You’re a bedrock for success when it comes to the oil sands. As a mining engineer you are behind the planning, designing, organization and development of oil sands open pit mines. Your foresight, ingenuity and leadership makes you a critical resource for oil sands companies, both for long-range planning and for day-to-day mining activities. Meeting production targets is your mission.
Mining engineers plan, design and organize the development and post-development of 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 extraction. They may also inspect areas for unsafe geological conditions, equipment or working conditions.
Mining engineers interact with technicians, technologists, surveyors and other on-site personnel, as well as vendors of mining equipment. They would typically report the progress of mine activities or other issues that would impact the strategic objectives of their organization to management.
I'm interested in a career in
- Sub-sector Oil sands
- Environment Primarily indoor/office work
- Average Salary $83,000 to $135,000
- Education Post-secondary degree
- Career Demand Stable
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
