Project Field Engineer

Project Field Engineer

Princeton, British Columbia

Introduction

We are seeking a skilled and motivated Project Field Engineer to join a leading North American mining company undertaking a major copper mine expansion project in British Columbia, offering exposure to large-scale infrastructure, water management, and multidisciplinary engineering activities.

You will assist with the engineering and construction of surface water management systems. This role will provide multi-disciplinary exposure to Civil, Mechanical, Piping, and Instrumentation engineering and construction. The successful candidate will bridge the gap between design and construction.

You will be responsible for coordinating with engineering consultants, performing on-site engineering calculations, generating sketches for field modifications, and providing technical support to construction crews to ensure the project is built safely, on schedule, and in compliance with design specifications.

This is a field-based role located at a mine construction site. Must be comfortable working in remote locations, outdoors in varying weather conditions, and wearing standard PPE (Hard hat, steel-toed boots, safety glasses, high-visibility vest).

Responsibilities

• Engineering Consultant Coordination: Support the Project Manager - Water Management with coordination with external engineering consultants. Review design packages, manage Request for Information (RFI) processes, and coordinate the timely resolution of design conflicts or field discrepancies.
• Field Design & Drafting: Utilize online software to generate field sketches, redlines, and "As-Built" drawings for piping layouts, pipe supports, and mechanical equipment installations to accommodate field conditions.
• Technical Calculations: Perform site-specific engineering calculations, including pipe hydraulics, pressure drops, pump sizing verifications, and structural support adequacy, ensuring changes align with project standards and codes (e.g., ASME B31.3, ASME B31.11, API).
• Construction Support & Quality Control: Provide technical interpretation of blueprints, piping and instrumentation diagrams (P&IDs), isometric drawings, and vendor manuals for field supervisors and contractors.
• Earthworks & Containment Oversight: Supervise and verify the subgrade preparation, compaction, and liner deployment for water storage ponds, ensuring alignment with geotechnical design specifications.
• Civil/Structural Calculations: Perform field calculations regarding earthwork volumes (cut and fill), open-channel flow hydraulics (e.g., ditch and culvert sizing), and basic concrete/rebar layout verifications.
• Civil-Mechanical Interface Coordination: Ensure seamless alignment between civil foundations and mechanical equipment installations (e.g., verifying anchor bolt placements, pump house concrete pad levels, and pipe trench depths before piping installation).
• Survey Coordination: Coordinate with site surveyors to verify lines, grades, and elevations for piping corridors, culverts, and water management structures.
• Environmental Compliance: Monitor the implementation of erosion and sediment control plans (e.g., silt fences, check dams) during construction to ensure compliance with environmental water discharge permits.
• Inspections & Testing: Oversee and document critical quality control activities, including piping pressure tests (hydrostatic and pneumatic), equipment alignment (pumps, compressors, valves), and torquing verifications.
• Material Management: Assist in reviewing and verifying vendor data sheets, Material Test Reports (MTRs), and ensuring that received mechanical and piping components meet engineering specifications.
• Progress Tracking & Reporting: Monitor and report on the daily/weekly progress of mechanical and piping installations against the project schedule. Identify potential bottlenecks and propose mitigation strategies.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering (with a piping focus), or a related engineering discipline.
• Engineer-in-Training (EIT) or professional engineering designation (P.Eng. / PE) is highly desirable.
• 3–6 years of experience in field engineering, construction engineering, or mechanical/piping design, preferably within heavy industrial sectors (mining, oil & gas, or large-scale water treatment).
• Proficiency in AutoCAD (2D/3D) is beneficial. Familiarity with hydraulic modeling software (e.g., AFT Fathom, Pipe-Flo) or structural calculation tools is a plus.
• Technical Knowledge: ○ Strong understanding of water management systems, high-density polyethylene (HDPE) piping, carbon/stainless steel piping, pumps, and valves. Familiarity with industrial piping codes (ASME B31.3) and mining/environmental regulations regarding water usage and discharge.
• Experience with bulk earthworks, site grading, excavation, and the construction of water containment structures (e.g., lined sedimentation ponds, drainage channels) is an asset.
• Familiarity with Geosynthetics, including the installation and quality control testing of High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) pond liners and geotextiles.
• Knowledge of soil mechanics, compaction testing methods (e.g., Proctor testing, nuclear density gauge methods), and concrete reinforcement/placement inspection.
• Understanding of surface water hydrology, stormwater management, and erosion/sediment control practices.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to effectively liaise between field craft laborers, project managers, and remote engineering consultants. Proven problem-solving ability in high-pressure field environments.

What We Offer

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About Us

Brunel has a reputation for working with some of the best in the business. That’s what we continually strive for. Brunel provides the global recruitment and workforce services you need to lead your industry. With 45 years of market experience in Renewable Energy, Automotive, Oil & Gas, Life Sciences, Mining and Infrastructure, we help you finish major projects safely, compliantly, on-time, within budget and at the highest quality, so you can keep growing – anywhere in the world.