Specialist Mining Engineer | Mt Arthur Coal | NSWEC

About BHP

At BHP we support our people to grow, learn, develop their skills and reach their potential.

With a global portfolio of operations, we offer a diverse and inclusive environment with extraordinary career opportunities. Our strategy is to focus on creating a safe work environment where our employees feel strongly connected to our values and objectives, and where the capability of our people is key to our success.

Come and be a part of this success.

About Mt Arthur Coal

Mt Arthur Coal is an open-cut coal mine 100 per cent owned by BHP. Located in the Hunter Valley, New South Wales it's the largest producer of energy coal in the region, operating alongside olive growers, wine makers, horse breeders and the nearby residential community of Muswellbrook.Our greatest asset is and has always been our people and communities, which is why we are committed to working together on our Pathway to 2030 - a program to responsibly close Mt Arthur Coal. We are about doing the right thing and working with everyone to co-create a shared vision for the future of the region.

About the Role

BHP is seeking an experienced and motivated Specialist Mining Engineer to join the Short Term Planning team at our Mt Arthur Coal operation in the Hunter Valley.

This role is integral to the successful delivery of safe, efficient, and executable mine plans within a large-scale open-cut truck and shovel operation. As a key member of the planning team, you will be responsible for developing mine designs and schedules, managing planning-related projects, and collaborating with operational and technical stakeholders to optimise production outcomes while maintaining the highest safety standards.

Working within a dynamic and collaborative environment, you will play a critical role in translating strategic planning objectives into practical operational outcomes, supporting the execution of the mine plan and driving continuous improvement across the operation.

This is a residential, full-time position based in the Hunter Valley operating on a Monday to Friday roster, offering an excellent work-life balance in one of Australia's most sought-after regional locations.

In this role, you will:

• Develop safe, practical, and efficient excavation and dump designs.
• Prepare and optimise short-term mine schedules to support operational delivery.
• Manage mine planning projects from concept through to implementation.
• Build strong working relationships with operational, technical, and leadership teams to achieve planning objectives.
• Effectively communicate planning outcomes, schedules, and project updates to stakeholders.
• Undertake plan reconciliation and performance analysis to improve planning accuracy and effectiveness.
• Apply geotechnical and operational risk controls within mine designs and schedules.
• Identify and drive continuous improvement initiatives that enhance safety, productivity, and planning processes

About You

To be successful in this role, you will bring a combination of strong technical capability, sound operational understanding, and excellent stakeholder engagement skills.

You will possess:

• A tertiary qualification in Mining Engineering, Civil Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Experience in open-cut mining operations, preferably within the coal industry.
• Demonstrated experience in mine planning, scheduling, and drill and blast integration.
• Strong proficiency in mining software applications including Deswik, Vulcan, and SPRY (or equivalent scheduling software).
• Advanced Microsoft Office skills, particularly Excel and Word.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, supported by a proactive and continuous improvement mindset.
• Experience working collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams to deliver business outcomes.
• Existing and ongoing Australian work rights.

Experience with through-seam mining operations will be highly regarded.

Pathway to 2030 – be part of the legacy

Mt Arthur Coal is progressing toward a planned cessation of mining in 2030, with a clear focus on responsible operations, safe delivery and thoughtful transition planning.

This role offers a rare opportunity to:

•    Be part of the legacy of one of NSW’s most significant mining operations•    Build your career through involvement in a mine closure process•    Contribute to rehabilitation planning and the transition of the site to its next productive land use•    Help define what “good” looks like in late life operations and responsible closure

Working at an open-cut coal mine like Mt Arthur Coal involves certain risks, including operating in or around heavy machinery, exposure to environmental hazards such as tailings dams, and managing fatigue from long or night shifts. Before applying, please ensure you understand these risks and can commit to following all safety requirements and procedures designed to keep you and others safe.

About Our Process

At BHP, we are committed to employing individuals who align with the BHP Charter Values and meet the requirements of the role. As part of the recruitment process, there are a number of checks which may be conducted to demonstrate applicants suitability for a role including police / criminal background checks, medical, drug and alcohol testing, due diligence checks, right to work checks, and/or reference checks. 

Supporting a Diverse Workforce

The size, stability and magnitude of our business not only provides significant opportunity for professional development, but also attractive salary packages with performance-based bonuses and a best-in-class employee share program. We know there are many aspects of our employees' lives that are important, and work is only one of these, so we offer benefits to enable your work to fit with your life. These benefits include flexible working options, a generous paid parental leave policy, other extended leave entitlements and parent rooms.