Drill and Blast Engineer
Location: Northern Ontario
Employment Type: Permanent, Full-Time
Schedule: 4 Days On / 3 Days Off
About the Opportunity
A leading Canadian gold mining company is seeking a Longhole Drill and Blast Engineer to join its Technical Services team.
The role is responsible for the design, optimisation, and reconciliation of longhole stopes, focusing on maximising ore recovery, minimising dilution, and ensuring compliance with safety, regulatory, and operational standards.
Key Responsibilities
- Review and update stope shapes using grade control block models, lithology, structure models, and drillhole data
- Design drilling patterns based on historical stope performance, blast reports, best practices, and third-party reviews
- Select appropriate drill parameters, explosives types, initiation systems, and timing sequences based on ground conditions and hole survey results
- Design blasts to optimise grade control, fragmentation, wall control, and mucking efficiency
- Minimise overbreak, dilution, and blast damage to surrounding infrastructure
- Provide technical support to drilling and blasting crews during execution
- Monitor drilling accuracy, deviation, and compliance with design parameters
- Assist with blast preparation, inspection, clearance, and firing procedures
- Troubleshoot blasting issues including bridging, misfires, poor fragmentation, and excessive vibration
- Analyse blast results using vibration monitoring and post-blast inspections
- Track KPIs including footage, tonnage, blast performance, dilution, recovery, and cost
- Implement continuous improvement initiatives for blasting efficiency and consistency
- Work closely with production and planning teams to align drill and blast outcomes with mine schedules
Qualifications
Essential
- Bachelor’s degree in Mining Engineering, Geological Engineering, or related discipline
- Minimum 2 years of underground drill and blast engineering experience
- Strong knowledge of longhole stoping in narrow vein deposits
- Experience with blast design software and mine planning tools (e.g., Deswik)
- Solid understanding of explosives, initiation systems, and blasting regulations
- Familiarity with drilling accuracy tools and deviation control
Desirable
- P.Eng. or eligibility for registration
- Experience with electronic detonators and advanced blast timing strategies
- Exposure to vibration monitoring, fragmentation analysis, and blast optimisation
- Experience in high-stress or geotechnically challenging environments
Compensation & Benefits
- $95,000 to 120,000 (Competitive salary aligned with experience)
- Opportunity to work in a technically advanced underground mining operation
Working Conditions
- Office environment with occasional underground exposure
- Exposure to noise, dust, and varying ground conditions
- 4/3 rotational schedule at Macassa Mine
Eligibility
- Must meet employment eligibility requirements
- Subject to pre-employment medical, drug and alcohol screening, and site safety standards
How to Apply
- Submit your resume for confidential consideration
- Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted
Vacancy Status
Existing vacancy
AI Disclosure
We do not use artificial intelligence to screen or select applicants
