Ventilation Engineer

Requisition ID: 101384

Job Category: Engineering

Location: Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa

Join a company that is passionately committed to the pursuit of a better world through positive change. With more than 70 years of business and technical expertise in mining, energy, and infrastructure, our 10,000 colleagues in 150 countries tirelessly work toward bettering the industries in which we operate. With practical solutions that are safe, innovative and sustainable, we think globally while acting locally. Are you looking for an opportunity to join a diverse group of professionals who are committed to remaining exceptional? We look forward to hearing from you.

If it isn't grown, it's mined. Our mining and metals teams help our clients to safely and sustainably mine the minerals and metals used in our everyday lives. Want to play a part of innovating and optimizing the mining life cycle on greenfield and brownfield facilities? Apply today!

Shape the future of underground mining. Join Hatch as a Ventilation Engineer and help deliver ventilation and cooling solutions for some of the world's most complex mining projects. Work with global multidisciplinary teams, leverage advanced modelling technologies, and drive safer, smarter, and more sustainable mining operations across the globe.

Position Summary

Hatch is seeking a Ventilation Engineer to join our mine ventilation team in our Greenstone office in Johannesburg South Africa. The successful candidate will be responsible for the design, analysis, optimization, and management of mine ventilation systems for underground mining projects across various commodities and geographies. This role involves working with concept studies through to detailed engineering and operational support.

The Mining Ventilation Engineer will play a key role in ensuring compliance with applicable safety regulations, operational requirements, and industry best practices while supporting Hatch's commitment to positive change through technical excellence and innovation.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop mine ventilation designs for underground mining operations.
• Conduct and supervise ventilation network modelling and simulation studies using industry-standard software.
• Design and supervise design of primary and secondary ventilation systems, including fans, vent raises, regulators, doors, stoppings, and auxiliary ventilation infrastructure.
• Perform heat load assessments, refrigeration studies, cooling requirements analyses, and contaminant control evaluations.
• Complete ventilation and cooling studies for feasibility studies, pre-feasibility studies, feasibility studies, and detailed engineering projects.
• Prepare technical reports, design criteria, specifications, calculations, and ventilation management plans.
• Participate in site visits, audits, ventilation surveys, and data collection activities.
• Provide technical support during project execution, commissioning, and operational phases.
• Ensure designs comply with relevant mining regulations, client standards, and international best practices.
• Contribute to proposal development, business development activities, and technical presentations.
• Identify opportunities to improve system efficiency, energy consumption, safety, and sustainability outcomes.
• Mentor junior engineers and graduates.

Qualifications and Experience

Essential

• Bachelor's Degree in Mining Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Process Engineering or related Engineering discipline.
• Strong understanding of underground mining methods and ventilation requirements.
• Minimum 5 years of experience within underground mining operations or mining consulting environments.
• Skills in ventilation network analysis and mine ventilation system design.
• Excellent technical report writing and communication skills.

Preferred

• Professional registration or eligibility for registration with ECSA.
• Familiarity with mine ventilation sampling and testing equipment.
• Experience with conducting mine fan audits and underground network calibration surveys.
• Knowledge of refrigeration and cooling systems for underground mines.

Technical Skills

• Ventilation modeling in software such as Ventsim™
• Familiarity with Mine Planning Software (Deswik, Vulcan, or similar)
• Engineering design and calculation tools

Competencies

• Technical writing skills suitable for writing proposals, work plans, and project reports
• Understanding of common underground mining methods and corresponding ventilation methodologies

Why join us?

• Work with great people to make a difference
• Collaborate on exciting projects to develop innovative solutions
• Top employer

What we offer you?

• Flexible work environment
• Long term career development
• Think globally, work locally

Don't meet every single requirement? You don't need to. At Hatch, we are building a diverse, inclusive workplace that fosters innovation. If you're interested in this role, we encourage you to apply even if your past experiences don't perfectly align with the skills we've listed.

As an accredited Employer of Choice for Gender Equality (WGEA) and Equal Opportunity Employer, we are committed to fostering a workforce in each of our locations that reflects the diversity of the communities in which we operate. Within Australia, this includes supporting and encouraging a flexible workplace and a comprehensive benefit offering. If you have any special needs requirements, please discuss with us and we will do our utmost to accommodate your request.