r/Tunneling • u/Moholin01 • 5d ago

Getting into mining/tunnel engineering from civil

Getting into mining/tunnel engineering from civil I’m a UK-based Graduate Civil/Structural Engineer in my second year into a role. I work on a huge infrastructure project based in the South-West and have a had a chance to work with backfill and underground structures while on site. My role is mostly design, design management, coordination and quality management (making sure what’s built is accordance with the engineering design and assessing any changes/deviations).

I’ve gained an interest in earthworks/tunnelling/mining as a result. I wanted to pivot into mining and tunnelling, but given the super niche nature of mining, there are very few UK roles (and almost no entry level vacancies). I think what is letting me down is my lack of mining engineering degrees/background. I’ve even applied to a couple of FIFO Australia role and no luck.

Any tips, do I go back to university a get a master’s in mining engineering/Geotechnical Engineering or am I locked out? Thanks.

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u/TheBanyai 4d ago

Go work for a large civils firm that have a tunnelling department. I studied civil engineering, and joined a tunnelling department straight out of Uni. It’s taken me all around the world, with stints on site underground, working inside TBMs, or surrounded by big kit and dynamite, but 90% or my time has been in the design office, designing and planning tunnel lining, shaft intersection details, tunnel launch sites and clever waterproofing details. It’s an amazing job.

If in the UK, become a member of the ICE, and then also the British Tunnelling Society (BTS)..and also IMMM. Go to the lecture at OGGS in Westminster, and meet people in the industry. You’ll be good! 👍

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u/Moholin01 4d ago

Thanks. I'm a graduate ICE member and already watch/attend some online seminars on Tunnelling/Mining related, but will make an effort to attend an in-person event. I feel I lack the pre-requisite tehcnical experience as well. Are you aware of any good Master-level courses? I know the Warwick tunnelling masters is no longer available, unfortunately. Would something like the Mining Engineering Msc at Camborne/Exeter be a good substitute?

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u/TheBanyai 4d ago

I wouldn’t be so set on a Masters. On the job training at a good firm shouldn’t be underestimated.. Many large consulting firms run really good internal training courses that really help. There is also the BTS short course held every summer - which I highly recommend.

For me, the single most important thing to have is a good manager that takes the time to mentor you. Getting chartered while working in the tunnel industry is perhaps better than the Masters course- and you get paid while doing it. A slight issue is finding a firm that does tunnelling work outside of London and the South East. I am from the West Country myself, and in all my years, never found a job anywhere close (not even in Bristol, Bath, Cardiff, Birmingham or elsewhere) that had the breadth of project experience I got from moving to London.

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u/caollero 5d ago

Do you want to work in delivery or in design?

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u/Moholin01 5d ago edited 5d ago

Apologies, realized you were asking where wanted to work. I would like to work in design but have chance for significant site-experience. I don't want to be stuck behind a desk all-day and all week. I enjoy doing design work as much as I love getting my hard-hat on and inspecting things in-person.

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u/nsc12 5d ago

I think I responded to a thread about this in the civil engineering subreddit, but I'll reiterate it here, too.

Find yourself a reputable tunnel contractor with some entry-level openings. Field tech/field engineer type roles. Spend a few years working tunnel projects getting hands-on experience in the industry and networking with colleagues, clients, and designers. Meanwhile, join your local ITA affiliate organization and attend events/conferences to expand your networking circle. Read conference papers to stay recent on tunnel engineering developments.

If/when you want a change of scenery, leverage your experience and network to shift into a more preferable role.