Mining engineer : Career development

Within the more traditional mining engineer role, career development tends to take the following route (with promotion approximately every two to three years):

• junior mining engineer;
• mine planning engineer;
• senior mining engineer;
• mine supervisor;
• resident manager.

The larger mining companies tend to provide the most well-structured career development programmes and offer more opportunities for promotion.

Gaining chartered engineer (CEng) status through the Engineering Council UK (ECUK)  is helpful to successful career development. Chartership also provides a structured continuing professional development (CPD) programme and links with useful industry contacts.

Career development varies widely within the field as a whole. Mining engineers who stay within mining in the UK may work in office-based roles, working for international mining companies. These types of opportunities can lead to additional managerial and strategic responsibilities. Others may progress into working in mining finance or working on a consultancy basis for mining companies. Qualified mining engineers also progress into roles within quarry management, IT and construction.