Senior Long Range Ventilation Engineer
Date: Oct 28, 2026
Location: Patagonia, AZ, US, 85624
Company: South32 Group Operations Pty. Ltd.
Discover a Brighter Future
At South32, we’re meeting the challenge of enabling a sustainable future through our focus on responsibly producing commodities critical for a low-carbon world.
As a collaborative, caring and inclusive company, there’s no better place to make a genuine difference. Together we’re making a positive, global impact that has the potential to change lives.
Whatever career path you choose, we’ll support you every step of the way to learn, grow and succeed. So join us, step towards a brighter future and leave your legacy.
ABOUT Hermosa
Hermosa, located approximately 75 miles south-east of Tucson, Arizona, is the only advanced mining project in the United States as of 2023 that could produce two federally designated critical minerals—manganese and zinc—as well as silver and lead. The project has the potential to help power the nation’s clean energy future, strengthen the domestic supply chain of critical minerals, grow the local economy, and improve lives in Santa Cruz County and the surrounding community for generations to come.
ACERCA de Hermosa
Hermosa, ubicado a aproximadamente 75 millas al sur este de Tucson, Arizona, es el único proyecto de minería avanzada en los Estados Unidos hasta la fecha que puede producir dos minerales designados como críticos por el gobierno federal: manganeso y zinc, así como también plata y plomo. El proyecto tiene el potencial de ayudar a impulsar el futuro energético limpio del país, reforzar la cadena de suministro nacional de minerales esenciales, hacer crecer la economía local y mejorar la calidad de vida en el condado de Santa Cruz y en las comunidades aledañas para las generaciones venideras.
WHAT SOUTH32 OFFERS
• Annual short-term incentive bonus that recognizes both your individual performance and the overall success of the business.
• When you choose to contribute more into your retirement savings, South32 will match it up to a certain percentage.
• South32 provides you with 4 weeks paid time off.
• 12 weeks full-paid parental leave for primary careers and 2 weeks full-paid parental leave for secondary careers
ABOUT THE ROLE
The Long range Ventilation Engineer provides technical leadership in the planning, design, optimization, and long-term sustainability of underground ventilation systems at Hermosa. This senior-level role, you will develop and implement ventilation strategies that support safe, compliant, and productive mining operations across short-term, mid-term, and Life-of-Mine planning horizons. As the site's technical authority for underground ventilation, you will lead ventilation system design, airflow modeling, air quality management, monitoring technologies, and Ventilation on Demand (VOD) initiatives while driving innovation and continuous improvement across the operation.
This is a site-based position offering the opportunity to help shape the future of one of North America's most significant underground mining projects located at the Hermosa Project site, near Patagonia, Arizona.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the development of zone ventilation plans and support 12-month and Life-of-Mine ventilation strategies.
- Maintain and optimize the site ventilation model using underground survey data and Ventsim software.
- Design, evaluate, and improve primary and auxiliary ventilation systems, including fan selection, ducting, regulators, and ventilation control devices.
- Assess future mining sequences and determine ventilation requirements to support strategic mine planning.
- Identify opportunities to improve ventilation efficiency, system reliability, and operating costs.
- Serve as the technical lead for ventilation monitoring systems, including airflow, pressure, gas, and air quality monitoring technologies.
- Lead the planning, deployment, and optimization of Air Quality Sensor (AQS) networks and associated data systems.
- Support the implementation and ongoing enhancement of Ventilation on Demand (VOD) systems.
- Ensure ventilation instrumentation is calibrated, maintained, and delivering reliable operational and regulatory data.
- Analyze ventilation and environmental monitoring data to identify trends, risks, and improvement opportunities.
- Coordinate ventilation surveys, airflow measurement programs, and PQ surveys.
- Provide expert technical guidance to operations, engineering, and site leadership teams.
- Develop and maintain ventilation standards, procedures, and engineering documentation.
- Support regulatory inspections and serve as a technical resource during interactions with MSHA and other regulatory agencies.
- Ensure compliance with all applicable regulations, company standards, and industry best practices.
- Lead ventilation-related studies, investigations, and continuous improvement projects.
- Mentor and develop ventilation engineers, technicians, and other technical personnel.
- Manage consultants, contractors, and vendors to ensure work is completed safely and to the required technical standards.
You are a collaborative and technically skilled mining professional with a passion for underground ventilation and a commitment to safety, operational excellence, and continuous improvement.
Qualifications & Experience
- Bachelor's degree in Mining Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related discipline, or equivalent industry experience.
- 7+ years of underground mining experience, ideally with expertise in underground ventilation systems.
- Proficiency with Ventsim and mine planning/design software.
- Strong knowledge of airflow modeling, auxiliary ventilation design, and Ventilation on Demand (VOD) systems.
- Experience with electrical systems, including power distribution, instrumentation, control systems, and automation.
- Ability to interpret and develop technical drawings, electrical schematics, and engineering documentation.
- Strong project management, QA/QC, contractor management, and vendor coordination skills.
- Demonstrated ability to lead projects, influence stakeholders, and collaborate across multiple disciplines.
- Excellent written, verbal, and presentation communication skills.
South32 is committed to building and maintaining an inclusive and diverse workforce that reflects the communities in which we operate. We provide a recruitment process that is fair, equitable and accessible for all and we encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply.
South32 está comprometido a cimentar y mantener una plantilla de trabajadores diversa e inclusiva que refleje las comunidades en las cuales trabajamos. Proporcionamos una proceso de contratación que es justo, equitativo y accesible para todos y alentamos la aplicación de candidatos de todas las procedencias.
Nearest Major Market: Nogales