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Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers

SOC 17-2151.00Job Zone 4 · Considerable Preparationv.26.05

Context coveredThis framework covers the full professional scope of Mining and Geological Engineers — including mining safety engineers — across surface and underground operations, from entry-level field and technical support through executive strategic leadership of mine planning, safety, and organizational capability.

Sources:O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.SkillsCrosswalkSkillsCrosswalk — O*NET enrichment + adjacency index. Opens in new tab.
Emerging
Entry / Apprentice
  1. Technical reports for mining operations — draft structured documents under direct supervision using office suite and spreadsheet software to support engineering and management personnel.
  2. Mining area inspections — conduct walkthroughs of surface and underground sites under senior engineer guidance to identify unsafe structures, equipment, and working conditions.
  3. Geological maps and drilling location data — interpret basic information with supervisor support to describe the accessibility and general characteristics of mineral deposits.
  4. Mineral extraction methods — review and summarize established protocols under direction, comparing safety, cost, and deposit characteristics in entry-level project assignments.
  5. Mine production rate data — collect and organize operational metrics using database and spreadsheet tools to assist in routine monitoring of extraction effectiveness.
  6. Cost estimate worksheets — assemble preliminary figures for mine development activities under close oversight, applying basic mathematics and provided templates.
  7. CAD and geographic information system software — operate under supervision to produce simple site maps and layout drawings for mining project teams.
  8. Engineering standards and regulatory codes — read and comprehend applicable mining safety requirements to support compliance checks on assigned work sites.
  9. Analytical and scientific software — input field data and run prescribed models under guidance to assist geological assessment of ore deposits.
  10. Field survey personnel and technicians — observe and participate in coordinated site activities, learning team communication protocols on active mining projects.
Developing
Mid-level / Established
  1. Technical reports on mine performance and safety — prepare independently formatted documents using office suite software, synthesizing field observations for engineering and management audiences.
  2. Underground and surface mining area inspections — conduct routine safety audits with reduced oversight, applying judgment to flag hazardous structures, equipment faults, and unsafe working conditions.
  3. Mineral location and extraction method selection — evaluate multiple approaches based on deposit characteristics, cost models, and safety criteria in familiar geological and operational contexts.
  4. Mine operation schedules and cost estimates — develop detailed project timelines and budget projections using ERP and spreadsheet software for standard underground or open-pit operations.
  5. Mine production monitoring — analyze operational output data regularly to assess efficiency trends and identify deviations from planned extraction rates.
  6. Site selection and layout planning — apply engineering and GIS tools to specify labor, equipment, and process requirements for economical and environmentally sound mineral extraction.
  7. Technicians and survey personnel — provide day-to-day task direction, on-the-job guidance, and performance feedback within established mine site workflows.
  8. Geological deposit assessments — examine maps, core samples, and drilling location data with moderate autonomy to estimate deposit size, value, and extraction feasibility.
  9. Systems analysis methods — apply structured analytical frameworks to evaluate mining process interactions and identify operational bottlenecks in production environments.
  10. Oral and written communications — present technical findings clearly to interdisciplinary project teams and regulatory contacts using presentation and email software platforms.
Proficient
Senior / Expert IC
  1. Comprehensive technical reports — author authoritative documents integrating geological, engineering, and financial data for senior management, regulators, and external stakeholders across complex mining operations.
  2. Full-scope mining area safety inspections — independently assess structural integrity, equipment condition, and worker exposure risks across multiple sites, recommending corrective actions and verifying remediation.
  3. Extraction and production method design — select and adapt advanced mining techniques for non-routine deposit configurations, balancing safety, environmental compliance, and economic optimization.
  4. End-to-end mine operation planning — specify complete underground or surface extraction sequences including process design, equipment selection, labor deployment, and environmental mitigation for large-scale projects.
  5. Mine development cost modeling — construct detailed multi-year financial estimates integrating capital, operating, and reclamation costs using ERP and analytical software with high accuracy and accountability.
  6. Production performance evaluation — monitor and interpret complex output metrics, applying systems evaluation methods to diagnose inefficiencies and drive continuous operational improvement.
  7. Engineering and technical staff supervision — lead, train, and evaluate engineers, scientists, technologists, and survey crews across project life cycles, fostering competency development and accountability.
  8. Mineral deposit viability analysis — autonomously synthesize geological, geochemical, and geospatial data from maps, core logs, and GIS platforms to deliver bankable reserve and resource assessments.
  9. Cross-functional problem resolution — apply deductive and inductive reasoning to diagnose novel operational, safety, and geological challenges and implement solutions within active mining environments.
  10. Regulatory and stakeholder engagement — communicate technical mining plans and safety compliance positions persuasively to government agencies, community groups, and executive leadership.
Advanced
Lead / Principal / Executive
  1. Organizational technical reporting standards — establish enterprise-wide frameworks and quality benchmarks for engineering and safety documentation used across multiple mine sites and business units.
  2. Corporate mine safety strategy — design and institutionalize proactive hazard identification systems, inspection protocols, and safety culture programs across an organization's full portfolio of mining operations.
  3. Strategic extraction method innovation — direct research, evaluation, and adoption of novel mineral extraction and processing technologies to advance organizational competitiveness and environmental performance.
  4. Portfolio-level mine planning — provide executive direction for the selection, sequencing, and optimization of multiple mining projects, integrating economic, geopolitical, and sustainability considerations.
  5. Capital investment and financial governance — lead the development and approval of major mine development budgets, resource allocation frameworks, and financial risk strategies at the executive level.
  6. Enterprise production performance oversight — establish key performance indicators, monitoring systems, and continuous improvement programs governing extraction effectiveness across an entire mining enterprise.
  7. Workforce capability development — architect mentorship, training, and career progression systems for engineering and technical professionals organization-wide, building long-term institutional expertise.
  8. Strategic mineral asset evaluation — lead acquisition, divestiture, and feasibility decisions by directing multidisciplinary assessments of deposit value, geopolitical risk, and market positioning.
  9. Cross-sector systems leadership — drive integration of engineering, environmental, regulatory, and financial systems to ensure holistic and sustainable operational outcomes across the organization.
  10. Industry and regulatory influence — represent the organization before government bodies, professional associations, and international standards groups to shape mining policy, safety regulation, and engineering practice.

