What You'll Do

  • Inspect mining areas for unsafe structures, equipment, and working conditions.
  • Select locations and plan underground or surface mining operations, specifying processes, labor usage, and equipment that will result in safe, economical, and environmentally sound extraction of minerals and ores.
  • Examine maps, deposits, drilling locations, or mines to determine the location, size, accessibility, contents, value, and potential profitability of mineral, oil, and gas deposits.
  • Prepare schedules, reports, and estimates of the costs involved in developing and operating mines.
  • Monitor mine production rates to assess operational effectiveness.
  • Design, implement, and monitor the development of mines, facilities, systems, or equipment.
  • Select or develop mineral location, extraction, and production methods, based on factors such as safety, cost, and deposit characteristics.
  • Prepare technical reports for use by mining, engineering, and management personnel.
  • Implement and coordinate mine safety programs, including the design and maintenance of protective and rescue equipment and safety devices.
  • Test air to detect toxic gases and recommend measures to remove them, such as installation of ventilation shafts.

Essential Skills

Complex Problem Solving 4.12/5
Reading Comprehension 4.0/5
Writing 4.0/5
Speaking 4.0/5
Critical Thinking 4.0/5
Judgment and Decision Making 4.0/5
Active Listening 3.88/5
Mathematics 3.75/5
Monitoring 3.75/5
Systems Analysis 3.75/5
Systems Evaluation 3.75/5
Science 3.5/5

Career Fit Overview

Use this summary to sense whether the day to day rhythm and focus of this path line up with what energizes you.

Top passions

  • Maker: Building and fixing energizes you. You like tangible results and practical tools.
  • Analyst: Investigating problems and finding patterns keeps you engaged.
  • Organizer: Bringing order to data and processes satisfies you.

Common styles

Analytical Thinking, Attention to Detail, Dependability, Cooperation, Integrity

Want a personal read on fit. Take the free assessment and see your exact compatibility with this career and many related roles.

Key Abilities

This career demands strong capabilities in the following areas:

Oral Comprehension 4.0/5
Written Comprehension 4.0/5
Oral Expression 4.0/5
Written Expression 4.0/5
Problem Sensitivity 4.0/5
Deductive Reasoning 4.0/5
Inductive Reasoning 4.0/5
Information Ordering 4.0/5

Technologies & Tools

Autodesk AutoCAD Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D Bentley MicroStation Business software applications Carlson SurvCADD Computer aided design and drafting CADD software CyberArk Enterprise resource planning ERP software Gemcom PCBC Gemcom Surpac Gemcom Whittle GEO-SLOPE GeoStudio Geographic information system GIS systems GijimaAst Mining Solutions International Mine2-4D Hellman & Schofield MP3 Maptek Vulcan Microsoft Access Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Outlook

Work Environment & Style

Common Styles for This Career

  • Analytical Thinking (High importance: 4.77/5)
  • Attention to Detail (High importance: 4.64/5)
  • Dependability (High importance: 4.35/5)
  • Cooperation (High importance: 4.16/5)
  • Integrity (High importance: 4.14/5)

Want to see how YOUR work style matches this career?

Take Free 15-Min Assessment →

How to Become One

Most employers require a bachelor's degree in a relevant field. Some positions may also require experience through internships, co-ops, or entry-level work to strengthen your candidacy.

Similar Careers to Explore

Water/Wastewater Engineers

99.9% similar profile

Fuel Cell Engineers

99.8% similar profile

Petroleum Engineers

99.8% similar profile

Civil Engineers

99.6% similar profile

Electrical Engineers

99.6% similar profile

Precision Agriculture Technicians

99.6% similar profile

Transportation Engineers

99.5% similar profile

Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors

99.5% similar profile

Also Known As

This career is known by many different job titles across industries. Here are all the variations:

Coal Mine Inspector Engineer Exploration Engineer Field Engineer Geological Engineer Geophysical Engineer Geotechnical Engineer Geotechnical Project Engineer Metal Mine Inspector Mine Analyst Mine Development Engineer Mine Engineer Mine Environmental Engineer Mine Expert Mine Exploration Engineer Mine Production Engineer Mine Safety Engineer Mineral Engineer Mining and Oil Well Equipment Research Engineer Mining and Tunneling Project Engineer Mining Consultant Mining Engineer Mining Project Engineer Nonmetal Mine Inspector Ore Dressing Engineer Planning Engineer Project Engineer Safety Analyst Safety Engineer Safety Inspector Safety Monitor Safety Representative Seismic Engineer Site Safety Representative Tailings Engineer Underground Mining Engineer