Principal Mine Planner – Autonomy & Innovation Focus

About Us

Mariana Minerals is pioneering the next era of mining in the United States. As a mission-driven company focused on innovation, safety, and environmental responsibility, we are building one of the first fully autonomous mining operations in the country—designed from day one with automation at its core. We’re not just improving mining; we’re redefining it.

Position Overview

As the Principal Mine Planner, you will lead the development of integrated mine planning strategies that directly support the deployment of autonomous haul trucks, drills, and shovels. You will be at the forefront of a first-of-its-kind transformation in U.S. mining, combining technical excellence with systems thinking and cross-functional leadership. This is a high-impact, career-defining role. The ideal candidate is a strong planner with both technical depth and a forward-looking mindset—someone excited to design not just a mine, but the future of mining.

Key Responsibilities

Mine Planning Leadership

• Own and deliver short-, medium-, and long-range mine plans that align with production targets, budget constraints, and safety standards.

• Design pit phases, road networks, and mining sequences tailored for autonomous operation.

Autonomy-Centric Strategy

• Develop mine layouts, schedules, and operational logic specifically optimized for autonomous fleets and drilling systems.

• Partner with autonomy engineering teams to define planning parameters that maximize system performance and reliability.

• Integrate considerations such as communication networks, obstacle management, interaction zones, and redundancy into the mine plan.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Interface with geology, geotech, operations, autonomy vendors, and control systems teams to ensure all stakeholders are aligned.

• Translate autonomous system requirements into executable plans for engineering and operations teams.

• Represent mine planning in autonomy-related technology selections, testing, and commissioning.

Innovation & Modeling

• Use advanced mine design software (Deswik, Hexagon, Leapfrog etc.) to build and iterate dynamic 3D models and simulate operational scenarios.

• Identify and resolve planning challenges related to fleet interactions, drill coverage, shovel availability, and throughput optimization.

Thought Leadership

• Champion a novel approach to mining that fuses automation, sustainability, and productivity.

• Contribute to internal knowledge-building and set new benchmarks for U.S. autonomous mining operations.

• Mentor junior engineers and planners on advanced techniques and autonomy-readiness.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mining Engineering or closely related field (Master’s preferred).

• 7+ years of progressive mine planning experience, including leadership responsibilities.

• Proven ability to develop detailed mine plans using modern software (Deswik, MinePlan, Vulcan, etc.).

• Demonstrated success in projects involving autonomous or semi-autonomous mining systems.

• Excellent communicator with strong project management skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in startup or greenfield mine planning environments.

• Familiarity with fleet management systems (e.g., Modular, Wenco), OEM autonomous platforms (e.g., CAT MineStar, Komatsu AHS).

• Professional Engineer (P.Eng or equivalent) or eligibility.

What Makes This Role Unique

• Industry First: Be part of the first fully autonomous mining operation in the U.S.

• Breakthrough Impact: Design strategies that will influence the future of mining across North America.