Senior Mine Planning Engineer – Open Pit & Underground

Placements24; Mtubatuba Local Municipality; On-site; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,600,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary package

Performance-based bonus

Health insurance and retirement plan

Career development opportunities

Relocation assistance to Richards Bay

Exposure to diverse mining projects

Dynamic work environment

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Mine Planning Engineer to lead long-range and short-term mine planning in Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal. You will design open-pit and underground plans, optimize pit layouts, and drive safe, compliant operations across projects.

The role demands 7+ years in mine planning, proficiency with Deswik, Vulcan, Surpac or MinePlan, and strong analytical and leadership skills to mentor juniors and coordinate with geology teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mining Engineering or related field.
• Minimum of 7 years in mine planning and design within the mining sector, with open-pit or underground focus.
• Proficiency in Deswik, Vulcan, Surpac, MinePlan.
• Strong understanding of mining methods, geology, geomechanics, and survey principles.
• Experience with reserve estimation and resource modeling interpretation.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain strategic long-term mine plans (5–20 years) and short-term production schedules (weekly/monthly).
• Conduct mine design studies, including pit optimization, haul road design, slope stability analysis integration, and mine layout.
• Collaborate with geological and survey teams to integrate resource models and survey data into mine plans.
• Perform economic evaluations of different mining scenarios and sequences.
• Ensure mine plans comply with safety regulations, environmental permits, and company policies.
• Provide technical support and guidance to mine operations personnel regarding plan execution.
• Analyze production variances and update plans as necessary to meet targets.
• Prepare technical reports, presentations, and documentation for internal stakeholders and regulatory bodies.
• Mentor and guide junior mine planning engineers.

Skills

Analytical skills

Problem-solving

Decision-making

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mining Engineering

Tools

Deswik

Vulcan

Surpac

MinePlan

Job description

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Mine Planning Engineer to lead long-range and short-term mine planning in Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal. You will design open-pit and underground plans, optimize pit layouts, and drive safe, compliant operations across projects.

The role demands 7+ years in mine planning, proficiency with Deswik, Vulcan, Surpac or MinePlan, and strong analytical and leadership skills to mentor juniors and coordinate with geology teams.