Mining Engineer

USA Rare Earth, LLC•Sierra Blanca, TX

9h•Onsite

About The Position

The Mining Engineer II supports mine operations through short- and medium-range mine planning, ore control, equipment scheduling, mine surveying, and geotechnical monitoring. The role provides technical guidance to the Mining Department and other departments and contributes to engineering studies supporting the Round Top project as it moves toward production. The position calls for a hands-on approach to on-site control, execution, and field delivery. The Mining Engineer works closely with geology, geotechnical, drill-and-blast, processing, infrastructure, and operations teams to coordinate mining work and support safe production. The role also contributes to operating budgets, optimization studies, equipment evaluations, and technical reports, and presents study results to leadership and external stakeholders. The position is based at the project site in Sierra Blanca, Texas, with travel as required. Work takes place in a field environment with exposure to extreme weather and dust; personal protective equipment is required at all times. Duties are performed in accordance with MSHA regulations, company safety procedures, and applicable state and federal requirements.

Requirements

Bachelor of Science degree in Mining Engineering, Civil Engineering, Geological Engineering, or a related field.
At least 5 years of responsible mining engineering experience.
Advanced proficiency with mine design, planning, and scheduling software, preferably Deswik or similar packages.
Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office applications and AutoCAD.
Familiarity with large earthmoving equipment in a surface mining environment.
Understanding of key components of a successful mining operation, including processing, tailings, and infrastructure.
Strong written and interpersonal communication skills.
Excellent problem-solving skills.
Ability to operate four-wheel-drive light vehicles.
Willingness to travel between the project site and corporate offices, and to remote locations when required.

Nice To Haves

Experience at a surface mining operation or in supervision.
Experience with construction and/or project management.
Experience with heap leach operations.
Experience using drone and photogrammetry data for volume control and reconciliation.
Experience with root cause analysis methods such as 5 Whys and fishbone diagrams.
Experience during a mine startup or ramp-up phase.
MSHA certification.

Responsibilities

Assist with creating, refining, and implementing short mine plans covering material sequence, metal delivery, access planning, pit design, shot muck inventory, blast design, dump sequencing, and leach pad loading.
Plan ore grade control and scheduling to meet quality requirements.
Work with Mining Operations to develop short-range plans that maintain project schedules.
Monitor and manage day-to-day mining activities to safely meet daily and weekly production targets.
Chair daily, weekly, and monthly mine plan discussions to align departments.
Reconcile daily production against plan, including tonnes, grade, and waste, and report variances.
Coordinate or complete mine surveying and other Field Engineering assignments; plan site surveys to validate material movement and confirm construction work follows the plan.
Plan and track waste streams from the processing plant as the project transitions into production.
Assist with engineering studies, including operating budgets, optimization studies, and equipment evaluations.
Write and contribute to technical study reports and present results to leadership and external stakeholders.
Coordinate mining work with geology, geotechnical, drill-and-blast, processing, and infrastructure teams.
Support incident investigations and root cause analysis related to mining operations and implement preventive actions.
Perform duties in accordance with MSHA regulations, company safety procedures, and state and federal requirements.
Support continuous improvement initiatives, including productivity and cost-reduction proposals.
Lead on-site control, execution, and field delivery with a hands-on approach.
Perform other duties as assigned or needed to support project objectives.
Promote a respectful team environment where employees and contractors can contribute ideas and raise concerns.
Collaborate across crews, shifts, and departments by sharing information and supporting coworkers.
Lead by example through honesty, accountability, and follow-through; recognize others’ contributions, welcome feedback, and address challenges constructively.