Principal Mine Surveyor

Every month, somewhere in Australia, a quarry manager signs off a stockpile number. The accountant books it as revenue and the auditor tests it. Behind that number are a drone flight, a ground control layout, a datum, a geoid model and a processing pipeline. Behind those is a surveyor who either knows exactly how good the number is, or is hoping. We're looking for the surveyor who knows.

Earlier this year we traced a systematic vertical bias in a commercial drone processing platform back to its camera position residuals. We wrote it up for the vendor and tracked the fix through reprocessing until the numbers closed. That's what survey looks like here: you don't just fly the site, you prove the surface is right, and you can explain why when it isn't.

Who you'd be working for

Eltirus is the technical advisor to quarry, cement, aggregates and industrial minerals operators across Australia, New Zealand and North America. Our clients range from major producers to family-owned quarry groups and councils. For many of the smaller ones, we effectively are their technical department: their geologist, their mine planner, their surveyor.

Survey sits at the start of every chain we run. The geological model, the pit design, the schedule and the blast all start from your surface. If it's wrong, everything downstream is wrong too.

We're Brisbane-based and a Deswik, Seequent and Strayos partner. We delivered the first international use of Deswik.GO for aggregates, sand and cement operations, and we're usually the firm clients call when a problem has already defeated someone else.

The role

This is a principal seat, not a support role. You'd own Eltirus's survey practice: how it's done, what it's equipped with, and what it sells. You'd report directly to the founder.

The rhythm of the work:

• Set the standard. You'd run our drone program end to end: flight planning, GCP design, accuracy QA and datum control. That covers our own sites and every client whose survey function is effectively us.
• Build client program from scratch. You'd specify and configure RTK drones and GNSS rovers, including remote management of field controllers. You'd train site staff, then support them so the data keeps arriving right long after you've left site.
• Machine guidance and drill navigation. You'd handle setup, programming and fault-finding when the rig is putting holes in the wrong place.
• Datum and data integrity. That means GDA2020 migrations, local mine grids, and reconciling decades of legacy data so our geologists and engineers can trust it.
• Prove the technology before clients buy it. You'd test new platforms and sensors for accuracy and write up the results. With AI-driven drone analytics, you'd be the person who tells clients what it does and what it doesn't, and the person vendors have to convince.
• Grow the practice. You'd be the technical lead on survey work and on Strayos opportunities: scoping, demonstrations, proposals, and being the credible voice in the room with a quarry manager.

The honest version of the conditions:

• You'd be Brisbane-based and hybrid. Site travel is usually 1–2 days at a time, about monthly, and more when we're standing up a new client programme.
• We're a small firm. The title is Principal, but you'll still fly sites and walk GCPs yourself.
• You'll be measured partly on growing survey revenue. If you want a purely technical role, this isn't it.
• Our reporting standard, data management and file naming discipline will surprise you at first. You'll also write down how you do things so others can repeat them. We value systems over heroics.

Who I'm looking for

I want someone I can hand the survey side of the business to and not have to check on. Someone who tells me the number's wrong before the client does. Someone who sees a client problem and comes back with a proposal, not a question.

What we need

Essential

• Solid open-cut mine survey experience, and the judgement that comes with it.
• Hands-on drone photogrammetry: GCP design and accuracy assessment, plus the ability to diagnose why a surface is wrong, not just reprocess it.
• A sound grasp of geodesy: datums, projections, geoid models and height systems, including GDA94/GDA2020.
• GNSS RTK base and rover setup and troubleshooting.
• Strong report writing and data management habits.
• Credibility with operators: you can stand on a quarry floor and be taken seriously.

Highly regarded

• Registration as a mine surveyor, or a statutory survey certificate of competency (QLD, NSW or WA).
• A Remote Pilot Licence and experience running drone operations under CASA rules.
• Machine guidance and drill navigation system setup.
• Experience with Strayos, Propeller, Agisoft Metashape, Pix4D or similar, and with handing survey data into Deswik or Leapfrog.
• Pre-sales or technical sales experience.
• Experience in quarrying, cement, sand or industrial minerals.

Talk to me directly

Please apply through the site, but I'd rather have a conversation than read a cover letter: Steve Franklin, +61 474 183 939.