Exploration Drilling jobs in Canada

Discover New Career Opportunities with New Found Gold!
We are Hiring – Drill & Blast Engineer
Hammerdown Project – King’s Point, NL

At New Found Gold, we’re on a mission to uncover the treasures hidden beneath the Earth’s surface. As an emerging gold producer, we combine cutting-edge technology with geological expertise to discover and develop world-class mining operations. Our values— Leadership, Safety, Sustainability, Community and Courage—guide every step of our journey.

New Found Gold is advancing the Hammerdown Project, an open pit gold operation near King's Point, NL. Ore will be hauled to our Pine Cove mill near Ming's Bight, approximately 100 km away. We are seeking a Drill & Blast Engineer to design, optimize and support the drilling and blasting activities at our Hammerdown Project near King’s Point, Newfoundland and Labrador.

Reporting to the Chief Engineer, the Drill and Blast Engineer is responsible for safe, compliant and cost-effective drill and blast designs that deliver the fragmentation, wall control and ore protection our mine plan requires. Ensuring compliance with applicable regulations and best practices is central to this role, along with a leading contribution to a culture of risk management through construction and into operations.

Your Role in the Expedition:

As a Drill & Blast Engineer, you’ll be part of a dynamic team. Your responsibilities will include:

• Participate in hazard identification, risk assessments, and management of change processes.
• Design production, pre-split and trim blast patterns.
• Provide explosive loading direction and pattern timing to explosives contractor.
• Optimize pattern specifications and initiation sequencing to meet fragmentation, wall control and dig-sequence requirements.
• Optimize powder factor, drill productivity and blast cost in conjunction with downstream digging, hauling and milling performance.
• Design and update blast patterns to control ore loss and dilution, in partnership with Geology and Grade Control.
• Maintain the drill and blast plan and schedule in line with the short-range mine plan and daily production priorities.
• Track drill pattern readiness, including Engineering approval and pattern preparation, and communicate priorities to Operations.
• Verify that designs are practical, safe and executable in the field, and provide hands-on support to drill and blast crews and the explosives contractor.
• Develop and implement drill and blast QA/QC program.
• Review and update exclusion zones and blast boundaries using probe drilling results and information on historic underground workings.
• Develop ground control and safe work procedures for mining near historic underground voids, including cavity detection and probe drilling programs.
• Prepare blast designs for areas near historic underground voids, including appropriate loading designs and ground control measures.
• Monitor blast outcomes, including fragmentation, muckpile shape, dig rates, toe, backbreak, flyrock and vibration, and apply the results to improve future designs.
• Review drill performance data, including penetration rates, hole deviation and bit life, and work with Operations to improve productivity.
• Reconcile blast movement and ore boundaries with Survey and Geology, and support the monitoring of blast-induced ore loss and dilution.
• Conduct trials and cost-benefit analyses of new products, techniques and technology.
• Ensure drilling and blasting activities comply with federal and provincial regulations, permits, site procedures and best demonstrated practices.
• Communicate engineering deliverables clearly to Mine Operations, including plans, targets, and any constraints.
• Manage vibration and airblast monitoring, and report results against regulatory and community limits.
• Support explosives storage, handling, transport and reconciliation requirements, including inventory and regulatory records.
• Provide drill and blast input to mid-range and long-range plans as required.
• Coordinate workflow among Engineering, Survey, Geology, Geotechnical and Mine Operations teams, and the explosives and drilling contractors.
• Build dashboards or reports to monitor KPI’s and plan compliance.
• Support month-end reconciliations and quarterly and annual reporting.
• Mentor junior engineers, technologists, and co-op students.
• Other related duties as required.

What you bring to the Field:

• Bachelor's degree in Mining Engineering (or equivalent) from an accredited program.
• 4+ years of drill and blast experience in an operating open pit mine.
• Registered, or eligible for registration, as a P.Eng. with Professional Engineers and Geoscientists Newfoundland and Labrador (PEGNL). Registration is mandatory.
• Strong knowledge of blast design principles, explosives products and initiation systems, and controlled blasting techniques for wall control.
• Proficiency with mine design software such as Deswik considered an asset.
• Proficiency with blast timing software such as ViewShot 3D considered an asset.
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office software (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
• Knowledge of working around historic underground voids considered an asset.
• Working knowledge of drill and blast practices, grade control, and mine reconciliation
• Working knowledge of blast vibration, airblast and flyrock management.
• Strong written and verbal communication, facilitation, and presentation skills.
• A collaborative approach with field crews, supervisors, and other technical departments.
• Ability to effectively prioritize job duties and work in a fast-paced environment.
• Able to work flexible hours as needed.

Working Conditions:

• Long periods of standing.
• Heavy lifting up to 50lbs.
• Walking and working on uneven terrain.
• Working in seasonal weather.

The Terrain Ahead

• Work Environment: Remote field sites, travel required, rugged terrain
• Employment Type: Full-time
• Location: King’s Point, NL- Hammerdown Project.
• Posting Date: October 15, 2026

Ready to explore new horizons?

How to Apply:

Send us an email with your resume and cover letter to careers@newfoundgold.ca.

Please indicate the position you are applying for in the subject line of your email.

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Work Location: In person