Durin is building the technology stack that finds America's next 100 mines. We design, build, and operate purpose-built autonomous drilling rigs, not retrofits, because diamond drilling automation hasn't been done before, and retrofits won't get us there. First to market is the only acceptable outcome.
We're seeking experienced Drillers who will run our automated diamond core platform in the field and shape how the next generation of the rig is built.
A drill rig tells an experienced operator what it is doing long before a gauge does, and the same holds true for an automated platform. Durin drillers run the rig, read its behavior, and catch a developing mechanical fault while the correction is still simple. The work carries the ordinary demands of diamond core drilling, including the ground, the weather, the hours, and the client on site, alongside the added demand of proving new equipment under real conditions. A driller here works at the point where operating skill and platform development meet, and what a driller reports from the drill site shapes what engineering builds next.
WHAT YOU’LL DO
Run a diamond core drilling rig through full shifts, delivering the core quality, recovery, and advance rates clients expect
Operate and learn an automated drilling platform, adapting conventional technique to new equipment and new controls
Complete daily shift checks and equipment inspections, tracking scheduled servicing and identifying the need for field repairs so the rig remains available and in compliant working order
Diagnose mechanical, hydraulic, and functional issues early, raising a developing fault before a failure takes the rig down
Set up and tear down drill sites, from rig moves and leveling through water supply and site housekeeping
Manage drill holes from collar to completion, including rod handling, core retrieval, casing, and downhole problem solving
Lead the crew on shift, setting the pace, upholding an exceptional and uncompromising safety standard, and bringing helpers along
Sustain exceptional housekeeping and equipment upkeep on a new machine, taking the same care for Durin's interest as for the client's
Maintain accurate shift reports covering advance, consumables, fluid use, downtime, and equipment condition
Stop the operation whenever conditions warrant, without hesitation and without regard to schedule pressure
Communicate clearly with the client geologist, the operations manager, and the engineering team throughout the shift
Report rig behavior, failure modes, and design shortcomings to engineering, contributing directly to the next revision of the platform
Support field trials of new tooling and new automation features as the platform develops
WHO YOU ARE
7+ years running a diamond core drilling rig as the driller, counted as time at the controls rather than time on the helper side of the rig
Direct experience on diamond core rigs in surface operations, underground operations, or both
Strong mechanical understanding of how a drill rig works, spanning hydraulics, the drive head, the rod handling system, pumps, and the power unit
Disciplined about inspection and maintenance routines, with a strong eye for early warning signs in gauges, sound, vibration, and returns before a breakdown occurs
Proficient across the full range of tooling used on a diamond core rig, from bits and reaming shells to core barrels, overshots, casing, and wireline equipment
Practiced at downhole problem solving such as cementing, wedging, rod recovery, and lost circulation
Safety-first in every decision, with the will to hold the same standard for everyone on the drill site
Strong communicator with crew members, geologists, and clients, with the confidence to raise a concern early
Strong personal code of ethics, honest about what happened on shift and reliable when no one is watching
Takes pride in the condition of the equipment and the drill site, with the integrity to hold both to a high standard without being asked
Curious about how…