Mining Engineers play a crucial role in unearthing and bringing valuable subterranean resources to the surface, from evaluating a potential site and constructing and operating a safe, sustainable, and environmentally friendly mine to its final closure and reclamation. Continue Reading
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Explore Career Mining Engineers play a crucial role in unearthing and bringing valuable subterranean resources to the surface, from evaluating a potential site and constructing and operating a safe, sustainable, and environmentally friendly mine to its final closure and reclamation.
What are the typical responsibilities of a Mining Engineer?
A Mining Engineer would typically need to:
Most Mining Engineers split their time between the office, lab, quarry, or mine. Conditions on site are usually hot, dusty, dirty and uncomfortable and may require protective clothing.
You may have to spend some time in cramped spaces, possibly underground. There could be a lot of physical activity, including climbing ladders and walking long distances. On-site accommodation, especially in remote areas, may be pretty basic.
Regular interaction with multi-disciplinary teams, including scientists, engineers, technologists, technicians, and surveyors, is standard.
Many jobs are overseas and entail significant travel and diverse physical and weather conditions. Ming Engineers may also travel to study other mining methods and inspect potentially helpful equipment.
A full-time work schedule sometimes comprises 37-40 hours a week, Monday to Friday. Some projects may require extra work in the evenings or on weekends. Other Mining Engineers may work shifts, spending a few weeks at mine sites.
Overseas jobs call for on-site presence for up to three months, followed by a 2-week leave that can be spent elsewhere. Mining Engineers may need to be on call for emergencies.
Research suggests that flexible hours and generous telework policies appeal more than salary to the younger generation. There has been an incremental increase in employers willing to give promising employees a chance to adjust their schedules per the job demands.
Finding a new job may be challenging. Mining Engineers can boost their job search by asking their network for referrals, contacting companies directly, using job search platforms, going to job fairs, leveraging social media, and inquiring at staffing agencies. Freelance and contract work are viable options.
Mining Engineers are generally employed by:
Professional associations and organisations, such as the International Mining & Minerals Association (ICMM), are crucial for Mining Engineers interested in pursuing professional development or connecting with like-minded professionals in their industry or occupation.
Professional associations provide members with continuing education, networking opportunities, and mentorship services. Membership in one or more adds value to your resume while bolstering your credentials and qualifications.
Most mining engineering degree programmes offer periods of practical mining experience through lab and field work to improve the student’s prospects of making contacts in the industry and getting a permanent job.
Aspiring Mining Engineers can also gain valuable experience through industry-specific internships and placements in engineering and environmental consulting firms or volunteer work focused on environmental or safety-related skills.
Mining Engineers will benefit from tasks outside of the classroom that align with lessons inside it. One may hear countless stories from more experienced professionals and obtain valuable hands-on experience when they turn seemingly routine incidents into unique learning moments.
Although safety makes it next to impossible to gain direct experience in the field, if you can find a willing employer, freelance work and temporary jobs in surface mining, short-range mine planning, drilling and blasting, geological modelling, and surveying will prove advantageous.
Solicit the mentorship of your college professors and programme directors to gain further experience and work toward your career goals. You could also become a student member of a professional organisation to access its training and networking resources.
The experience may also help determine whether the public, private or voluntary sector is best suited to realise one’s ambitions. Your educational provider’s career service department can provide information about viable work placements, internships and voluntary work opportunities in diverse sectors.
Even while in high school, you can check with a teacher or counsellor about relevant work-based learning opportunities available in your school or community that can help you connect your school experiences with real-life work.
Join science or math clubs, robotics teams, or other STEM- (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) related extracurricular activities to develop crucial problem-solving skills. Local or national engineering and mining associations for students can provide networking opportunities and resources.
Seek opportunities to participate in science or engineering projects, even if they are not directly related to mining. They can contribute to your portfolio of projects demonstrating your skills and dedication.
Attend career fairs, workshops, or seminars related to engineering and mining to gain valuable insights into the field and make the best of available networking opportunities to meet and seek the guidance of experts.
Read books, articles, and industry publications to understand the profession better. Interview or job shadow experienced Mining Engineers to prove your commitment to course providers and prospective employers.
