Senior Mining Engineer - Open Pit Operations

Placements24; Upington; On-site; ZAR 1,800,000 - 2,800,000; Full time

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Mining Engineer to lead open pit operations in Upington, Northern Cape. You will plan, execute, and optimize mining activities, supervise teams, and collaborate with geology, metallurgy, and maintenance to meet safety and production targets. The role requires a degree in Mining Engineering, Pr.

Eng. or PCE registration, 10+ years in open pit mining with 5+ in leadership, and strong skills in drill and blast, fleet management, and mine design software

Qualifications

• Degree in Mining Engineering or related field.
• Master's degree is advantageous.
• Professional Engineer (Pr. Eng.) or Professional Certificated Engineer (PCE) registration with SAIMM or ECSA.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in open pit mining operations, with at least 5 years in a supervisory or management role.
• Proven experience in mine planning, scheduling, and execution for open pit environments.
• Strong knowledge of drill and blast techniques, fleet management, and geotechnical principles.
• Proficiency in mine design and planning software.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Must be based in or willing to relocate to the Upington, Northern Cape area.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement short-term and long-term mine plans for open pit operations, ensuring optimal resource utilization.
• Oversee drill and blast operations, optimizing fragmentation and safety.
• Manage the mining fleet, including allocation, maintenance coordination, and productivity enhancement.
• Ensure compliance with all health, safety, and environmental regulations in mining activities.
• Supervise mining personnel, providing technical guidance, training, and performance management.
• Conduct geotechnical assessments and slope stability analyses for mine design.
• Utilize mine design and planning software (e.g., AutoCAD, Deswik, MineSight) effectively.
• Monitor operational costs and implement strategies for efficiency improvements and cost reduction.
• Liaise with geological, metallurgical, and maintenance departments to ensure integrated operations.
• Contribute to feasibility studies and capital investment proposals.
• Promote a strong safety culture and ensure all mining activities meet the highest safety standards.

Skills

Leadership

Safety leadership

Communication

Problem-solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mining Engineering

Master's degree (advantageous)

Tools

AutoCAD

Deswik

MineSight

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a leading mining group with significant operations in the Northern Cape, is seeking a highly experienced and technically proficient Senior Mining Engineer to manage their open pit operations in the Upington, Northern Cape region. This critical role will be responsible for the planning, execution, and optimization of all open pit mining activities, ensuring safe, efficient, and environmentally responsible extraction of resources. The successful candidate will oversee mine planning, drill and blast operations, fleet management, and mine supervision. This position requires a deep understanding of open pit mining methodologies, geological interpretation, mine design software, and a strong commitment to safety leadership. You will lead a team of mining professionals and contribute significantly to the company's production targets and strategic development. This is a senior leadership role with substantial responsibility and career growth potential.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement short-term and long-term mine plans for open pit operations, ensuring optimal resource utilization.
• Oversee drill and blast operations, optimizing fragmentation and safety.
• Manage the mining fleet, including allocation, maintenance coordination, and productivity enhancement.
• Ensure compliance with all health, safety, and environmental regulations in mining activities.
• Supervise mining personnel, providing technical guidance, training, and performance management.
• Conduct geotechnical assessments and slope stability analyses for mine design.
• Utilize mine design and planning software (e.g., AutoCAD, Deswik, MineSight) effectively.
• Monitor operational costs and implement strategies for efficiency improvements and cost reduction.
• Liaise with geological, metallurgical, and maintenance departments to ensure integrated operations.
• Contribute to feasibility studies and capital investment proposals.
• Promote a strong safety culture and ensure all mining activities meet the highest safety standards.

Requirements

• Degree in Mining Engineering or related field.
• A Master's degree is advantageous.
• Professional Engineer (Pr. Eng.) or Professional Certificated Engineer (PCE) registration with SAIMM or ECSA.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in open pit mining operations, with at least 5 years in a supervisory or management role.
• Proven experience in mine planning, scheduling, and execution for open pit environments.
• Strong knowledge of drill and blast techniques, fleet management, and geotechnical principles.
• Proficiency in mine design and planning software.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated commitment to safety and environmental best practices.
• Ability to manage complex operations and lead diverse teams.
• Experience in mineral resource evaluation and mine economics is a plus.
• Must be based in or willing to relocate to the Upington, Northern Cape area.

Benefits

• Our client offers a highly competitive salary package, commensurate with the seniority and scope of the role, including attractive performance-based bonuses.
• Comprehensive benefits include private medical aid, life insurance, and a substantial retirement fund.
• Significant investment is made in professional development through advanced technical training, leadership programs, and opportunities to attend relevant industry conferences.
• Employees work within a robust safety framework and benefit from working on large-scale, impactful mining projects.
• This role offers excellent career progression within a leading mining organization and the opportunity to shape the future of operations.