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Quarry engineer

Alternative titles for this job include Mining engineer

Quarry engineers explore new sites, oversee extraction operations and manage sites at the end of their commercial life.

Average salary (a year)

£28,000 Starter

to

£52,000 Experienced

Typical hours (a week)

37 to 40 a week

You could work

weekends occasionally

How to become

Explore the different ways to get into this role.

How to become a quarry engineer

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • an apprenticeship

University

You can become a quarry or mining engineer by completing a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in:

  • minerals engineering
  • mining engineering
  • geophysics
  • geology
  • Earth sciences
  • civil engineering

Courses that give you the opportunity to gain work experience through internships, placements or a year in industry may give you an advantage.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma
  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

More Information

Apprenticeship

You may be able to gain some of the skills and knowledge relevant to this role through a higher apprenticeship as a minerals product technician. With experience and further training, you could then become a quarry engineer.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

More Information

More Information

Professional and industry bodies

You can join The Institute of Quarrying to help with your professional development.

Further information

You can find out more about career options in the quarrying industry from Minerals Matter.

What it takes

Find out what skills you’ll use in this role.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • knowledge of engineering science and technology
  • operations analysis skills
  • maths knowledge
  • design skills and knowledge
  • knowledge of building and construction
  • excellent verbal communication skills
  • thinking and reasoning skills
  • analytical thinking skills
  • to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently

What you’ll do

Discover the day to day tasks you’ll do in this role.

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

You will:

  • use ground-surveying techniques to check the sites geology
  • drill earth and rock samples for lab testing
  • build up computer models of a site and its deposits
  • make recommendations on how to proceed

If mining goes ahead, you will:

  • manage the day-to-day running of operations
  • oversee technical staff
  • produce progress reports
  • monitor health and safety
  • draw up plans to guard against emergencies like a tunnel collapsing or flooding
  • make plans for restoration of the site after quarry workings end

Working environment

You could work at a quarry or in an office.

Your working environment may be cramped, dusty and you may spend nights away from home.

You may need to wear protective clothing.

Career path and progression

Look at progression in this role and similar opportunities.

Career path and progression

With experience, you could move into people or project management roles or into related careers like civil, construction or environmental engineering.

There may be opportunities to work on mining projects overseas.

Current opportunities

Find apprenticeships, courses and jobs available near you.

Current opportunities

Apprenticeships In England

We can't find any apprenticeship vacancies in England for a quarry engineer right now.

The Find an apprenticeship service can help you with your search, send alerts when new apprenticeships become available and has advice on how to apply.

Courses In England

HNC Civil Engineering

  • Provider: MID-KENT COLLEGE
  • Start date: 02 September 2024
  • Location: Maidstone

Civil Engineering HNC (Yr1)

  • Provider: BATH COLLEGE
  • Start date: 09 September 2024
  • Location: Radstock

Jobs In the United Kingdom

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