Job Description:The Senior Geotechnical Engineer is responsible for independently assessing, managing, and mitigating geotechnical hazards to support safe and responsible mining activities at SSR Mining's Cripple Creek & Victor (CC&V) Mine. This role provides geotechnical support for open pit operations and valley leach pad facilities, with a strong focus on slope stability, highwall monitoring, ground control, and risk management. The Senior Geotechnical Engineer also works closely with the underground workings mitigation (voids) team to evaluate historic underground workings and facilitate safe production in affected mining areas.
This position partners with Mine Operations, Drill & Blast, Process, and other technical teams to identify geotechnical risks, develop practical mitigation strategies, and drive continuous improvement through data analysis, monitoring systems, engineering practices, and new technologies.
Day to Day: - Identification and evaluation of geotechnical risks and opportunities
- Geotechnical core logging and sampling to determine rock mass strength
- Strong understanding and experience with open pit blasting techniques and controls
- Understanding of 3-D geologic models, and impacts on slope stability
- Perform engineering analysis including slope stability, structural, and rockfall hazard analysis
- Experience with bench scale and inter-ramp scale slope design compliance
- Working competence in surface stability software programs
- Ensure reliability of highwall monitoring systems, ensure systems are implemented and maintained to support safe operations, and that Trigger Action Response Plans (TARPs) are in place and acted upon
- Work with the void team to plan, schedule, and coordinate drilling campaigns to map out and analyze underground workings within the property
- Develop or maintain mapping procedures, mapping systems and ensure data is collected in a timely manner
- Develop geotechnical hazard model and data collection program based on site conditions
- Perform geotechnical improvement reviews as requested, and ensure the site follows the ground control management plan
- Ensure geotechnical risks are clearly explained to decision makers and cost-benefits are explained where possible
- Complete and utilize highwall reconciliations to identify problems and improve the mining and modelling practices, provide guidance to drill and blast to better protect highwalls
- Work with mine operations to identify potential geotechnical issues and clean up of dig faces
- Closely work with process personnel to ensure slope stability of valley leach pad facilities
- Provide mentorship for employees in the department
Is This You??- Bachelor's degree in Geomechanics, Geological Engineering or related field
- 7+ years' experience in mining operations or geology
- 3+ years' experience with Leapfrog, Point Studio, RocScience Suite, and MinePlan or similar software packages
- Python experience preferred
- Core logging experience
- Strong presentation, facilitation, writing and consultation skills
- Ability to analyze data and make recommendations in a timely manner
- Excellent interpersonal, negotiation and conflict resolution skills
- Valid driver's license
Working Conditions & Environment:- Role is based at the Cripple Creek & Victor Mine, located in Teller County, Colorado.
- The Cripple Creek & Victor (CC&V) Mine site is located at elevations ranging from approximately 9,400 ft. to 10,600 ft. above sea level. Workers in this position are routinely exposed to conditions at various work sites throughout this range of elevations and must be physically capable of working at this altitude.
- Weather conditions can and do change frequently and can become severe at times.
The summary provided is a basic outline of duties for the Senior Geotechnical Engineer role and is not all-inclusive. For applicants residing in CO, the salary range for this role is $125,000-$140,000. Benefits: 401(k); medical/dental/vision insurance; employee share purchase plan, PTO, and STI.