AI-at-Work Competency Framework

Sources:Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab.Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab.WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab.

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Sources:Pathsmith™ Durable SkillsPathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
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Source anchors that ground each statement

Related titles
Coal Mine Inspector · Engineer · Exploration Engineer · Field Engineer · Geological Engineer · Geophysical Engineer · Geotechnical Engineer · Geotechnical Project Engineer · Metal Mine Inspector · Mine Analyst · Mine Development Engineer · Mine Engineer
RAPIDS apprenticeships
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O*NET skills
Complex Problem SolvingSpeakingCritical ThinkingReading ComprehensionJudgment and Decision MakingWritingActive ListeningMonitoringSystems AnalysisSystems EvaluationMathematicsScienceActive LearningCoordinationTime ManagementOperations AnalysisLearning StrategiesInstructingManagement of Material ResourcesManagement of Personnel ResourcesOperations Monitoring
Knowledge domains
Engineering and TechnologyMathematicsEnglish LanguageProduction and ProcessingDesignAdministration and ManagementAdministrativePhysicsEconomics and AccountingComputers and Electronics
Abilities
Written ExpressionProblem SensitivityOral ComprehensionWritten ComprehensionOral ExpressionDeductive ReasoningInductive ReasoningInformation OrderingCategory FlexibilityMathematical Reasoning
Work styles
DependabilityCautiousnessAttention to DetailIntegrityPerseveranceAchievement Orientation
Technology
Computer aided design CAD softwareOffice suite softwareNetwork security or virtual private network VPN management softwareEnterprise resource planning ERP softwareAnalytical or scientific softwareGeographic information systemData base user interface and query softwareSpreadsheet softwareElectronic mail softwarePresentation software
Tasks · seed anchors for statements
  1. Prepare technical reports for use by mining, engineering, and management personnel.
  2. Inspect mining areas for unsafe structures, equipment, and working conditions.
  3. Select or develop mineral location, extraction, and production methods, based on factors such as safety, cost, and deposit characteristics.
  4. Select locations and plan underground or surface mining operations, specifying processes, labor usage, and equipment that will result in safe, economical, and environmentally sound extraction of minerals and ores.
  5. Prepare schedules, reports, and estimates of the costs involved in developing and operating mines.
  6. Monitor mine production rates to assess operational effectiveness.
  7. Supervise, train, and evaluate technicians, technologists, survey personnel, engineers, scientists or other mine personnel.
  8. Examine maps, deposits, drilling locations, or mines to determine the location, size, accessibility, contents, value, and potential profitability of mineral, oil, and gas deposits.
CIP education codes
14.080214.210114.3901

Sources: O*NET v30.2 (CC BY 4.0), SkillsCrosswalk.com, LER.me®, Anthropic Economic Index, SAFI (Jadhav & Danve, 2026), WEF Skills Taxonomy 2021, Pathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework. © 2026 EBSCOed.