Backfill Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

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Company: South32 Group Operations Pty. Ltd.

At South32, we’re meeting the challenge of enabling a sustainable future through our focus on responsibly producing commodities critical for a low-carbon world.

As a collaborative, caring and inclusive company, there’s no better place to make a genuine difference. Together we’re making a positive, global impact that has the potential to change lives.

Whatever career path you choose, we’ll support you every step of the way to learn, grow and succeed. So join us, step towards a brighter future and leave your legacy.

Hermosa, located approximately 75 miles south-east of Tucson, Arizona, is the only advanced mining project in the United States as of 2023 that could produce two federally designated critical minerals—manganese and zinc—as well as silver and lead. The project has the potential to help power the nation’s clean energy future, strengthen the domestic supply chain of critical minerals, grow the local economy, and improve lives in Santa Cruz County and the surrounding community for generations to come.

• Annual short-term incentive bonus that recognizes both your individual performance and the overall success of the business.
• When you choose to contribute more into your retirement savings, South32 will match it up to a certain percentage.
• South32 provides you with 4 weeks paid time off.
• 12 weeks full-paid parental leave for primary careers and 2 weeks full-paid parental leave for secondary careers

The Senior Engineer, Mine Services plays a critical leadership role within the Technical Services team, overseeing the planning, design, implementation, and optimization of underground infrastructure systems required to support mine development and operations. This position provides technical leadership for underground electrical distribution, utility networks, instrumentation, paste distribution systems, and capital infrastructure projects. The role leads cross-functional collaboration between operations, planning, engineering consultants, and contractors to ensure infrastructure systems are designed, installed, and maintained safely, efficiently, and in alignment with operational objectives. This role is based at the Hermosa Project site, near Patagonia, Arizona.

Other key responsibilities include, but aren’t limited to:

• Liaise with planners operations to ensure timely and efficient paste delivery.
• Monitor paste delivery for compliance with engineering specifications; issue fill packages and monitor pipe wear.
• Maintain daily, weekly, monthly, and annual records of paste pours and backfill reports.
• Keep as-built schematics, level plans, and flow models current; use Deswik and Backfill Pro software.
• Design paste parameters (e.g., binder %, slump, TPH) to meet strength and efficiency targets.
• Develop and update pressure flow models; provide engineered drawings and procedures for distribution systems and barricade construction.
• Conduct inspections of backfill quality, stope prep, barricade construction, and piping.
• Analyse and optimize paste characteristics (UCS strength, density, slump); maintain pastefill database and perform reconciliations.
• Train underground backfill operators on best practices.
• Lead pastefill system upgrades and expansion projects; manage budget, inventory, and project execution.

• Provide technical leadership for underground electrical distribution systems, including load center placement, feeder routing, and power distribution planning.
• Develop and maintain underground power distribution strategies supporting mine development and operational requirements.
• Review mining equipment, pumping systems, and infrastructure power requirements to ensure adequate electrical capacity and reliability.
• Manage underground utility corridor strategies and utility borehole designs for power, communications, water, paste, and other mine services.
• Develop and maintain utility schematics, single-line diagrams, and infrastructure design standards.
• Coordinate with electrical consultants, contractors, and operations teams on installations, upgrades, and commissioning activities.
• Support implementation of SCADA, instrumentation, telemetry, and monitoring systems for underground infrastructure.
• Ensure compliance with applicable safety standards, regulations, and engineering best practices.

• Lead underground and surface infrastructure projects from concept development through commissioning and operational handover.
• Develop project scopes, budgets, schedules, cost estimates, and technical specifications.
• Manage engineering consultants and contractors supporting infrastructure development activities.
• Plan and oversee installation of underground power, communications, water, paste distribution, instrumentation, and related infrastructure systems.
• Lead infrastructure design reviews and ensure alignment with life-of-mine development plans.
• Coordinate infrastructure requirements with mine planning, operations, maintenance, and project teams.
• Support annual capital planning and budget forecasting activities.
• Lead, mentor, and develop Mine Services engineers and technicians.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on infrastructure reliability, safety, and operational efficiency.
• Develop, review, and update SOPs, engineering standards, and technical procedureFoster collaboration between Technical Services, Operations, Maintenance, Projects, and external stakeholders.

You will have experience and demonstrate capability in the following:

• Bachelor’s degree in mining engineering or related field, or relevant experience.
• 7+ years of underground mining experience with demonstrated responsibility for mine infrastructure, utility systems, underground electrical distribution, paste distribution systems, and capital project execution.
• Proficiency in Deswik, Backfill Pro, and Microsoft Suite.
• Strong understanding of underground electrical distribution systems and mine utility infrastructure.
• Experience with underground infrastructure design and utility management.
• Strong knowledge of paste system hydraulics, barricade design, and QAQC procedures.
• Experience with instrumentation, telemetry, and automated monitoring systems.
• Strong project management, contractor management capabilities, and budget control.
• Experience developing engineering standards, drawings, and technical procedures.
• Strong leadership, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills.

South32 is committed to building and maintaining an inclusive and diverse workforce that reflects the communities in which we operate. We provide a recruitment process that is fair, equitable and accessible for all and we encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply.