What is the role of a planning engineer?
Planning engineers are critical to several industries because practically every organization and company needs expert planners. Their primary focus is on developing comprehensive project plans and schedules, ensuring the timely and efficient execution of projects while meeting all quality and safety standards. Planning engineers coordinate with multiple stakeholders, including project managers, contractors, and other engineering teams, to facilitate seamless project delivery.
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Mining Engineer
Location: Regina
Branche: Mining
Expertise: Planning & Testing
Experience: 5 years
Develop, update, and maintain detailed project schedules in Primavera P6 and/or Microsoft Project Work with project managers, engineers, and site teams to gather scope, progress, resource, and constraint data Develop mine designs, layouts, and development plans for shaft sinking, lateral development, and production operations. Support feasibility studies, cost estimates, schedules, and construction planning for new and ongoing projects. Perform engineering analysis related to ventilation, dewatering, material handling, ground control, and support systems. Prepare and review technical documentation, including drawings, specifications, design reports, and bid packages. Collaborate with structural, civil, mechanical, and geotechnical engineers to ensure integration of mine designs with surface and underground systems. Conduct field visits, inspections, and site walkdowns to validate design assumptions and support execution teams. Monitor project performance, evaluate risks, and recommend engineering solutions to maintain safe and efficient operations. Provide engineering support to tendering teams, including methodology development and productivity analysis. Ensure compliance with applicable mining regulations, standards, and company procedures. Mentor junior mining engineers and technologists, contributing to technical knowledge transfer within the organization.
Lead Mechanical Engineer
Location: Toronto
Branche: Mining
Expertise: Production & Manufacturing
Experience: 5 years
Lead Mechanical Engineer Toronto or Burlington, Ontario (office) Introduction Brunel is currently looking for a Mechanical Lead for our mining client in their Toronto office. As a Mechanical Lead, you will be responsible for overseeing and executing all aspects of mechanical engineering design for large-scale mining projects. You will develop equipment specifications, review and approve detailed designs, resolve complex technical challenges, and ensure compliance with industry standards. Working closely with engineers, designers, and project teams, you will provide hands-on technical leadership, mentor junior staff, and drive the successful delivery of critical project phases from Basic and Detailed Engineering through to Construction. Responsibilities Deliver mechanical engineering design according to required timeframes and standards by supervising the performance of mechanical engineers, reviewing deliverables and providing high level technical expertise. Facilitate the purchase of appropriate equipment by specifying requirements and assisting procurement with the purchase of equipment. Contribute to the cost-efficient delivery of mechanical engineering by managing the man hour budget and reviewing and approving mechanical capital cost estimates, recommending alternative approaches where possible. Take on a mechanical lead role on major projects, including managing engineers and designers and organizing mechanical work on the project, managing project budget and schedule and reporting mechanical activities internally and to the client. Assist the development and review of relevant mechanical contracts by providing advice and input as required. Issue drawings and engineering deliverables for construction by working with engineers and designers. Motivate engineers and other project team members towards superior performance by supporting daily performance and providing ongoing mentoring. Requirements Undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering. Registered Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) in Canada. Extensive experience in the Minerals & Metals sector; Oil & Gas experience is considered an asset. 12-15 years of mechanical design engineering experience in relevant industries such as mining, mineral processing, and materials handling, with preference for gold and copper projects. Demonstrated ability to resolve complex technical issues efficiently using personal expertise, external consultants, and in-house resources. Proficiency in AutoCAD, 3D designs software, and Microsoft Office suite. Strong understanding of multi-disciplined engineering principles and integration. Proven commitment to mentoring, coaching, and developing engineering personnel. Demonstrated ability to lead, motivate, and influence teams at all levels. Exceptional analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills. Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to prioritize tasks and manage multiple deliverables effectively.
Mechanical Equipment Engineer
Location: Peterborough
Branche: Conventional Energy
Expertise: Production & Manufacturing
Experience: 4 years
Provide execution of, and lead, design/analysis/test/commissioning activities for complex mechanical equipment and systems throughout the entire product life cycle. Prepare, approve, or lead design documentation (technical documents, drawings, BOMs), technical specifications, development/test plans, and engineering quotations. Develop and verify 3D models for conceptual design and perform stress analysis. Apply and guide design for manufacturability/assembly (DFMA) techniques. Provide technical support to CAD, Procurement, Manufacturing, Test, Quality, and Commissioning teams. Lead internal and external meetings (design reviews, technical presentations). Prepare and/or verify project deliverables including evaluations, reports, and assessments. Ensure engineering and product excellence, effective task management, on-time/on-budget delivery, and defect-free designs. Lead by example in adherence to processes, industry codes, standards, quality systems, and contractual requirements. Report on project status, identify risks, analyze solutions, and implement corrective actions. Support customer relationships and market alignment through direct interaction with clients, subcontractors, and cross-functional teams. Contribute to proposals, including scope review, estimates, and customer presentations. Provide technical oversight and direction for design activities, including document and drawing reviews. Ensure health, safety, and compliance in all activities. Travel occasionally to meet with clients and stakeholders.
Senior Mine Shutdown Planner
Location: Kamloops
Branche: Mining
Expertise: Planning & Testing
Experience: 3 years
Work with the HVC MLE project and HVC Operational readiness teams to develop a comprehensive shutdown schedule. Manage the schedule during the shutdown and help coordinate overall activities during the shutdown. Help prepare fortnightly reports on the status of the shutdown preparations Work with HVC operation, HVC operational readiness, HVC MLE project and construction contractor's teams for the interface items and provide input to project planner schedule. Assist in on-site planner scheduler in maintaining the construction schedule, particularly tie-in and shutdown related milestones or activities. Attend operation 8 Weeks Shutdown Review meeting and provide input for construction 2 months tie-in and shutdown required milestone or schedule. Collect information related to tie-in or shutdown for construction schedule update. Works with the Senior Project planning specialist to integrate shutdown scheduling and planning activities with regulatory bodies, external consultants and Teck internal groups. Performs quality reviews on third party schedules. Recommends corrective actions and supervises their implementation. Integrates third party schedules into overall program master schedule. Responsible for identifying schedule deviations on scope with package owner, and working with package owner to identify and implement mitigations. Notifies package owners on potential schedule trends and opportunities for improvement. Responsible to support forecasting on a monthly basis, as directed by Project Controls Lead (Manager). Responsible to support project reporting and project presentations, as directed by Project Controls Lead (Manager). Responsible for performing scheduling audits on service providers, as appropriate. Responsible for providing schedule input to help the project team define project execution plans and scope Responsible for ensuring Project Controls Overviews and Standards are properly applied and followed on a project with respect to Planning.
Senior Scheduler/Planner
Location: Vancouver
Branche: Mining
Expertise: Planning & Testing
Experience: 5 years
Develop and manage mine plans (daily, weekly, monthly, annual, LOM - Life of Mine). Coordinate short-term and long-term mine scheduling with engineers, geologists, and operations teams. Ensure production targets align with mine design, reserves, and business objectives. Plan and schedule maintenance activities for heavy mining equipment (haul trucks, drills, shovels) and processing plants. Utilize CMMS (Computerized Maintenance Management Systems) and SAP for scheduling and tracking. Support capital projects (new developments, infrastructure) by creating integrated project schedules. Track milestones, monitor critical paths, and manage resource allocation to ensure on-time delivery. Coordinate labor, equipment, and material requirements for scheduled activities. Interface with procurement, operations, and maintenance teams to ensure execution readiness. Monitor KPIs including equipment availability, utilization, and production vs. plan. Identify bottlenecks, inefficiencies, or risks and propose mitigation strategies. Provide accurate reports and insights to operations and senior management.
