- Environment Primarily indoor/office work
- Education Post-secondary degree
- Average salary $89,000 to $145,000
Career profile
Mining engineers are instrumental to the planning, designing, organization and development of oil sands mines, mine facilities, systems and oil sands mining equipment. They may specify the ground support systems, processes and equipment for safe, economical and environmentally-sound mineral extraction. They may also inspect areas for unsafe geological conditions, equipment or working conditions.
Mining engineers work alongside technicians, technologists, surveyors and other on-site personnel, as well as mining equipment vendors. Corporate senior leadership depend on their analysis and reporting of mine activity progress and other issues that impact the strategic objectives of their organization in order to make sound business and operational decisions.
When you start in this occupation activities may include:
- Analyzing data generated by mining system
- Implementing and coordinating mine safety programs
- Conducting preliminary surveys and studies of mining deposits to assess the economic and environmental feasibility of potential mining operations
- Providing recommendations on project schedules, technical scope of work and resource requirements
- Devising solutions to problems of land reclamation, such as methods of storing excavated soil and returning mined sites to natural states
As you advance in this occupation you may take on additional tasks including:
- Supervising the development of mines and mine structures and the operation and maintenance of mines
- Planning surface mining operations, specifying processes, labour usage and equipment that will result in the safe, economical and environmentally sound extraction of mining resources
- Designing and supporting the development of mines, facilities, systems and equipment
- Determining the appropriate means of safely and efficiently mining deposits
Education
- A post-secondary degree in mining engineering or in a related engineering discipline such as mechanical or geological engineering is typically required.
Certifications
- Standard and emergency first aid
- Construction Safety Training System (CSTS)
- Asbestos Safety
- H2S Alive
- Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS)
- Fall protection
- Confined space entry
- Traffic Safety
Licensing
- To obtain a license as a professional engineer (P.Eng) you must obtain a degree from an accredited engineering program, pass a professional practice exam and have three or four years of engineering experience, of which one year must be gained in Canada. You must also have Canadian citizenship or proof of permanent residency in Canada.
- Once licensed, engineers receive a seal to stamp their designs and drawings
- Unlicensed engineers must work under the supervision of a P. Eng.
- Travel likely required
- Primarily indoor/office work
- Physical work
- Safety-sensitive environment
- Work away from home/in camps
You bring strong math, technical, geological and communication skills to the job.
- Critical thinking
- Design
- Engineering and technology
- Mathematics
- Public safety and security
- Planning and organizing
- Building and construction
- Law and government
- Production and processing
- Operations analysis
