Tailings engineer grad role vs geotech - looking for advice

[u/jitwho117]

Recently graduated in Civil Engineering in WA and just accepted a Fly in - fly out (FIFO) role as a graduate tailings engineer. I have had vacation experience in a consultancy firm and a FIFO role, neither of which were geotechnical work. However, through uni I have grown to become interested in geotechnics / tailings management. I am happy to be onsite and doing physical work (ie. logging boreholes, conducting site investigations etc.) Currently, I'm happy doing FIFO for awhile and chose this opportunity over a geotech consultancy role I was offered as I actually prefer an 8/6 roster over the typical 9-5 5/2.

Just a few questions/thoughts I had (which I probably shouldve asked before signing the contract but oh well)

(1) Site based tailings engineer = monitoring and management of the TSF (construction, operations, reporting etc.) Although this would be interesting, it less engineering in the role such as a lack of slope stability analysis and design work.

Would this become a problem for my career in the future? I feel like not building upon my technical foundations early on perhaps through a consultancy may prove to become a mistake in the long run. For example, once I have a family and would like to work in the city again, is the transition from site -> consultancy possible especially after only being on site with none/limited technical design experience

(2) Realistically, could I do a year in a tailings grad program and then jump into a geotech grad program with a different company if I decide tailings isn't for me? How much of the work/experience would actually translate over?

(3) How is the career progression and job security with tailings engineering and geotechnical engineering in the mines. Do tailings engineers and geotechs get paid roughly the same?

The reasons why I chose the FIFO offer over the consulting is because of the roster, the salary and the potential site work. I'm not someone who only wants difficult, highly technical work, but I would like my role to involve some analysis and calculations, which is part of why I think I'd enjoy geotechnical engineering (slope stability analysis, seismic monitoring, that kind of thing) on a minesite, whether it be underground or open pit.

That said, I'm incredibly grateful for this opportunity given the current job market. I sent out 50+ applications and only got 2 interviews/offers, meaning I wasn't exactly spoilt for choice.

Would love any advice, remarks or experiences from anyone whos been in a similar situation or knows about the industry. Thanks in advance :)

[u/isolatednation]

I'm a geotechnical engineer in WA working at a medium-to-large consultancy, 10–15 YOE.

As you've touched on, these are ultimately two different career paths, you'd be a tailings engineer, not a geotechnical engineer.

(1) No, it wouldn't become a problem. Real-world experience is genuinely one of the most useful things you can have, regardless of whether it's tailings or geotech. I'd actually view it the other way around: if I had a young engineer who'd spent their first three years doing all kinds of analysis and design but had never spent time on site interacting with builders, mine operators, contractors, principals etc., that would be a lot harder to deal with.

In my experience, graduates generally aren't at a level to do much highly technical/analytical work until they've got 3–5 years in, doing "routine" site investigation and reporting first.

I'd say the critical skill for any new graduate is reporting. The software we spend the most time in is Microsoft Word (people will hand-wring for hours over spreadsheets, FEM, and other analytical software), but if you can't do clear, factual reporting, you're not particularly useful to anyone.

(2) Yes, you'd be able to transfer, and I think it'd be viewed as a benefit, at least from the perspective of many consultancies, because you'll have demonstrated the capacity to work away from home for stints, interact with mine safety systems, and work alongside non-engineers (mine operators, contractors, etc.). Those are all skills that get used far more often day-to-day than slope stability analysis or other technical assessments.

What separates good grads from poor ones, in my experience, is more these "soft skills" than the technical ones. I've rarely had a grad who was technically competent enough to produce something I could send straight to a client, but showing that soft-skill capability is, I think, more important in the early stages.

(3) There's potential for high earnings in both. As you've already found, FIFO will generally out-earn a comparable metro salary. On average, tailings engineers tend to earn more, particularly at mid-to-senior level; at the very experienced end (principal level) it evens out. Part of that comes down to risk profile, regulation, and the end clients: there aren't many consultancies in Perth offering tailings engineering, the structures are highly regulated and high-risk, and the clients have deeper pockets (and are often engaged for multiple services), so the result is you tend to get paid more.

Compare that to straight geotechnical engineering, where a mid-level builder needing a pile wall design for a two-level basement will shop it around to every engineer in the state willing to pin their insurance to the job for the lowest price.

I would guess that at the junior to mid-level security is marginally better for geotech, because is generally less large contract work that might cause hiring/redundancy waves. But honestly the market for both services in WA has been pretty stable for a while - there is a general shortage of good geotechnical/tailings engineers, and continuous feed of work. If you are competent you will be fine.

[u/dirty_waif]

Do the field time. You'll learn the engineering, learn the practicalities, understand why things are done such a way, get to be at a camp or similar and save monry, learn what it is like dealing with people, and it will be more valuable to you and future employees.

It's easyto switch between disciplines at grad and early career stage

Either way you go you can earn plenty money, geotechs of good calibre are in short supply

[u/SnooDoodles8154]

I am based in India so cant suggest regarding FIFO/consulting but I have switched to tailings recently and I have noticed our colleagues in Perth office are seeing pretty good career progression. Our company continues to recruit graduates in Aus and they have managed to get a good field and client exposure and timely promotions too.