Principal Engineer

Your New Company

Join a global leader in mining and critical minerals, where innovation, sustainability, and operational excellence drive everything we do. Our client is shaping the future of mining through technology, responsible resource development, and a commitment to creating long-term value for employees, communities, and stakeholders.

Your New Role

We are currently seeking a Principal Engineer to join the Vale Base Metals Geotechnical Team based in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada.

This is a permanent, onsite position and requires travel as required.

As the Principal Engineer, you will play a critical technical leadership role in the design, implementation, and optimization of underground backfill systems that support safe, reliable, and efficient ore extraction. This role requires deep knowledge of mine design, geotechnical constraints, underground mining practices, and backfill technologies, including paste fill, hydraulic fill, and rock or aggregate fill.

You will collaborate closely with mine technical services, operations, safety, procurement, suppliers, and other stakeholders to coordinate backfill schedules, optimize system performance, support quality assurance and quality control practices, and ensure backfill systems are aligned with safety, production, quality, and regulatory requirements.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced underground mining and backfill professional to influence mine stability, production performance, operational reliability, cost effectiveness, and continuous improvement across critical underground operations.

Additionally, in this position you will:

Key Accountabilities:

Backfill Strategy, Design & Technical Leadership

Lead the technical direction and continuous improvement of underground backfill systems to support safe, efficient, and productive mining operations.

• Develop, implement, and optimize underground backfill systems, including paste fill, hydraulic fill, and rock or aggregate fill.
• Evaluate and approve engineering designs related to backfill systems.
• Partner with mine technical services and operations teams to coordinate backfill activities and integrate them into mine planning.
• Lead backfill-related projects and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Provide expert technical advice, consultation, and troubleshooting support.
• Establish and maintain specifications for backfill products, elements, and systems.
• Evaluate and approve new backfill products, designs, and technologies.
• Review, maintain, and update Backfill Management Plans.
• Support knowledge sharing, training, and development in backfill technologies and practices.

Operational Excellence, Risk Management & Quality Assurance

Ensure backfill systems operate safely, reliably, and in compliance with operational, quality, and regulatory requirements.

• Ensure all backfill practices comply with safety regulations, quality standards, and operational requirements.
• Conduct regular underground inspections to monitor system performance and address issues proactively.
• Implement and oversee Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC) programs for backfill operations.
• Conduct investigations and peer reviews of major incidents, including backfill failures and plant system incidents.
• Maintain comprehensive technical documentation related to inspections, designs, QA/QC activities, and operational performance.
• Monitor system effectiveness and support corrective actions to improve reliability, safety, and production outcomes.

What You'll Need to Succeed

Education:

• Undergraduate degree in Engineering, Mining Engineering, Geological Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering, Earth Sciences, or a related discipline.
• P.Eng. designation, or equivalent professional certification from Canada, Brazil, or another relevant jurisdiction, is preferred.

Experience:

• 8 to 10 years of relevant experience in underground mining, mine engineering, geotechnical engineering, backfill systems, or a related technical discipline.
• Demonstrated experience with underground backfill design, implementation, system performance, QA/QC practices, operational execution, and continuous improvement.
• Experience working collaboratively with mine operations, technical services, safety teams, suppliers, procurement, and other cross-functional stakeholders.
• Experience leading technical projects, inspections, investigations, engineering reviews, or improvement initiatives within an underground mining environment.

Skills:

• In-depth knowledge of mine engineering principles, underground mine design, geotechnical constraints, and backfill technologies such as paste fill, hydraulic fill, and rock or aggregate fill.
• Strong knowledge of backfill mix design, plant design, response measurements, performance analysis, system optimization, and backfill behaviour assessment.
• Understanding of backfill material measurement equipment, plant measurement systems, surveying and scanning systems, instrumentation design, monitoring, and in-stope stability assessment methods.
• Knowledge of quality assurance and quality control programs related to backfill systems, materials, products, and underground placement practices.
• Proficiency with 3D mine design software, backfill system modelling tools, and other relevant engineering applications.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to assess system performance, identify improvement opportunities, and implement practical, safety-focused solutions.
• Advanced project management skills, including planning, execution, monitoring, budget awareness, timeline management, and stakeholder coordination.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate technical information for a variety of audiences.
• Strong collaboration skills and the ability to build effective working relationships with technical, operational, safety, procurement, and supplier stakeholders.
• Commitment to safety, regulatory compliance, continuous improvement, ethical conduct, accountability, and professional integrity.
• Ability to work effectively in a dynamic underground mining environment while demonstrating adaptability, resilience, sound judgement, and attention to detail.

What You'll Get in Return

• Competitive hourly compensation.
• Long-term contract opportunity supporting a strategic mining development program.
• Opportunity to build the technology foundation of a standalone mining operation.
• Exposure to enterprise IT, OT, cybersecurity, governance, and digital transformation initiatives.
• Flexible work environment with day-shift schedule.
• Opportunity to work alongside senior business leaders, technology experts, and implementation partners on a landmark project.

Interested? Let's Talk!

Email rupal.pandey@hays.com or call 801-349-1315 to learn more.

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