Overview In this role you will lead high production raisebore and blindbore drilling on underground projects, ensuring safe, on schedule execution. You will supervise drilling crews, manage equipment performance, and coordinate with project teams to deliver shaft development work. You'll uphold top safety and quality standards while optimizing production and maintaining strong client and stakeholder communication. This is a field heavy, travel intensive position with a clear impact on project success and site safety.
Responsibilities- Lead drilling crews on raisebore and blindbore projects, ensuring safety, schedule, and specifications
- Oversee mobilization, setup, operation, troubleshooting, maintenance, and demobilization of raise boring machines and supporting equipment
- Develop and execute drilling plans, procedures, shift schedules, and production targets in collaboration with Project Managers, Engineers, and clients
- Champion a zero-incident safety culture; ensure MSHA compliance, site safety plans, and permit requirements; lead safety meetings and investigations
- Monitor drilling parameters, ground conditions, advance rates, and equipment performance; adjust in real time to optimize production
- Manage crew logistics, training, performance management, and development; support cross-training between techniques
- Coordinate drilling consumables, tooling, and spare parts with vendors and internal resources
- Prepare daily reports, production logs, cost tracking, and technical documentation; support schedule updates and client progress reporting
- Identify and mitigate underground drilling risks (ground control, water inflow, equipment) and collaborate on change orders and continuous improvement initiatives
- Provide technical input for estimating and proposals on raisebore/blindbore scopes for bids and projects
Key requirements- Minimum 10+ years in underground drilling or mechanical excavation
- At least 5 years in supervisory/superintendent role on raisebore/blindbore/shaft projects
- Hands-on expertise with raise boring and/or blind drilling equipment
- Strong MSHA regulatory knowledge and safety standards experience
- Proven leadership to train and motivate crews in demanding field environments
- Excellent problem-solving, decision-making, and communication skills
- Willingness to travel extensively and work extended rotations; travel 75%-100%
- Valid driver's license with a clean driving record
- leadership
- communication
- problem-solving
- raisebore/blindbore drilling techniques
- equipment operation and maintenance for raise boring machines and blind drills
- MSHA safety compliance knowledge