Scheduler
Location: Regina
Branche: Mining
Expertise: Planning & Testing
Experience: 3 years
Develop, update, and maintain detailed project schedules in Primavera P6 and/or Microsoft Project Work with project managers, engineers, and site teams to gather scope, progress, resource, and constraint data Conduct critical path, float, and "what-if" scenario analysis to support project decision-making Support the bid and proposal process by preparing schedules and participating in site walkdowns Track project progress, identify deviations, and provide recommendations for corrective actions Prepare and distribute regular schedule reports, forecasts, and dashboards for stakeholders Integrate subcontractor and vendor schedules into the master project schedule Perform schedule risk assessments and support delay / recovery analysis as needed Facilitate schedule reviews and change management processes Conduct site visits to validate progress and update schedules with real-time data Uphold the client's commitment to safety, quality, and cost control
Maintenance Planner
Location: Nanticoke
Branche: Conventional Energy
Expertise: Planning & Testing
Experience: 0 years
MAIN FUNCTIONS To be responsible for the planning and scheduling of all Maintenance activities. Should have good understanding of safety, health, and environmental requirements (SHE), work selection criteria, work planning, norms estimating, procurement practices, business practices and controls, contractor interface awareness, development of job packs, etc. Skilled in scheduling work tasks to ensure efficient resource utilization, excellent coordination between operations (equipment readiness / permitting), material availability, construction equipment support, and labor crew (skills) composition and assignment. Typical Job Positions may include: Maintenance Planner / Scheduler, Maintenance Lead, Planner/Scheduler. TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES * Demonstrates SAFETY is the top priority * Participates in planning with Core/Work Teams * Plans and schedules any Routine Maintenance work required * Works with Planner in developing schedule, cost estimates and equipment planning for Routine work to be accomplished during the Turnaround window * Able to plan complex job and develop resource plan with Scheduler, Execution lead, and Operations across all disciplines. Able to identify and monitor critical and sub-critical paths for major events. * Able to apply advanced functions of Planning & Estimating Tools, as applicable to the position. Able to educate field execution personnel on look-ahead schedules, and help ensure timely work progression. * Able to provide input to maintenance work Contracting/Procurement strategy and steward to that plan. * Able to resolve scheduling issues, including: Negative Float, Out-of-sequence updates, resource overloads, scope change, progress validation, etc. * Able to develop a complete job plan with materials, resources and timeline. * Able to provide input into material of construction selection and management. * Able to plan, estimate, track and schedule Field Order Changes (FCO's). * Able to apply planning logic, such as, lead, lag, critical path and milestones. * Able to adequately assess work contingencies with schedule impact, lead coordination activity between teams should contingencies arise.
Mechanical Department Manager
Location: Toronto
Branche: Mining
Expertise: Production & Manufacturing
Experience: 5 years
Mechanical Department Manager Burlington Or Toronto, Ontario Introduction Brunel is hiring on behalf of our mining client, Ausenco, for a Mechanical Department Manager to lead their mechanical engineering team in Toronto or Burlington (with flexibility for other office locations). This role will oversee engineering deliverables, execution strategies, budgets, and team performance across critical project phases, while providing high-level technical expertise and fostering a collaborative, client-focused environment. It's an excellent opportunity to take on a key leadership position with a global company in the mining sector. Responsibilities Manage the mechanical engineering team according to the required time frames and standards by supervising the performance of mechanical engineers, reviewing deliverables and providing high level technical expertise. Contribute to the cost-efficient delivery of mechanical engineering by managing the man hour budget and reviewing and approving mechanical capital cost estimates, recommending alternative approaches where possible. Ensures current technical standards, reference materials, software programs and tools are in place as necessary for the use of the Mechanical discipline. Review and approve discipline specific project execution strategies and engineering plans in conjunction with the assigned Mechanical lead on the project. Arrange for Technical reviews as specified in operating procedures and the project execution plan. Communicate effectively with clients to identify needs and evaluate alternative solutions. Collaborate with the leadership team in other offices to ensure appropriate inter-office resource sharing. In collaboration with People & Performance, manage the recruitment and selection of required resources for the group including selecting and hiring top performers and appropriately managing workload. Provide guidance and knowledge to engineers and other group members in support of their personal and professional development. Manage the performance of the Mechanical group by carrying out performance reviews and providing technical and leadership support where required. Foster a customer focused team environment that promotes openness, trust, empowerment, innovation, teamwork and high-quality performance for client satisfaction. Requirements Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering. 