Senior Tailings Engineer

Introduction

An exciting opportunity exists for a Senior Tailings Engineer to join a specialist Mine Waste consulting team on a full-time basis in Midrand. This is a senior-level consulting position responsible for delivering high-quality tailings and geotechnical engineering services across a diverse range of mining projects.

The successful candidate will provide technical leadership, manage complex engineering projects, mentor junior engineers, and develop long-term client relationships while ensuring the delivery of technically sound and commercially successful projects.

The ideal candidate is a technically strong consulting engineer with extensive experience in tailings and mine waste engineering who can successfully lead complex projects, mentor engineering teams, build lasting client relationships, and contribute to the continued growth of a specialist engineering consultancy.

Description

• Develop specialist expertise within the fields of tailings and geotechnical engineering.

• Make complex technical and project-related decisions while providing guidance to colleagues.

• Lead and direct large-scale engineering projects with significant budgets and technical complexity.

• Negotiate contracts and identify strategic project requirements.

• Build and maintain strong client relationships while identifying new business opportunities.

• Provide technical leadership and manage multidisciplinary project teams.

• Mentor and coach junior and intermediate engineers, supporting their professional development.

• Participate in recruitment, performance management, salary reviews, training, and disciplinary processes.

• Review and approve complex technical reports and project deliverables.

• Contribute to technical leadership within specialist engineering disciplines.

• Provide expert technical advice on complex tailings engineering projects within the mining industry.

• Apply advanced engineering principles, analytical methods, and innovative solutions to support engineering decisions.

• Manage and review engineering investigations, analyses, and reports relating to:

• Mine waste storage facilities

• Tailings storage facility design and inspections

• Tailings deposition and operational management

• Tailings properties and behaviour

• Closure planning

• Stability assessments

• Seepage analysis

• Water storage dams

• Earthworks

• Promote and maintain a strong health and safety culture.

• Deliver technical training and knowledge transfer to junior engineers.

• Plan project schedules and coordinate engineering resources to meet project deadlines.

• Supervise the quality and technical accuracy of engineering work.

• Prepare technical proposals, reports, and client presentations.

• Support business development initiatives and strengthen client relationships.

Profile

• BEng or BSc Degree in Civil Engineering.

• 10+ years' post-graduate experience in tailings and geotechnical engineering.

• Honours degree in Geotechnical Engineering will be advantageous.

• Professional registration with ECSA is essential.

• Strong understanding of legislation relating to engineering design, water use, and waste management licence applications.

Financial understanding, including

• Work in Progress (WIP)

• Accounts Receivable

• Debtor Days Outstanding (DSOs)

• Proven experience leading multidisciplinary mine waste engineering projects.

• Strong project management skills.

• Advanced proficiency in: MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, MS Outlook , MS Project

Experience using

• Slope stability analysis software

• Seepage analysis software

• Engineering modelling software

• Experience with additional engineering software packages will be advantageous.