SUMMARY:
The Geotechnical Engineer is responsible for ensuring the safe, stable, and economical design and operation of underground excavations within the copper mine. The role focuses on rock mass characterization, ground control management, geotechnical risk assessment, excavation design, and support recommendations to maintain safe working conditions and optimize mine production.
The incumbent works closely with mine planning, geology, operations, and safety teams to manage ground conditions, monitor geotechnical performance, and support mine development and production activities.
POSITION INFO:
Education Bachelor's degree in mining engineering, Geological Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering, or related discipline. Postgraduate qualification in Rock Mechanics or Geotechnical Engineering preferred. Professional Registration Professional registration with a recognized engineering body (ECSA, P.Eng., CPEng, or equivalent) preferred. Experience Essential 3-10 years of underground mining geotechnical experience. Experience in underground hard-rock mining, preferably copper operations. Practical experience in rock mechanics and ground support design. Experience in geotechnical hazard management and risk assessment. Technical Skills Rock mass classification and characterization. Underground excavation stability assessment. Ground support design and optimization. Numerical modelling software such as: o RS2 o RS3 o FLAC3D o Map3D o Examine3D Geotechnical monitoring systems and data interpretation. Structural geology interpretation. Statistical analysis and data management. Mine design software familiarity (Deswik, Vulcan, Datamine, MineSight) advantageous. Preferred Experience with deep-level underground mining. Experience with block caving, sublevel open stoping, cut-and-fill, or longhole stoping methods. Exposure to large-scale underground copper mining operations. Ground Control Management Develop, implement, and maintain the mine Ground Control Management Plan (GCMP). Assess ground conditions and provide recommendations for ground support systems. Conduct geotechnical inspections of underground workings and identify potential hazards. Investigate ground falls, rockburst events, and geotechnical incidents. Ensure compliance with mining regulations, company standards, and industry best practices. Geotechnical Data Collection and Analysis Conduct rock mass characterization using recognized classification systems (RMR, Q-System, GSI, MRMR). Log and interpret geotechnical drill core. Analyze structural geology data, including faults, joints, shears, and discontinuities. Maintain geotechnical databases and monitoring records. Develop geotechnical models to support mine design. Mine Design Support Provide input into stope, pillar, crown pillar, and rib pillar design. Evaluate excavation stability for declines, shafts, ramps, ore drives, and crosscuts. Review and optimize mine layouts based on geotechnical constraints. Support long-term and short-term mine planning activities. Conduct stability analyses using numerical modelling and empirical methods. Ground Support Design Design and specify ground support systems, including: o Rock bolts o Cable bolts o Shotcrete o Mesh o Steel sets o Dynamic support systems Monitor support performance and recommend improvements where required. Develop ground support standards and quality assurance programs. Geotechnical Monitoring Establish and manage monitoring programs using: o Extensometers o Convergence monitoring o Stress cells o Prism monitoring o Microseismic systems o LiDAR and laser scanning technologies Interpret monitoring data and communicate risks to operations. Develop trigger action response plans (TARPs) for geotechnical hazards. Risk Assessment and Safety Conduct geotechnical risk assessments and hazard identification studies. Participate in mine risk management processes. Develop controls to mitigate geotechnical risks. Support emergency response planning relating to ground instability. Promote a strong safety culture throughout the operation. Technical Reporting Prepare geotechnical reports, risk assessments, and technical memoranda. Present geotechnical findings and recommendations to management. Contribute to technical studies, feasibility studies, and life-of-mine planning. Key Competencies Strong analytical and problem-solving skills. Excellent communication and presentation abilities. Risk-based decision making. Attention to detail. Team collaboration and stakeholder management. Ability to work effectively in underground mining environments. Strong commitment to safety and operational excellence. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) Geotechnical incident frequency. Ground support compliance rates. Achievement of geotechnical inspection schedules. Implementation of geotechnical recommendations. Stability performance of stopes and development headings. Geotechnical risk reduction and management effectiveness. Production disruptions attributable to geotechnical issues. Compliance with Ground Control Management Plan requirements. Typical Underground Copper Mine Focus Areas Stope stability analysis. Crown pillar and sill pillar design. Seismicity and Rockburst management. Cave propagation monitoring (for block cave operations). Ore drive and production-level stability. Ground support optimization. Mine infrastructure stability (crusher chambers, pump stations, workshops, ore passes, and ventilation excavations). This description is suitable for a mid-level to senior Geotechnical Engineer role at a large underground copper mining operation such as a block cave, sublevel open stoping, or long hole open stoping mine. Collaboration with Other Departments The Geotechnical Engineer works closely with multiple departments to ensure safe, efficient, and sustainable underground mining operations. Mining Operations Provide daily geotechnical advice to underground supervisors, shift bosses, and production teams. Communicate ground conditions, support requirements, and geotechnical hazards. Assist operations in implementing ground support standards and safe mining practices. Participate in daily, weekly, and monthly production planning meetings. Mine Planning and Engineering Support short-, medium-, and long-term mine planning with geotechnical design criteria. Review stope designs, mining sequences, extraction ratios, and development layouts. Identify geotechnical constraints and recommend design modifications. Contribute to Life-of-Mine (LOM), prefeasibility, and feasibility studies. Geology Department Collaborate on structural geology interpretation and geological modeling. Integrate geological and geotechnical data to improve rock mass characterization. Review drilling programs and obtain geotechnical information from exploration and resource definition drilling. Support orebody knowledge and geotechnical domain definition. Survey Department Coordinate cavity monitoring surveys (CMS), laser scanning, and deformation monitoring programs. Verify excavation dimensions and stope performance. Assess dilution, overbreak, and underbreak related to geotechnical conditions. Safety, Health, Environment and Community (SHEC) Participate in risk assessments, incident investigations, and hazard identification exercises. Develop and implement controls for geotechnical hazards. Support regulatory compliance audits and inspections. Promote a proactive safety culture and adherence to critical controls. Ventilation Department Evaluate the geotechnical implications of major ventilation excavations and infrastructure. Support the design and stability assessment of ventilation raises and shafts. Coordinate rehabilitation requirements affecting ventilation circuits. Projects and Capital Development Provide geotechnical input into infrastructure projects such as shafts, crushers, pump stations, workshops, ore passes, and ventilation systems. Review contractor designs and construction methodologies. Support project risk reviews and construction monitoring. Hydrogeology and Water Management Assess the impact of groundwater on excavation stability. Support groundwater monitoring and dewatering programs. Develop mitigation measures for water-related geotechnical risks. Maintenance and Infrastructure Assist in managing stability around underground infrastructure. Recommend support and rehabilitation requirements for aging excavations. Support safe access to critical production and service areas. Senior Management Present geotechnical risks, opportunities, and performance metrics to management. Provide recommendations to support strategic mine planning and operational decisions. Prepare technical reports and contribute to operational and Board-level reviews where required. Stakeholder Engagement The Geotechnical Engineer serves as a key technical advisor, fostering strong working relationships across departments to ensure: Safe and stable underground workings. Achievement of production and development targets. Effective management of geotechnical risks. Continuous improvement of ground control practices. Alignment between mine design, operational execution, and business objectives. This collaboration component is often considered a core responsibility in senior underground copper mine geotechnical roles, as effective ground control depends on close coordination between Operations, Planning, Geology, Survey, Ventilation, Safety, and Project teams. Initial period of 24 months. Overtime will also be payable. 6-weeks-on, 2-weeks-off rotation schedule. Full board and transport provided.