15+ years' proven technical and management experience with an engineering consulting firm or other large organization; construction experience is desirable. Previous experience in a Minerals & Metals. Previous experience leading and guiding engineering teams. Registration as a Professional Engineer (P.Eng) A proven track record managing multiple projects simultaneously or a single project of major size and scope. A proven ability to deliver projects on time and on budget. An excellent understanding of Mechanical engineering specifications, industry standards, practices, applicable codes including national, provincial and local codes, acts and regulations. Strong problem solving and organization skills and ability to meet tight deadlines while providing exceptional service to our clients is a must. Understanding of Financial Reports and project budgets. Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Willingness to travel.
Project Manager
Location: Pickering
Branche: Conventional Energy
Expertise: Controlling
Experience: 4 years
Project Manager Pickering, Ontario Schedule: Monday To Friday, Professional Working Day Introduction Brunel is seeking an experienced Project Manager to support one of our clients in the nuclear energy sector, overseeing the full lifecycle of complex construction and engineering projects from bid preparation and design through procurement, subcontractor coordination, installation, and commissioning. This role requires a strategic and technically proficient leader with proven experience managing budgets, schedules, and multidisciplinary teams within a highly regulated, safety-focused environment. Acting as the primary driver of project performance, the Project Manager will ensure all objectives are achieved in alignment with scope, quality, safety, and cost expectations, while applying strong knowledge of the Cost Performance Index (CPI) and Schedule Performance Index (SPI) to maintain efficiency, track performance, and deliver projects successfully from initiation through completion. As Project Manager, you will be responsible for leading all aspects of project planning, execution, and delivery while fostering collaboration, accountability, and excellence across teams and stakeholders. Responsibilities Manage all project phases including estimating, design reviews, engineering drawings, and development of Bills of Material Create and maintain project schedules, ensuring consistent progress and timely updates through performance tracking using CPI and SPI. Oversee procurement activities, working closely with the purchasing team to source materials and hardware at the best value. Implement cost-saving strategies and manage change orders, scope adjustments, and delays as needed. Monitor job costing metrics such as budget, hours, and schedule performance to ensure control and accountability. Ensure compliance with quality standards, safety protocols (e.g., ISO 18001, OSHA), and environmental regulations (e.g., ISO 14001). Serve as the primary point of contact with clients, contractors, and trades, maintaining a professional and solution-focused approach. Understand and manage contractual obligations, ensuring adherence to all project terms and conditions. Prepare timely documentation related to project changes, delays, and extras. Ensure adequate staffing and resource allocation for effective project execution. Promote productivity, recognize top-performing team members, and address unproductive behavior when necessary. Lead project teams with strong communication, direction, and motivation from initiation to completion. Foster a culture of safety, quality, and performance excellence consistent with high-reliability industry standards. Requirements Diploma in Engineering Technology or related technical discipline; a bachelor's degree in engineering is considered an asset. Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or equivalent professional designation required. 6-10 years of experience in the construction or engineering industry, with hands-on involvement in estimating, scheduling, and procurement. A minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in a Project Coordinator or project leadership role. Proven ability to manage complex projects from initiation through completion, with demonstrated success in meeting or exceeding CPI and SPI performance targets. Proficient in project management software, such as MS Project or Primavera. Exceptional leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively manage multiple priorities and stakeholders. Highly skilled in negotiation, conflict resolution, and stakeholder engagement. Results-driven and organized, with strong analytical and problem-solving abilities. Dedicated to upholding integrity, quality, and safety standards in all project activities. Gold Seal Certification (CCA) is an asset.
Senior Discovery Scientist
Location: Toronto
Branche: Pharmaceuticals
Expertise: Research & Development
Experience: 3 years
Responsibilities Develop and perform biochemical and/or cell-based assays to characterize the activity of early-stage ligands, such as ELISAs, cytotoxicity assays, or fluorogenic reporter assays. Passage and prepare mammalian cells to be used in assays. Develop methods to assess compound affinity, retention, and internalization of compounds. Support the generation of in vitro assay data for established projects. Interface with external vendors to support early discovery activities. Critically assess data and methods, adapting and adjusting procedures as necessary. In conjunction with managers, establish priorities and meet timelines for key experiments. Provide clear communication of scientific data to co-workers through internal presentations and written methods. Support preclinical and late-stage assets as necessary.
What do planning engineers do?
Planning engineers are responsible for several key tasks throughout the project lifecycle. They meticulously analyze project requirements and objectives to create detailed plans, encompassing timelines, resource allocation, and budget estimates. These professionals collaborate with project managers to set achievable milestones and deadlines, allowing for efficient project monitoring and progress tracking.
Moreover, planning engineers continuously assess project risks and implement risk mitigation strategies to minimize potential delays and disruptions. They monitor the project's progress, identify any deviations from the original plan, and propose corrective actions to ensure the project remains on schedule.
Planning engineers utilize various project management tools and software to create and manage Gantt charts, critical path analysis, and resource utilization charts. These tools aid in effective project planning and resource allocation, allowing for the optimization of manpower and equipment utilization.
What are the required skills for a planning engineer?
To excel as a planning engineer, individuals must possess a diverse skill set. Exceptional organizational skills are essential for managing complex project plans and multiple timelines effectively. Planning engineers should be adept at problem-solving, as they often encounter unforeseen challenges that require quick and efficient resolution to keep the project on track.
Communication skills are crucial for successful collaboration with project stakeholders and team members. Planning engineers need to convey complex technical information and project updates clearly and concisely. Additionally, they should have a strong understanding of project management methodologies and techniques to develop efficient and realistic project schedules.
Where do planning engineers work?
Planning engineers find employment opportunities in a variety of industries, especially in construction, infrastructure development, manufacturing, and large-scale project management. They may work for construction companies, engineering firms, government agencies, or any organization involved in project planning and execution.
Common planning engineer responsibilities
Develop comprehensive project plans and schedules, considering project requirements, objectives, and available resources;
Collaborate with project managers and other stakeholders to set realistic milestones and deadlines for project completion;
Continuously monitor project progress, identify potential delays, and implement corrective measures to keep the project on track;
Conduct risk assessments and develop risk mitigation strategies to minimize project disruptions;
Utilize project management tools and software to create Gantt charts, critical path analysis, and resource utilization charts;
Coordinate with engineering teams, contractors, and suppliers to ensure timely and efficient project execution;
Optimize resource allocation and manpower utilization to maximize project efficiency;
Provide regular project updates to stakeholders, keeping them informed of project status and any changes to the plan;
Comply with safety regulations and quality standards throughout the project;
Maintain detailed project documentation, including plans, schedules, and progress reports.
Qualifications for planning engineers
To become a planning engineer, candidates should possess at least a Bachelor's degree in engineering, construction management, or a related field. Additional certifications in project management or relevant software proficiency can be advantageous.
Other essential qualifications include:
- 2-4+ years of experience in project planning and scheduling;
- Proficiency in project management tools and software;
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills;
- Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities;
- Extensive experience with project management methodologies;
- Detail-oriented and highly organized;
- Ability to work collaboratively in cross-functional teams;
- Dedicated to completing projects on time and within the budget.
