Level dependent upon experience
The Short Range Mining Engineer is responsible for developing and maintaining rolling mine plans spanning from monthly to a 12-month-plus horizon, with a focus on operational accuracy, geotechnical soundness, and production efficiency. Operating within an open pit copper mine that processes both sulfide and oxide ores with an autonomous haulage system (AHS) environment. This role translates mid-range planning objectives into detailed, AHS executable designs that guide daily production activities. Reporting directly to the Chief Mining Engineer, the Mining Engineer works cross-functionally with Geology, Survey, Operations, and AHS teams to generate practical bench layouts, material routing strategies, and shovel-ready instructions that support safe and continuous production. The ideal candidate will possess a strong understanding of mine planning systems, short-term sequencing, and field-level operational constraints, ensuring plans are both technically sound and AHS operationally executable. Rotation and cross-training with other mine planning roles is expected.
Key Responsibilities:
•Develop and maintain a rolling short-range mine plan (1 to 12 months) that aligns with mid-range strategies, production goals, and operational constraints.
•Design and sequence pit advances, including bench layouts, dig polygons, ore control boundaries, and blast patterns, ensuring alignment with geotechnical, operational, and safety requirements.
•Design and coordinate closely with the Drill and Blast team to define burden, spacing, timing, and initiation designs that optimize fragmentation, minimize dilution, and reduce ore loss which are executable in an autonomous haulage system environment.
•Collaborate with Mine Geology to ensure accurate grade boundaries, reconciliation inputs, and material classification are incorporated into dig plans and routing instructions.
•Prepare detailed material movement plans, including routing of sulfide and oxide ores to crushers, leach pads, and stockpiles, ensuring delivery of the correct material type and blend.
•Generate shovel instructions, blast release maps, and haulage plans, and communicate these effectively to Mine Operations and AHS Controllers.
•Monitor plan execution, validate against survey pickups, and make timely adjustments for real-world conditions such as ground control issues, equipment availability, or changing priorities.
•Utilize Hexagon MinePlan 3D, Activity Scheduler, and haulage tools to model, visualize, and update mine plans and track performance against targets.
•Participate in daily and weekly operations meetings, reporting on short-term forecast accuracy, compliance, and corrective actions as needed.
•Contribute to the monthly forecast, budget updates, and production analysis by providing data-driven updates and reconciliation support.
•Work collaboratively and cross-train with Mid-Range and Long-Range Engineers to ensure planning continuity and feedback on plan execution.
•Maintain clear documentation of assumptions, changes, and plan decisions for operational transparency and continuous improvement.
Requirements:
Qualifications:
•Bachelor's degree in Mining Engineering or related discipline
•Minimum 3-5 years of experience in open pit mine engineering or operations
•Experience in an autonomous haulage environment is a benefit
•Proficient in Hexagon MinePlan 3D, including Activity Scheduler, MPSO, and short-range design tools
•Strong understanding of open pit mining operations, drill and blast practices, ore control, and material logistics
•Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and interface effectively with field and technical teams
•Strong analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills
The Ray mine is located 64 miles southeast of Phoenix and 70 miles northeast of Tucson. We have an alternative robust carpool / vanpool program and encourage employees to participate. Employees save more than 50% of their commuting costs while reading, sleeping, or just enjoying the view.
A core value of ASARCO LLC is "Safety First." The Company is committed to helping employees continuously improve their efforts to work in the most safe, inclusive, socially, and environmentally responsible manner practicable. Employee safety and health, both on and off the job, are critically important to the Company. Therefore, ASARCO LLC requires employees to have and effectively demonstrate a good working knowledge of modern safety systems. Each employee will take prime responsibility for ensuring that s/he works within all required safety procedures and processes.
ASARCO is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates must possess a current and valid driver's license. Offers of employment are contingent upon a successful criminal background check and pre-employment physical including a drug screen.
ASARCO offers an excellent low-cost benefits package for medical/prescription/ dental/vision, disability coverage, life insurance and other optional coverage, and 401(k) plan with company match.
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