Job Description
Company: Project Pioneer contracting Co. PPCO (or contractor working on Maaden mining sites)
Location: Saudi Arabia
Department: Mining Operations / Drilling & Blasting
Reports To: Drill Supervisor / Shift Supervisor / Mine Superintendent
Job Purpose
Operate and maintain drilling equipment safely and efficiently to achieve daily production, grade control, exploration, or blasting targets in accordance with approved mine plans, safety standards, and environmental requirements. The role supports mine development by ensuring accurate hole drilling, equipment care, and compliance with site operating procedures. .
Key Responsibilities
- Operate drill rigs and associated equipment according to work instructions and shift plans.
- Drill blast holes, grade-control holes, dewatering holes, or exploration holes as assigned.
- Read and follow drilling patterns, pit plans, bench layouts, and supervisor instructions.
- Check hole depth, angle, collar position, spacing, and burden to ensure drilling accuracy.
- Conduct pre-start inspections and complete equipment checklists before each shift.
- Monitor machine performance, air pressure, hydraulic systems, drill rods, bits, and compressors.
- Report breakdowns, defects, unsafe conditions, and abnormal ground conditions immediately.
- Perform basic routine maintenance such as lubrication, cleaning, bit changes, hose checks, and minor adjustments.
- Coordinate with survey, geology, blasting, maintenance, and mine production teams.
- Ensure proper housekeeping around the rig, work area, fuel/lube points, and access roads.
- Comply with all site safety rules, lockout/tagout requirements, permit systems, and traffic rules.
- Stop work when unsafe conditions exist and report incidents, near misses, and hazards.
- Record drilled meters, machine hours, fuel usage, downtime, and shift production data.
- Support training of drill assistants / offsiders and junior crew members when required.
- Follow environmental controls for dust, noise, spills, and waste handling.
Health, Safety, and Environment
- Work in full compliance with mine HSE procedures and Saudi regulatory requirements.
- Use correct PPE at all times.
- Conduct workplace risk assessments and participate in toolbox talks.
- Maintain awareness of slope stability, misfire risk zones, overhead hazards, and mobile equipment interaction.
- Ensure safe handling and storage practices for fuels, oils, consumables, and drilling tools.
Qualifications
- High school certificate or technical diploma preferred.
- Valid equipment operating license/certification if required by site.
- Formal training in surface or underground drilling is an advantage.
- Saudi candidate preferred for nationalization roles, depending on workforce plan.
Experience
- Typically 25 years of mining drilling experience for an experienced driller role.
- Experience in open-pit drilling, and/or underground drilling if assigned to underground operations.
- Experience on rotary, DTH, top hammer, production drill, or exploration drill rigs preferred.
- Prior experience in large mining companies or major mining contractors is an advantage.
Skills and Competencies
- Safe operation of drill rigs and drilling support equipment.
- Knowledge of drilling patterns, penetration rates, hole deviation, and ground conditions.
- Basic mechanical fault identification.
- Ability to interpret mine plans and field instructions.
- Good communication and teamwork skills.
- Shift discipline, reliability, and physical stamina.
- Basic English communication may be required on mixed-nationality sites; Arabic is a strong advantage in Saudi Arabia.
Working Conditions
- Remote mine site environment in Saudi Arabia.
- Rotational schedule / shift work, including day and night shifts.
- Exposure to dust, heat, noise, vibration, and rough terrain.
- Work may be performed in open-pit or underground conditions depending on assignment.
