Long Range Rock Engineer

Long Range Rock Engineer

Location:

Columbus Central Services - Columbus, MT

Schedule:

5x2, 4x3 - 9-hour days

Job Responsibilities and Duties:

At Sibanye-Stillwater, the Long Range Rock Engineer provides strategic geotechnical and rock engineering leadership to support safe, efficient, and sustainable life-of-mine planning across the Montana PGM Operations. This role integrates rock mechanics expertise, numerical modelling, ground-support design, field observations, and technical assurance into long-range mine plans and major design decisions. Working closely with site engineering, geology, operations, and technical leadership, the position identifies and manages geotechnical risks, develops practical engineering solutions, establishes consistent standards, and supports the optimization of mining methods, development layouts, stopping strategies, and ground-control systems.

The Long Range Rock Mechanics primary duties are:

- Assist and oversee Rock Mechanics projects ranging from simple to complex and encompassing all facets of the operation.

- Leading the training of the onsite rock engineering group across the sites and coordinating central personnel.

- Accountable for the technical function of rock engineering including - Ground support design/SOP, Rockmass data collection, complex engineering failure criteria, engineering calibration techniques and performance reconciliation for stope and development design.

- Managing the rock engineering specific regulatory requirements, including Ground Control SOP along with compliance.

- Supporting and maintaining related Technical Enablement Systems regarding rock engineering- instrumented bolts, etc.

- QA/QC of rock mechanics engineering duties, especially regarding UG audits, required testing of support types, job observations, data collection and critical infrastructure.

- Supporting the Geotechnical Engineering Manager in the establishment and maintenance of rock engineering standards, process, and procedures regarding rock engineering, related fixtures/support products, and related planning parameters.

- Supporting the Geotechnical Engineering Manager as needed with numerical modelling efforts and providing field data to verify against modelling assumptions from the short to long term mining plans.

- Conduct mining reconciliation to determine proper dilution factors domained by rock types. Verification of contributing factors associated with stress re-distribution, time studies, drill & blast parameters and undercutting factors.

- Review and organization of tasks relating to LOM, 5-Year plan down to 1 month mining plan reviews for all members of Rock Mechanics team on-site.

- Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications and Skills:

- Well-developed verbal and written communication skills.

- Proven ability to work autonomously, as well as within a team-based environment.

- Experience working with and providing accurate and coherent technical data to both regulators and senior leadership.

- Functional use of geotechnical and mining software including the RocScience Suite, Deswik, and Map3D or equivalent software.

- Experience in rockmass data collection including core logging and scanline mapping

- Understanding of the different mining methods that could be used for the ore body

- Ability to manage and successfully complete geotechnical projects that improve safety or efficiency.

Education & Experience:

- BS in Mining Engineering, Geological Engineering, or equivalent, with a minimum of 6 years of mine engineering experience.

- Minimum of 4 years of engineering experience in the related technical specialization.

Sibanye-Stillwater is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All employment decisions at Sibanye-Stillwater are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation or preference, marital or family status, disability, genetic information, age, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor.