Study Engineer مهندس دراسات

Reporting to: Technical Studies Lead
Location: Muscat, Sultanate of Oman
Role Purpose:
The Study Engineer – Studies & Delivery is an entry-level engineering role that supports the Technical Studies Lead and Senior Project Engineers in the execution of MDO's project studies across the Front-End Loading (FEL) lifecycle. The role assists with coordinating technical inputs, maintaining study tracking tools and document registers, and performing first-pass checks on consultant deliverables, while building a solid foundation in mining study practice and MDO's governance requirements.
Working under the close supervision and guidance of the Technical Studies Lead and senior team members, the Study Engineer develops hands-on experience across study disciplines, consultant interface, and gate documentation. The role contributes to the preparation of investment-quality study outputs from Scoping through to Gate 3 FID and follows a structured development path towards Project Engineer responsibilities.
Key Responsiblities:
Study Workstream Execution & Coordination
- Support the execution of assigned study tasks across FEL phases — Scoping (G0–G1), Pre-Feasibility Study (G2), Definitive Feasibility Study (G3), and FEED — under the direction of the Technical Studies Lead and Senior Project Engineers.
- Update study schedules, deliverable registers, action logs, and milestone trackers, and provide regular status inputs to the supervising engineer.
- Flag slippages, missing inputs, or deviations from study plans promptly to the supervising engineer.
- Maintain the study document register for assigned workstreams, ensuring correct version control, file naming, and traceability in line with MDO's governance framework.
- Assist in collecting and consolidating technical inputs from consultants and internal MDO functions at each study milestone.
- Record and file lessons learned from ongoing studies for future reference.
Consultant Interface & Deliverable Management
- Act as a day-to-day point of contact with study consultants for routine administrative and technical follow-ups, as delegated by the supervising engineer.
- Perform first-pass checks on consultant draft deliverables — including technical reports, calculations, and data sheets — for completeness, consistency, and compliance with the terms of reference, and consolidate review comments for senior review.
- Update consultant deliverable registers and KPI trackers, and report on status and overdue items.
- Log, track, and follow up RFIs, technical queries, and clarification requests between MDO and study consultants until close-out.
- Assist in preparing scope of work and terms of reference documents, and compile bid information for technical evaluation of study consultants.
- Archive consultant deliverables systematically in MDO's document management system with appropriate version control and traceability.
Multi-Discipline Technical Integration
- Assist in coordinating technical inputs across geology, mining, metallurgy, process engineering, infrastructure, utilities, and environmental disciplines, and highlight gaps or inconsistencies to the supervising engineer.
- Track the status of metallurgical testwork programmes and compile testwork results and process data for review by senior engineers.
- Liaise with internal MDO functions — including Exploration, ESG, Finance, and Legal — to request and collect study inputs as directed.
- Record identified integration issues and gaps in the relevant registers and follow up on agreed actions.
- Prepare discipline coordination matrices, interface lists, and supporting summaries as directed.
Technical Report Review & JORC / NI 43-101 Support
- Carry out basic checks of consultant reports and engineering outputs for internal consistency, units, data accuracy, and completeness, escalating findings to the supervising engineer.
- Develop working familiarity with JORC Code and NI 43-101 reporting requirements and support compliance checklists for assigned deliverables.
- Maintain the register of open technical review comments, tracking resolution status through to formal close-out.
- Draft sections of technical summaries and study reports for review by senior engineers.
- Assist in compiling and formatting gate review documentation for Stage-Gate reviews (G0 through G3).
Technical-Economic Analysis & Value Engineering Support
- Assist in technical-economic trade-off analyses by collecting data, preparing option comparison tables, and performing basic engineering and cost calculations.
- Compile trade-off study inputs, data sets, and cost model inputs as directed by the Technical Studies Lead.
- Participate in value engineering workshops, recording ideas, actions, and outcomes.
- Maintain value engineering registers, documenting findings and decision rationale.
Study Controls & Reporting
- Prepare inputs to regular study progress reports covering deliverable status, schedule, and open actions.
- Update the study budget tracking register with consultant fee invoices and commitments, flagging variances to the supervising engineer.
- Maintain study risk registers, recording identified technical and delivery risks and tracking mitigation actions.
- Prepare charts, tables, and slides for study progress updates and gate review presentations.
- Maintain cost estimate summaries and supporting cost basis documentation, applying AACEI estimate classes with guidance from senior engineers.
Stakeholder Coordination
- Build effective working relationships with study consultants, specialist technical firms, and internal MDO teams.
- Attend and take minutes of study progress meetings, technical workshops, and discipline coordination meetings.
- Prepare meeting agendas, action registers, and follow-up notes for study meetings.
Learning & Professional Development
- Follow a structured development plan agreed with the Technical Studies Lead, gaining exposure to all FEL study phases and technical disciplines.
- Contribute to the use and improvement of MDO's study management templates and procedures.
- Actively pursue professional development, including progression towards professional engineering registration and project management certification.
- Build technical knowledge in mining study management, mineral processing, cost estimation, and relevant international reporting standards.

