Mining engineers play a critical role in planning, designing, and optimising extraction operations across Australia's diverse mining sector. With salaries ranging from $120,000 for graduates to $250,000+ for senior engineers, this is one of the most rewarding career paths in the resources industry.
A strong resume that showcases your technical expertise, project experience, and software proficiency is essential for landing top mining engineering positions. This guide provides a complete example and expert tips for crafting a resume that will impress hiring managers.
Quick Stats
Salary Range: $120,000 - $250,000+ (depending on experience and specialisation) Work Arrangement: FIFO and residential options available Key Qualifications: Bachelor of Engineering (Mining), eligible for chartered status
Mining Engineer Resume Example
Sarah Chen
Senior Mining Engineer
Professional Summary
Chartered Professional Mining Engineer with 8+ years of experience in open-cut and underground operations across coal, iron ore, and base metals. Expertise in mine planning, drill and blast optimisation, and production scheduling using Deswik, Vulcan, and Surpac. Proven track record of delivering $15M+ in cost savings through process improvements and innovative engineering solutions. Strong focus on safety leadership with experience implementing fatigue management systems and critical control verification programs.
Employment History
Senior Mining Engineer
BHP Mitsubishi Alliance, Bowen Basin, QLD
- Lead mine planning team for Tier 1 metallurgical coal operation producing 8Mtpa ROM
- Delivered $12M annual cost reduction through blast pattern optimisation and improved dig rates
- Implemented short-term planning system improving equipment utilisation by 15%
- Manage team of 4 engineers and 2 technical officers, conducting regular performance reviews
- Chair technical review committee for major capital projects ($50M+ value)
Mining Engineer
Fortescue Metals Group, Pilbara, WA
- Developed medium and long-term mine plans for Solomon Hub iron ore operations
- Optimised haul road networks reducing cycle times by 8% and fuel consumption by 6%
- Led implementation of autonomous haulage system (AHS) integration with mine planning software
- Coordinated with geology, processing, and operations teams on resource reconciliation
- Mentored graduate engineers through structured development program
Graduate Mining Engineer
Glencore Coal, Hunter Valley, NSW
- Completed 2-year graduate program rotating through planning, technical services, and operations
- Developed blast designs for dragline and truck-shovel operations
- Assisted with monthly production reconciliation and variance analysis
- Gained hands-on experience in pit supervision and equipment coordination
Education
Bachelor of Engineering (Mining) - Honours
University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD
Graduate Certificate in Project Management
RMIT University, Online
Certifications & Training
Skills
Bullet Point Assistant
1. What did you do?
2. What metric did you improve and in what time span?
3. Connect your action to your strategy.
Key Sections of a Mining Engineer Resume
Professional Summary
Your professional summary should immediately establish your expertise level, technical capabilities, and value proposition. For engineering roles, include:
Strong Summary Elements
- +Mention years of experience and operation types
- +List key software proficiencies
- +Quantify achievements (cost savings, efficiency gains)
- +Reference professional memberships (AusIMM, CPEng)
Common Weaknesses
- -Generic engineering statements
- -No mention of specific mining software
- -Unquantified experience descriptions
- -Missing professional credentials
Employment History
Mining engineering roles require demonstrating technical depth alongside leadership and project delivery. Structure your experience to highlight:
- Project scope and scale - Annual production, capital value, team size
- Technical achievements - Specific improvements with quantified results
- Software applications - How you used planning tools to deliver outcomes
- Leadership examples - Team management, mentoring, stakeholder engagement
Quantify Everything
Mining companies love numbers. Instead of "Improved mine planning processes," write "Redesigned short-term planning workflow reducing scheduling time by 40% and improving equipment utilisation from 78% to 89%."
Essential Qualifications
Mining engineers require specific qualifications that vary by state and role:
Qualifications & Certifications
- Bachelor of Engineering (Mining or related discipline)
- AusIMM membership (MAusIMM or FAusIMM)
- Chartered status (CPEng or CP Mining)
- Statutory certificates (SSE, OCE, or First Class as applicable)
- Standard 11 or state mining induction
- Shotfirer's licence (for blast engineering roles)
- First Aid and emergency response training
Technical Skills & Software
Software proficiency is crucial for mining engineering roles. Be specific about your experience level with each platform.
Essential Mining Software
Mine Planning:
- Deswik.CAD, Deswik.Sched, Deswik.LHS
- Maptek Vulcan
- GEOVIA Surpac
- Datamine Studio OP/UG
Scheduling & Optimisation:
- MineSched / Schedule Optimisation Tool (SOT)
- XPAC / XERAS
- RPMGlobal HAULSIM
- Hexagon MinePlan
Blast Design:
- JKSimBlast
- BMM (Blast Movement Monitor)
- ShotPlus
Other Technical:
- GIS software (ArcGIS, QGIS)
- Excel / VBA automation
- Python for data analysis
- Power BI / Tableau for reporting
Career Level Guidance
Graduate Engineers
Focus your resume on:
- Academic achievements and relevant projects
- Vacation work and internship experience
- Technical software exposure (even from university)
- Demonstrated interest in mining (site visits, AusIMM involvement)
Mid-Career Engineers (3-7 years)
Highlight:
- Progression of responsibilities
- Specific technical specialisations
- Project delivery examples
- Statutory certification progress
Senior Engineers (8+ years)
Emphasise:
- Leadership and team development
- Strategic contributions
- Major project delivery
- Industry recognition and publications
Resume Writing Tips for Engineering Roles
Demonstrate Technical Depth
Engineering resumes should showcase your problem-solving abilities. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure achievement statements:
"The best engineering resumes show me not just what software they know, but how they've applied it to solve real problems and deliver measurable outcomes."
Balance Technical and Leadership Skills
As you progress in your career, leadership becomes increasingly important. Show both:
- Technical innovation and optimisation
- Team leadership and development
- Cross-functional collaboration
- Safety leadership and culture contribution
Keep It Current
The mining industry evolves rapidly. Ensure your resume reflects:
- Latest software versions you've used
- Recent training and professional development
- Current statutory certifications
- Up-to-date professional memberships
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Strong Resume Elements
- +Specific software versions and proficiency levels
- +Quantified project outcomes
- +Clear career progression shown
- +Professional memberships with status level
Weaknesses to Address
- -Generic 'proficient in mining software'
- -Vague responsibility descriptions
- -Job-hopping without explanation
- -Outdated or expired certifications listed
Ready to Advance Your Career?
A well-structured resume showcasing your technical expertise, project achievements, and professional credentials will position you for success in Australia's competitive mining engineering market.
Next Steps
- Update your resume with quantified achievements
- Ensure all certifications and memberships are current
- Browse mining engineering jobs on Resource Jobs
- Consider additional certifications to enhance your profile
Looking for more mining resume examples? Check out our guides for Mining Supervisor, Haul Truck Operator, Boilermaker, FIFO & Entry-Level Mining, and Geologist roles.