Ready to review the pulse of real mining decisions?
Reassessing your next move in mining?
Want to move beyond optimising a single operation?
Looking for exposure to different mines, strategies, and development pathways?
About the role
Whether you've recently been made redundant, or you're starting to question the path of site-based roles, this is an opportunity to apply your experience differently.
At Palaris, you move beyond production planning into advisory work where your judgement informs investment decisions, mine optimisation, options analysis, and project development strategy across multiple operations.
What this role actually involves
If you are looking for structured production planning or process-driven feasibility work, this is not that role.
This is advisory work where judgement and insight matter.
Your role is not to produce more detail.
It is to frame the decision and improve the outcome.
You will:
Lead and contribute to concept studies, red flag reviews, and technical due diligence
Deliver mine optimisation studies identifying practical improvements to performance, cost, and value
Undertake options analysis and trade-off assessments to determine the best development pathway
Support project development strategies not just evaluate existing plans
Assess mine plans, schedules, and assumptions identifying what drives value vs noise
Work directly with clients including operators, investors, and lenders
Apply your underground coal experience across multiple assets and contexts
Most of our team come from major mining houses.
They move because:
They want to move beyond optimising a single operation
They are frustrated by limited influence over key decisions




They want exposure to different mines, strategies, and development pathways
They prefer applying judgement over process
They want to be challenged and stretched
Palaris is an independent advisory firm to the mining sector.
We work where decisions carry consequence, supporting:
Resource companies (site and corporate)
Financial institutions and lenders
Equity investors
Our work sits at the intersection of technical insight and capital decisions, with a focus on transparent, defensible judgement and practical optimisation.
About you
You are an underground coal mining engineer who understands both planning and reality.
You likely have:
5+ years of significant experience in underground coal operations
Strong capability in mine planning, design, and scheduling
Exposure to operational improvement, studies, or project development
More importantly, you:
Understand what drives value, risk, and performance in a mine
Can step back from the model and challenge direction
Review a mine plan and quickly assess what does not make sense and why
Are comfortable contributing to client-facing discussions and decisions
You will stand out if you bring:
Experience in mine optimisation, due diligence, or mine reviews
Exposure to financial evaluation, options analysis, or trade-off studies
A network where you are comfortable reaching out to keep your finger on the pulse
Technical Requirements
Proficiency in Deswik, XPAC, Minex or similar
Full Australian working rights (no visa sponsorship available)
What we offer
A 9-day fortnight and flexibility
Bonus structure aligned to individual performance
Lifestyle location for you and your family –Wollongong, Newcastle or Brisbane office.
#J-*****-Ljbffr

📌 Principal Mine Planning Engineer (Underground) (New South Wales)
🏢 Palaris Australia
📍 New South Wales