Senior Geomechanical Engineer - Underground

Freeport-McMoRan is a leading international mining company with headquarters in Phoenix, Arizona. We operate large, long-lived, geographically diverse assets with significant proven and probable reserves of copper, gold, and molybdenum. The company has a dynamic portfolio of operating, expansion and growth projects in the copper industry. Freeport-McMoRan is one of the world’s largest publicly traded copper producers, the world’s largest producer of molybdenum and a significant gold producer. We have a long and successful history of conducting our business in a safe, highly efficient and socially-responsible manner.

We have the assets, the talent, the drive and the financial strength to provide attractive and rewarding careers of our employees. We encourage you to take the time to explore the opportunity to advance your career at Freeport-McMoRan.

Description

Under general supervision, oversee underground excavation stability management functions including underground excavation support design and stability monitoring and serve as resource for Geomechanical information and analysis.

• Overall property underground excavation stability management functions. 
• Develop and review ground support designs for underground excavations to ensure a safe working environment based on relevant geological and stress conditions using empirical (Q or RMR), kinematic (unWedge) and stress (RS3, phase 2) based analysis methods.
• Manage and review underground excavation stability data collection, analysis and remedial work including underground excavation monitoring data processing, rock strength parameters, and geologic structures.
• Communicate accurate, timely and relevant underground excavation stability and Geomechanical information to mine and site personnel, including site management, through appropriate methods such as reports and presentations. 
• Manage, conduct and communicate the results of inspections of underground excavations.
• Manage contracted ground remediation projects such as chemical grout injection or liner application.
• Proactively seek improvements to the safe mining of mine reserves relating to underground excavation monitoring, underground excavation maintenance, underground excavation support designs, Geomechanical data acquisition and analyses.  
• Develop, maintain and implement strategic plans to enhance the mine’s underground excavation stability program.
• Manage and provide Geomechanical project oversight and review relating to outside consultants
• Overall property slope management functions for existing slopes around surface facilities.
• Usage of appropriate software (MS Office, AutoCAD) and Geotechnical data analysis, Mintec’s MineSight (or equivalent), RocScience software including unWedge, Phase2, RS3 and Dips.
• Perform other duties as required.

Qualifications

Minimum Requirements:

This position requires international air travel. In accordance with Freeport-McMoRan’s requirement for all employees whose job requires international travel, if you are hired you will be required to submit proof that you are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to travel by air internationally, unless the company has granted a medical or religious accommodation.

• Bachelor’s degree in Mine Engineering, Geological Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering, or Geology (if sufficient education, training or experience can be shown) and five (5) years engineering experience in hard rock mining relating to rock mechanics and rock underground excavation stability, OR
• Master’s degree in Mine Engineering, Geological Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering, or  Geology (if sufficient education, training or experience can be shown) and three (3) years engineering experience in hard rock mining relating to rock mechanics and rock underground excavation stability.

Criteria/Conditions:

• Work is in a mine or manufacturing plant setting, which may include exposure to extremes in temperature and humidity, moving mechanical parts, risk of electrical shock, toxic chemicals, explosives, fumes or airborne particles.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, sit, demonstrate manual dexterity, climb stairs and ladders, work on elevated platforms, talk, hear and see.
• Occasionally may be required to lift moderately heavy objects (up to 30 pounds) during the course of the workday.
• Personal protective equipment is required when performing work in a mine, outdoor, manufacturing or plant environment, including hard hat, hearing protection, safety glasses, safety footwear, and as needed, respirator, rubber steel-toe boots, protective clothing, gloves and any other protective equipment as required.
• Freeport-McMoRan promotes a drug/alcohol free work enviro