements.
• Supervise drilling operations to ensure accurate hole placement, depth, and loading.
• Oversee safe loading and initiation of explosives with strict adherence to safety protocols.
• Utilize blast modeling software (Deswik Blast, BlastMap, SRK) to simulate and analyze blast outcomes.
• Conduct post-blast analysis including fragmentation assessments and recommend improvements.
• Investigate and resolve issues related to drilling accuracy, fragmentation, or blast-related safety incidents.
• Ensure compliance with health, safety, and environmental regulations pertaining to explosives and blasting.
• Provide technical guidance and training to drilling and blasting crews and junior engineers.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mining Engineering

Tools

Deswik Blast

BlastMap

SRK

Job description

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Drill & Blast Engineer near Polokwane, Limpopo, to optimize fragmentation, safety, and efficiency in both open-pit and underground mining operations. You will design, plan, and analyze drill and blast activities, applying advanced blast modeling to improve outcomes.

The role requires 7+ years of experience, a Mining Engineering degree, and proficiency with Deswik Blast, BlastMap, and SRK.