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Mining & Geological Engineer

Engineering

Conduct subsurface surveys to identify the characteristics of potential land or mining development sites. May specify the ground support systems, processes, and equipment for safe, economical, and environmentally sound extraction or underground construction activities. May inspect areas for unsafe geological conditions, equipment, and working conditions. May design, implement, and coordinate mine safety programs.

ScienceMechanical Engineering

What you'd do all day

The tasks that matter most in this job, most important first.

  1. 1Prepare technical reports for use by mining, engineering, and management personnel.
  2. 2Inspect mining areas for unsafe structures, equipment, and working conditions.
  3. 3Test air to detect toxic gases and recommend measures to remove them, such as installation of ventilation shafts.
  4. 4Select or develop mineral location, extraction, and production methods, based on factors such as safety, cost, and deposit characteristics.
  5. 5Select 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.
  6. 6Implement and coordinate mine safety programs, including the design and maintenance of protective and rescue equipment and safety devices.
  7. 7Devise solutions to problems of land reclamation and water and air pollution, such as methods of storing excavated soil and returning exhausted mine sites to natural states.
  8. 8Prepare schedules, reports, and estimates of the costs involved in developing and operating mines.
  9. 9Lay out, direct, and supervise mine construction operations, such as the construction of shafts and tunnels.
  10. 10Monitor mine production rates to assess operational effectiveness.
  11. 11Supervise, train, and evaluate technicians, technologists, survey personnel, engineers, scientists or other mine personnel.
  12. 12Examine maps, deposits, drilling locations, or mines to determine the location, size, accessibility, contents, value, and potential profitability of mineral, oil, and gas deposits.
  13. 13Design, develop, and implement computer applications for use in mining operations such as mine design, modeling, or mapping or for monitoring mine conditions.
  14. 14Design, implement, and monitor the development of mines, facilities, systems, or equipment.
  15. 15Select or devise materials-handling methods and equipment to transport ore, waste materials, and mineral products efficiently and economically.
  16. 16Evaluate data to develop new mining products, equipment, or processes.
  17. 17Design mining and mineral treatment equipment and machinery in collaboration with other engineering specialists.
  18. 18Conduct or direct mining experiments to test or prove research findings.

Also known as

What this job is called on JobStreet, LinkedIn and in job ads. Search these too.

  • Engineer
  • Mine Expert
  • Mine Analyst
  • Mine Engineer
  • Field Engineer
  • Safety Analyst
  • Safety Monitor
  • Mining Engineer
  • Safety Engineer
  • Mineral Engineer

How far is this from you?

Roughly how much preparation this job usually takes. In Malaysia your UPU route and the programme's syarat still decide entry, so treat this as a guide, not a gate.

  1. 1

    Entry straight after SPM

  2. 2

    SPM + sijil / short TVET course

  3. 3

    Diploma / TVET (sijil–diploma)

  4. Typical entry

    Degree (ijazah sarjana muda)

  5. 5

    Postgrad (sarjana / PhD) or professional route

Typical educationBachelor's degree

Subjects that matter here

The SPM subjects worth your effort for this career, with the reason for each.

PhysicsDraws directly on Engineering and Technology — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
Additional MathematicsDraws directly on Engineering and Technology — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
Design & Technology (RBT)Draws directly on Engineering and Technology — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
InventionDraws directly on Engineering and Technology — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
MathematicsDraws directly on Mathematics — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).

What you'd need to know

The subject areas this job leans on most, and the SPM subjects that build them.

  • Engineering and Technology89%

    PhysicsAdditional MathematicsDesign & Technology (RBT)

  • Mathematics89%

    Additional MathematicsMathematics

  • English Language71%

    English

  • Production and Processing71%

    Design & Technology (RBT)Mechanical Engineering Studies

  • Design71%

    Visual Art (PSV)Technical Comm. GraphicsEngineering Drawing

  • Administration and Management67%

    BusinessEconomics

Tools you'd use

Software and equipment that show up in this job, worth learning early.

Where to learn these, free

Scholarships & funding

What the work feels like

Day-to-day working conditions, so you can tell whether the job suits how you like to work.

  • Face-to-face discussionsEvery day
  • Contact with other peopleConstant contact
  • Dealing with customers or the publicA little
  • Leading or coordinating othersHigh
  • Handling conflict situationsRarely
  • Indoors, air-conditionedEvery day
  • Time spent sittingMost of the time
  • Time spent standingA little

Where this job is heading

Newer tasks O*NET has flagged for this occupation, a hint at how the role is changing.

  • Use drone technology for aerial surveys and inspections of mining sites to enhance safety and efficiency.

AI and demand for this job

A few real, dated data points — not a single score. AI making some tasks faster usually means a job changes, not that it disappears.

41%

Share of everyday tasks today's AI can already help with (2023)

This estimate is from 2023 — already out of date, since AI moves fast. Treat it as a rough, aging starting point, not the current picture.

On Malaysia's official shortage list

TalentCorp and ILMIA's Critical Occupations List — evidence of a real hiring shortage in Malaysia right now.

Mining Engineers, Metallurgists and Related Professionals · Shortage indicators met: INSUFFICIENT DATA

Pay in Malaysia

We don't have a sourced Malaysian salary range for this job yet, and we'd rather show nothing than a number we can't stand behind.

Where to check:

  • JobStreet and Hiredly job ads for this title
  • DOSM Salaries & Wages Survey
  • SSPA scheme tables, if you're aiming for a government post
See pay for a related career: Mechanical Engineer

Check what you may qualify for

Enter your SPM grades and see which routes and programmes you may qualify for. An estimate to plan with, not an offer.

Check my eligibility Not sure yet? Take the quiz

How to get here

Post-SPM pathways with programmes in this career's fields. Tap one to see real programmes and entry requirements.

Matriculation

One or two years, heavily subsidised with allowance. Competitive, quota-based entry.

12–24 months

Asasi / Foundation

One-year runway into a specific university: public via UPU or private direct entry.

12 months

Related careers

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About this information

This describes what the job involves. Pay, demand and entry routes differ in Malaysia, so check the Pathways and Programmes pages for local requirements.

O*NET occupation: Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers

Job responsibilities, knowledge areas and work context from O*NET 30.3, US Department of Labor, used under CC BY 4.0. onetcenter.org

Programmes that lead here

Programmes from the official UPU (KPT) and MQA catalogues whose field of study typically leads to this career. Matched by field, not a job guarantee.

Public universities (UPU)

Private institutions (MQA-accredited)

Search the programme catalogue