Lead Underground Paste Backfill Engineer

This Opportunity

WSP is currently initiating a search for a Lead Underground Paste Backfill Engineer to join our Salt Lake City, UT office. The following locations will also be considered:
Reno or Elko, NV. Be involved in projects with our Mining Team and be a part of a growing organization that meets our client’s objectives and solves their challenges. #Global Mining

• Lead the planning, execution, and delivery of all underground paste backfill engineering activities.

• Manage multidisciplinary engineering teams, consultants, and specialist resources.

• Monitor engineering progress, budgets, forecasts, schedules, and deliverables.

• Coordinate interfaces between mining, process, mechanical, piping, electrical, controls, geotechnical, civil, and construction teams.

• Support project controls, risk management, change management, and reporting activities.

• Serve as the technical authority for underground paste backfill systems, including distribution piping, boreholes, valves, pumping systems, barricades, and stope delivery infrastructure.

• Establish and maintain design criteria, operating philosophies, and technical standards.

• Lead design reviews, constructability reviews, HAZOPs, and risk assessments.

• Ensure integration between the surface paste plant and underground distribution network.

• Provide technical guidance during construction, installation, and underground infrastructure development.

• Review RFIs, contractor submittals, field changes, and design modifications.

• Support field inspections, walkdowns, and verification of construction against design intent.

• Work closely with the Construction Manager and contractor teams to resolve technical issues and maintain schedule performance. This aligns with the construction support and field engineering activities described in WSP's paste plant EPCM approach.

• Lead underground paste system commissioning and startup activities.

• Develop commissioning strategies, test plans, and acceptance criteria.

• Coordinate integrated testing between surface facilities and underground infrastructure.

• Support operator training, startup troubleshooting, performance testing, and handover to operations.

• Drive readiness to achieve design throughput and operational performance objectives. WSP's paste plant proposals specifically identify engineering support during pre-commissioning, commissioning, system walkdowns, punch-list management, and verification of system readiness.

• Serve as the primary engineering contact for the Owner's underground operations and technical teams.

• Facilitate decision-making and technical alignment across project stakeholders.

• Present engineering status, risks, mitigation plans, and recommendations to senior project leadership.

• Collaborate with professionals and other engineers on projects, as well as proposal and business development opportunities.

• Remain current in latest relevant engineering techniques and practices.

• Exercise responsible and ethical decision-making regarding company funds, resources and conduct, and adhere to WSP’s Code of Conduct and related policies and procedures.

• Perform additional responsibilities as required by business needs.

• Bachelor’s degree in mining engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, or related discipline.

• PE or P.Eng. designation preferred.

• 8+ years of mining project experience and experience involving underground mining and paste backfill systems.

• Demonstrated experience leading engineering teams on major capital projects through study, detailed design, construction, and commissioning.

• Strong understanding of EPCM project delivery models and multidisciplinary engineering management.

• Well-developed ability to make technical computations and calculations involving the application of engineering principles, understanding plans and specifications, and making factual comparisons to the appropriate regulations.

• Highly effective interpersonal and communication skills when interacting with others, expressing ideas effectively…