A globally-recognised degree in civil engineering, geology, mine and quarry engineering, minerals surveying, mining and mineral engineering will facilitate entry into the field anywhere in the world.
In addition, some locations offer an HND (Higher National Diploma) or degree in minerals engineering, mining engineering, geophysics, earth sciences, geochemistry, geomatics, geoscience, geological engineering, environmental engineering, chemical engineering, and mechanical engineering.
Aspirants with a first degree in a related subject can improve their chances of landing a job if they complete a specialist postgraduate course in mining engineering and obtain adequate knowledge of geology, physics, chemistry, mathematics, th ermodynamics, and mine safety. An exemplary academic programme should include fluid mechanics, mining operations, mine design, metallurgy, and environmental reclamation.
Mathematics, physics, and chemistry are among the appropriate college preparatory courses to take in high school. English and speech classes will help you develop your research, writing, and oral communication skills.
Remember that completing a particular academic course does not guarantee entry into the profession. Be that as it may, professional qualifications and transferable skills may open up more than one door.
Do your homework and look into all available options for education and employment before enrolling in a specific programme. Reliable sources that help you make an educated decision include associations and employers in your field.
Certification demonstrates a Mining Engineer’s competence in a skill set, typically through work experience, training, and passing an examination. Successful certification programs protect public welfare by incorporating a Code of Ethics.
Valid certification in mining from an objective and reputed organisation can help you stand out in a competitive job market and carry a significant salary premium of up to 18 per cent.
Mining Engineers whose work affects public health and safety need a licence. Individual government entities conduct the licensing process. Typically, licensure requires a degree in engineering, several years of relevant work experience, an application, processing fees, and a passing score on the exam. Check whether you need licensure with local or national mining organisations.
Mining Engineers may also need to undergo an employment background check, including but not limited to a person’s work history, education, credit history, motor vehicle reports (MVRs), criminal record, medical history, use of social media, and drug screening.
Performance, experience, and acquiring professional qualifications drive the career progression of Mining Engineers.
The more traditional route, entailing promotion every two to three years, has Junior Mining Engineers thriving as Mine Planning Engineers, Senior Mining Engineers, and Mining Supervisors before being promoted to Resident Managers.
Mining Engineers who prefer to stick to their home ground may work for international mining companies where the career path typically includes senior engineering or managerial roles, such as Director of Operations or Vice-President of Mining.
Moving into mining finance or consultancy for mining companies is also possible. Qualified Mining Engineers can also aim to work in quarry management, IT, academics, research, environmental management, or construction. Also feasible is the option to start one’s own mining company.
The desire to accelerate career growth and personal development has an increasing number of millennials choosing to job hop and build a scattershot resume that showcases ambition, motivation, and the desire to learn a broad range of skills.
Studies prove that job hopping, earlier dismissed as “flaky” behaviour, can lead to greater job fulfilment. Employees searching for a positive culture and exciting work are willing to try out various roles and workplaces and learn valuable, transferable skills.
Certified Mining Engineers with advanced degrees, specialist skills, and a comprehensive understanding of the latest technologies have the best job prospects, provided they are also willing to relocate to areas with a higher concentration of mining activities.
Continuing professional development (CPD) will help an active Mining Engineer build personal skills and proficiency through work-based learning, a professional activity,
formal education, or self-directed learning.
Some locations allow college graduates to take a Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam; successful candidates qualify as engineers in training (EITs) or engineer interns (EIs). New hires receive training on the job and learn new skills from veteran colleagues to adapt quickly to working on-site.
Employers generally encourage further study through postgraduate courses in mining engineering, mining geology, or applied geotechnics available to working professionals. Mining Engineers who want to move into teaching or research must obtain doctoral degrees in the above-mentioned fields.
After amassing at least four years of experience, you can acquire a Professional Engineering (PE) licence to facilitate promotion to jobs that involve supervising the work of other engineers, signing off on projects, and providing services directly to the public.
Competent Mining Engineers, who can submit a written report and satisfy the assessment panel on the skills, specialist knowledge and ability to practice their profession, may qualify for registration as chartered engineers (CEng) with the authorised engineering body in their region.
