Mining Engineer - Drill & Blast

Drill and Blast Engineer

Reports to Director of Technical Services

The Drill and Blast Engineer owns the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of drilling and blasting programs across Turner Mining Group’s surface mining projects. This role supports multiple sites with developing and sustaining drilling and blasting programs and systems that deliver target fragmentation, wall control, and ore boundary integrity, safely and at the lowest total cost to the downstream load, haul, and processing chain.

The Drill and Blast Engineer works closely with site operations and engineering teams, drill and blast crews, explosives suppliers, equipment manufacturers, and client survey, geology, and engineering teams. This is a corporate remote-based role with approx. 25-50% travel to sites.

This position requires a solid understanding of drilling, rock breakage, explosives performance, and blasting regulations, along with the practical judgment to apply them in a contract mining environment. The successful candidate uses data to measure performance, communicates clearly with crews and clients, and drives improvements that show up in drill productivity, dig rates, crusher throughput, and/or cost per ton.

Position Responsibilities:

Blast Design and Planning

• Assist with developing blast design parameters and guidance to site for production, pre-split, trim, and wall-control shots, including pattern geometry, burden and spacing, hole depth, subdrill, stemming, powder factor, and initiation timing.
• Evaluate and tailor designs to geology, rock mass conditions, water, and grade control requirements to achieve blasting objectives.
• Develop processes and systems to create drill plans and design files for high-precision drill navigation systems as required.
• Select explosive products and initiation systems (bulk emulsion, ANFO, blends, electronic and non-electric detonators) in coordination with the site team, client, and explosives supplier.

Drilling Performance and Quality Control

• Develop processes and systems to track drilling performance, including penetration rate, collar accuracy, hole depth and deviation, redrills, and consumable life. Periodically audit site data and provide recommendations for improvements.
• Work with drill operators and supervisors to troubleshoot drilling issues and improve productivity and accuracy.
• Support drill fleet selection, bit and consumables evaluations, and drill production estimates.

Blast Performance Analysis and Optimization

• Measure fragmentation and correlate results with dig rates, loading productivity, and crusher throughput.
• Support investigations of blast-related events (such as flyrock, misfires, excessive vibration or airblast, post-blast fumes) and assist site with implementing corrective actions.
• As required, develop, implement, and monitor ground vibration and air overpressure monitoring programs, maintain seismograph records, and keep blasting within regulatory and permit limits.
• Run controlled trials to balance drill and blast cost against load, haul, and crushing performance on a total-cost basis.
• Conduct or support blast movement monitoring to adjust ore boundaries and protect grade control integrity.
• Develop systems and processes to track and report drill and blast KPIs (powder factor, cost per ton, drill productivity, design compliance) through dashboards and regular reviews. Periodically audit site data and provide recommendations for improvements.

Compliance, Safety, and Standards

• Ensure drill and blast activities comply with MSHA regulations, ATF requirements for explosives storage and handling, state blasting rules, and client permits.
• Develop and support systems and processes for sites to maintain blast records, magazine inventory reconciliation, and required regulatory documentation.
• Develop and maintain SOPs, risk assessments, and job hazard analyses for drilling and blasting activities.
• Train and mentor site personnel on blast design principles, drill quality, and safe blasting practices.
• Perform other duties as assigned to support safe and effective project execution.

Estimating and Client Support

• Provide input on drill and blast designs, productivity estimates, and cost inputs for new bids and project startups.
• Review client drill and blast designs and specifications, identify risks, and recommend improvements.
• Manage working relationships with explosives suppliers, drilling contractors, and OEMs, including performance reviews and supply arrangements.
• Communicate blast plans, results, and improvement initiatives clearly to client engineering and operations teams.

The Ideal Candidate will have:

Knowledge

• Bachelor’s degree in Mining Engineering, Geological Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• 3-7 years of drill and blast experience in surface mining, quarrying, or heavy civil operations.
• Strong understanding of rock breakage, fragmentation, explosives performance, and initiation systems.
• Proficiency with blast design software (DigiShot, SHOTPlus, BlastLogic, or similar) and mine planning or CAD tools (Deswik, Vulcan, Carlson, Civil 3D, or similar).
• Working knowledge of MSHA explosives regulations and vibration and airblast monitoring practices.
• Experience with high-precision drill navigation systems and drill reporting data.
• Advanced Excel capability; working proficiency with Power BI or similar reporting tools a plus.

Preferred Qualifications

• State blaster license or certification.
• Experience in open pit hard rock operations.
• Experience with blast movement monitoring and fragmentation analysis tools.
• Experience with a contract mining company or explosives supplier.
• Familiarity with face profiling, drone photogrammetry, or borehole deviation surveys.

Key Competencies / Skills

• Practical, field-oriented engineer who is comfortable on the bench and credible with drill and blast crews.
• Analytical and data-driven, able to connect blast design changes to measurable downstream results.
• Strong safety mindset with sound judgment in a high-consequence work environment.
• Clear communicator across crews, supervisors, managers, suppliers, and client engineering teams.
• Highly organized, with the ability to manage ongoing projects at multiple sites.
• Demonstrates initiative, sound judgment, and a bias toward field-validated results over theoretical approaches.
• Committed to Turner Mining Group’s values and to advancing safe, efficient, and innovative mining operations across every project we execute.

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