ROLE ALIGNMENT WITH STAGE-GATE PROCESS
Stage-Gate Role of Study Engineer
G0–1 (Concept/Scoping) Supporting role — collects discipline inputs, maintains the deliverable register, and assists in preparing Gate 1 documentation under supervision.
G2 (Pre-Feasibility) Supporting role — tracks PFS deliverables and testwork status, performs first-pass checks on consultant outputs, updates schedule and budget trackers, and assists with Gate 2 package compilation.
G3 (Feasibility/Investment Decision) Supporting role — supports DFS and FEED workstreams, maintains review comment and risk registers, compiles trade-off data, and assists with Gate 3 FID package compilation under supervision.
G4 (Execution/Construction) Informed — provides study reference documents to the engineering and construction team as requested.
G5 (Handover/Closure) Informed — records study lessons learned for the post-implementation review.

Minimum Qualification and Experience:
• Bachelor's degree in Mining, Process/Chemical, Metallurgical, Mechanical, or Civil Engineering.
• Progress towards professional engineering registration or a project management certification (e.g. CAPM) is an advantage.
• 0–3 years of experience in mining, mineral processing, or industrial projects; fresh graduates with relevant internships or final-year projects are encouraged to apply.
• Understanding of the core engineering disciplines involved in mining projects (geology, mining, metallurgy, process engineering, infrastructure).
• Ability to read and check technical reports, calculations, and drawings with attention to detail.
• Basic understanding of cost estimating and awareness of AACEI estimate classifications is an advantage.
• Awareness of JORC Code and NI 43-101 reporting standards is an advantage.
• Proficiency in MS Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint); exposure to scheduling tools (MS Project or Primavera P6) is an advantage.
• Awareness of Stage-Gate and FEL study concepts is desirable.
• Good written and verbal communication skills in English, with the ability to prepare clear meeting minutes, registers, and short technical summaries; Arabic is an advantage.
• Exposure to metallurgical testwork or laboratory work is desirable.
• Internship or project exposure to copper, gold, chromite, or industrial mineral operations is an advantage.
• Willingness to travel to project sites within Oman and abroad as required.
Key Competencies:
• Technical fundamentals across mining and process engineering disciplines
• Attention to detail and accuracy in checking technical documents
• Awareness of JORC / NI 43-101 reporting requirements
• Basic cost estimating and study cost tracking
• Maintaining schedules, registers, and trackers
• Analytical and problem-solving skills
• Understanding of Stage-Gate and FEL study principles
• Clear written and verbal communication
• Organisation, time management, and follow-through
• Teamwork and cross-functional collaboration
• Eagerness to learn and openness to feedback
• High commitment to HSE, ESG, and ethical governance principles

Business Understanding:
- This position requires a developing understanding of mining project economics, FEL study cost and schedule management, and how study quality supports investment decisions. The Study Engineer is expected to build familiarity with MDO's OIA governance framework, Stage-Gate investment process, and the commercial context of projects in the development portfolio.