Long Term Mine Planning Engineer

Copper World Inc•Sahuarita, AZ

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Reporting to the Sr. Principal Mine Engineer, the Long-Term Mine Planning Engineer is responsible for determining which parts of the deposit are profitable to dig and how the massive pit will evolve over decades. This role develops and maintains the Life-of-Mine (LOM) plan, conducts pit/phase optimizations, and performs trade-off studies that guide major capital investments and operational strategy.

Requirements

A bachelor’s degree in mining engineering.
5+ years of proven experience in mine engineering in open pit operations, of which at least 3 years previous mine planning experience preferably in a similar operation.
Expert-level knowledge of specialized mine planning and optimization software (e.g., Hexagon MinePlan 3D/MPSO).
Theoretical and practical knowledge of open pit mine optimization principles, NPV modeling, and strategic mine design.
Competency in financial modeling and economic analysis, including DCF valuation and cost-benefit analysis.
High proficiency in financial modeling and "big picture" engineering.
Expertise in pit optimization and high-level scheduling software.
The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds, and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
Employee must be able to prove that he/she has a current and valid driver's license.

Responsibilities

Life of Mine (LOM) Planning: To determine optimum pit limits based on fluctuating copper prices and operating costs.
Cut-off Grade Strategy: Determine the minimum copper grade required to process material vs. sending it to a stockpile, maximizing the Net Present Value (NPV) of the project.
Pushback Design: Design large-scale mining "phases" or "pushbacks" that allow for continuous ore access while maintaining safe wall angles.
Waste Rock Facilities (WRF): Long-term planning for where millions of tons of waste will go over 20 years, ensuring they don't "cover up" future ore bodies.
Tailings Management: Coordinating with environmental teams to ensure the tailings storage facilities (TSF) have enough capacity for the planned production rate.
Water, Power and Communications: Projecting the long-term utility needs as the pits deepen and the haul distances increase.
Capital Expenditure (CAPEX): Forecasting when the mine will need a new multi-milliondollar fleet of ultra-class trucks or a mill expansion.
Reserve Reporting: Working with Geologists to convert "Resources" into "Proven and Probable Reserves" for annual corporate filing and investor transparency.
"What If" Modeling: Creating alternate plans for scenarios like a 20% drop in copper prices or an unexpected delay in a specific permit.
Sensitivity Analysis: Testing how changes in commodity price, fuel costs, labor availability and other key value drivers impact the mine’s long-term viability.