In addition to offering the opportunity to continually upskill, regardless of one’s age, job, or level of knowledge, CPD also enables the periodic renewal of desirable certifications and licences, which increase your chances of advancement and becoming an independent consultant.
Mining Engineer vs Mining Safety Engineer
Mining Engineers play a vital role in the initial evaluation of a mine site, determining the most efficient and cost-effective means of extraction, supervising the construction and operation of mining equipment, and ensuring adherence to safety regulations and environmental standards. Their job is technical and operational.
The main objective of a Mining Safety Engineer is to identify and mitigate potential mining-related hazards and risks through regular inspections of mining sites, design and implementation of safety training programmes, and investigation of on-site accidents or incidents. They focus on the safety and well-being of their colleagues in the mining business.
Underground vs Open-Pit Mines
Underground mines are critical to extracting minerals such as gold and coal that exist primarily below the surface. Minerals, including iron ore, manganese ore, and limestone, come from open pit or opencast mining, also used in oil sand mining.
Strike The Gold
Accomplished Mining Engineers develop plans for the building, excavating, and supporting efficient and budget-friendly mine shafts, tunnels, rooms, waste disposal facilities, haulage routes and methods, mine ventilation, and drainage systems.
Which Field Catches Your Fancy?
Speciality areas that can prove advantageous in accelerating a Mining Engineer’s career progress include mine operations and safety, ventilation, power and water supply, communications, equipment maintenance, mining venture analysis, and mine reclamation and environment.
Tools of The Trade
Mining Engineers use ground testing tools such as drills, scanners, and probes, safety equipment, including masks, goggles, helmets, and gloves, and surveying tools like maps, GPS, and imaging equipment to do justice to their profession.
Current Scenario
The current employment outlook of mining engineers is projected to grow only 2% within the next five years.
Nevertheless, it would be wise to remember that economic growth and industrial development drive the need for minerals, metals, and energy sources and impact the demand for Mining Engineers. An increase in the prices of minerals and metals also leads to more significant investment in mining projects and more job opportunities for these professionals.
While automation and robotics can potentially reduce the number of traditional mining engineering roles, they may also afford fresh job opportunities for professionals specialising in automation and data analysis.
As the industry strives to minimise its environmental footprint, Mining Engineers who devote themselves to sustainable mining practices may find new avenues for professional development.
A Mine of Information
Most Mining Engineers occupy full-time positions in mining companies, consulting firms, or government agencies.
That said, working as an independent consultant conducting feasibility studies, project management, or environmental impact assessments on a freelance or contract is not uncommon.
In addition, Mining Engineers with mine planning software expertise may take on contract work. Mining companies and contractors may need professionals on a temporary or project basis to help with increased workloads or mine exploration projects.
Furthermore, Mining Engineers with robust writing skills may also freelance as technical writers to create appropriate articles, reports and documentation. Experts in educational materials and instructional design may offer mining-related training and workshops on a freelance basis.
Potential Pros & Cons of Freelancing vs Full-Time Employment
Freelancing Mining Engineers have more flexible work schedules and locations. They fully own the business and can select their projects and clients. However, they experience inconsistent work and cash flow, which means more responsibility, effort and risk.
On the other hand, full-time Mining Engineers have company-sponsored health benefits, insurance, and retirement plans. They have job security with a fixed, reliable source of income and guidance from their bosses. Yet, they may experience boredom due to a lack of flexibility, ownership, and variety.
When deciding between freelancing or being a full-time employee, consider the pros and cons to see what works best for you.
In a world that needs mined materials to construct roads and hospitals, build automobiles and houses, make computers and satellites, and contribute to generating myriad other essential goods and services, Mining Engineers transform the Earth’s riches into the building blocks of the modern era.
Learn to listen to dig deeper into the problem and gain knowledge that will pay dividends down the road.
Modern electronic devices such as smartphones and computers use more than 35 minerals, including gold, silver, copper, lithium, cobalt, manganese, tungsten, and zinc, to function correctly.
What do Mining Engineers do?
A Mining Engineer would typically need to:
Accredited
$136,800
