Senior Drilling Engineer
Core
Design, plan, and provide technical oversight of drilling programs to collect high-quality geological data for mineral exploration.
Role type
Senior Drilling Engineer (Exploration)
Builds
Exploration drilling programs (diamond core, sonic, reverse circulation, air core) for KoBold's global portfolio.
Domain
Mining / Mineral Exploration / Drilling Engineering
Deliverable
physical/clinical work
Required skills
Hole design and analysis, drilling method selection, rig specification, root cause analysis of downhole failures, procurement management, cost estimation, risk assessment, regulatory compliance, remote operations management
Preferred skills
Expert-level knowledge of drilling operations across multiple commodities, experience in Africa, interdisciplinary collaboration with geologists and data scientists, logistics management for remote drilling
Technologies
Hole design and analysis software tools
Responsibilities
Lead hole design and drilling method selection for complex exploration programs; Develop comprehensive drilling execution plans including scope, cost, and schedules; Complete detailed engineering design for casing, torque/drag, and directional drilling; Conduct root cause analysis on downhole failures; Manage contractor performance and procurement processes; Provide technical oversight of drilling operations across multiple concurrent programs; Mentor junior drilling engineers
Seniority
Senior, hands-on IC with mentorship responsibilities