Job at a glance
Ready to build a rewarding career in an industry that is growing? Who We Are We are a global mining company dedicated to safely delivering nickel, copper, cobalt, and platinum group metals essential for the world's energy transition. Our mission is to improve lives and shape a better future together. From utensils to cellphones to satellites, our operations simplify daily life and enhance connectivity.
Our metals are integral to life-saving medical equipment and the electric vehicles driving the fight against climate change - our work truly matters. Join our diverse team of 15,000 talented individuals committed to transforming critical minerals into prosperity and sustainable development in countries like Canada, Brazil, Indonesia, the United Kingdom, and Japan. We invite you to use your skills with us and contribute to something meaningful and enduring.
The Opportunity We are currently seeking a Principal Engineer, Geotechnical to join our technical leadership team (CTO Mining and Geotech) in Sudbury, Ontario. This is a permanent position reporting to the Head of Mining Geotechnical, Vale Base Metals. As a Principal Engineer, Geotechnical you will act as a second line of defence (2LD) subject matter expert (SME), working closely with the operations in establishing, maintaining, communicating, and continuously improving geotechnical governance frameworks, assurance programs, and technical standards that support safe and efficient operations of our underground and open pit mines.
In addition, you will act as an independent SME in reviewing annual Life of Asset Plans (LoAP) and technical studies across VBM, ensuring that deliverables meet Vale's specifications. In this position you will: Ensure that the VBM's Critical Risk Management system remains effective, including: Master critical controls (CC) and bowties for geotechnical Material Unwanted Events (MUE) and their applications in the field; Participate in Hazard Identification and Risk Assessments (HIRA); Work with mine operations, 1LD personnel and CC owners to ensure that CCs remain functional; Communicate risk management expectations to mine operations.
Assist with reviews of existing and development of new standards and procedures; Review assets' Ground Control Management Plans (GCMP) and Mine Design Packages (MDP), ensuring implementation of the industry's best practices and standards; Review Management of Change (MOC) activities/processes as technical SME; Participate in Geotechnical Review Boards (GRB), ensuring that geotechnical work conducted by operations is adequate and resulting actions are specific, measurable, actionable, realistic and timebound; Participate in Integrated Operational Assessments (IOA), ensuring that current practices comply with VBM's standards and that resulting actions are specific, measurable, actionable, realistic and timebound; Assist the operations in completing the actions from GRBs and IOAs; Carry out mine Operation Checks, engaging with the site's ground control department with the focus on ground conditions, design, planning, monitoring, performance, safety, hazard management and opportunities; Participate in significant incident investigations related to geotechnical MUEs, ensuring that the resulting action plans are implemented properly and on-time; Review LoAPs, assessing mining methods, underground openings, pillars, and slope designs, ensuring that technical assumptions, implementation and achievability are sound and documented; Review the results of FEL studies, acting as an independent SME; Assist with the development, mentorship and training of ground control technical personnel at VBM; Develop and implement technology / continuous improvement projects with mine operations.
About You Education: Bachelor degree in Mining, Geological, Civil, or Geotechnical Engineering (Master or Ph.D. preferred). Experience: 12+ years of post P.Eng experience in ground control, rock mechanics, geomechanics studies, risk management within open