Open pit & mobile fleet
Haul trucks, excavators, loaders, drills, dozers, graders, water carts and support equipment maintained in workshops or the field.
← Career pathways
Mechanical pathway
Mechanical careers in Australian mining.
“Mine-site fitter” covers far more than one job. Fixed plant, heavy mobile equipment, drills, hydraulics, conveyors, tyres, mill relining and reliability all demand different evidence. Start with the asset, the work and the trade boundary.
The core idea
Mechanical work follows the failure mode.
Mining mechanical careers are shaped by the assets being maintained, how those assets fail and where the work is performed. A rebuild fitter may develop deep component knowledge. A rostered plant fitter learns equipment history. A shutdown fitter works through a concentrated scope. A field technician brings product depth across multiple sites.
A trade opens the pathway. Asset knowledge, diagnostic judgement and verifiable work make the career.
Where the work sits
Six mechanical environments across a mine.
The boundaries overlap. A mine may use owner teams, maintenance contractors, OEM technicians and specialist vendors on the same asset.
Processing & fixed plant
Crushers, screens, mills, pumps, thickeners, valves, feeders, gearboxes and rotating equipment across the process circuit.
Materials handling & port
Conveyors, transfer stations, train unloaders, stackers, reclaimers and shiploaders from mine stockyard to export wharf.
Workshops & rebuild centres
Controlled strip, inspection, machining, assembly, testing and component rebuild work for mobile and fixed-plant assets.
Underground operations
Underground fleets, pumps, ventilation, crushing, conveying, workshops and services maintained within mine-specific controls.
Utilities & site infrastructure
Dewatering, water treatment, compressed air, fuel systems, workshops, camps and non-process plant supporting the operation.
Role guide
Fifteen mechanical pathways.
This is a practical map of the major options, not a claim that job titles are standardised. Read the actual assets, trade, work scope and competence requirements behind every title.
Mechanical apprentice
Mine operators, contractors, workshops and OEM service businesses
Indicative 2026 Australian mining band$55k–$95kAUD annual gross, generally before super- Typical work
- Build trade competence through supervised workplace learning and formal training, gradually taking on inspection, fitting, maintenance and diagnostic tasks within the apprenticeship plan.
- Typical assets
- Training exposure may include pumps, drives, conveyors, mobile plant, components, tooling and workshop equipment.
- Foundation
- A registered apprenticeship or training contract linked to the relevant qualification. A trades assistant role can provide exposure but does not itself confer trade status.
- Evidence to show
- Training record, completed units, tasks performed under supervision, asset exposure, safe work habits, feedback and a supervisor who can verify development.
Fixed-plant mechanical fitter
Processing plants, crushing, conveying, stockyards and ports
Indicative 2026 Australian mining band$125k–$175kAUD annual gross, generally before super- Typical work
- Complete planned inspections, preventive and corrective maintenance, component changes, breakdown response, mechanical testing and work-order close-out.
- Typical assets
- Bearings, shafts, couplings, gearboxes, pulleys, pumps, valves, crushers, feeders, conveyors, stackers and reclaimers.
- Foundation
- Usually a relevant mechanical trade such as MEM30219, supported by industrial experience matched to the plant and role.
- Evidence to show
- Name the asset, symptom or planned scope, measurements taken, work personally completed, result, handover and follow-up defects raised.
Shutdown mechanical fitter
Concentrated outage work fronts on fixed plant and infrastructure
Indicative 2026 Australian mining band$135k–$195kAnnualised from project and shutdown market- Typical work
- Execute defined inspection, replacement, overhaul and repair scopes while coordinating with lifting, access, electrical, fabrication and operations teams.
- Typical assets
- Chutes, feeders, screens, crushers, conveyor drives, pulleys, pumps, gearboxes, brakes, slew systems and materials-handling machines.
- Foundation
- Relevant mechanical trade plus task, access and site prerequisites. High-risk work licences apply only where the worker personally performs the licensed work.
- Evidence to show
- Work pack and asset, mechanical scope, tolerances or checks, interfaces managed, quality record, completion status and shutdown referee.
Mobile plant mechanic or HD fitter
Open pits, workshops, field service and equipment rebuilds
Indicative 2026 Australian mining band$140k–$210kAUD annual gross, generally before super- Typical work
- Inspect, diagnose, service and repair engines, powertrains, braking, steering, suspension, hydraulic and mechanical systems on heavy mobile equipment.
- Typical assets
- Haul trucks, loaders, excavators, dozers, graders, scrapers, water carts and ancillary equipment.
- Foundation
- Common pathways include AUR31220 Mobile Plant Technology, MEM31419 Fixed and Mobile Plant Mechanic or another employer-accepted heavy mechanical trade.
- Evidence to show
- Machine make and model, operating hours or duty, symptoms, diagnostic method, repair boundary, test result and technical information used.
Drill fitter
Open-cut drill fleets, underground production and field support
Indicative 2026 Australian mining band$150k–$220kAUD annual gross, generally before super- Typical work
- Maintain the mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic and drilling systems that keep production or exploration rigs available and fit for their assigned duty.
- Typical assets
- Rotary blast-hole drills, down-the-hole rigs, underground jumbos, long-hole rigs, compressors, feed systems and rod-handling equipment.
- Foundation
- Usually a mobile plant, diesel or mechanical trade followed by equipment-specific training and verified drill-fleet experience.
- Evidence to show
- Rig type, system and fault, diagnosis, technical documents used, repair or escalation, test outcome and production handover.
Underground mechanical fitter
Underground mobile fleets, fixed infrastructure and workshops
Indicative 2026 Australian mining band$150k–$220kAUD annual gross, generally before super- Typical work
- Maintain mobile equipment, pumps, ventilation, crushing, conveying and mine services where access, heat, ground conditions and emergency systems shape the work.
- Typical assets
- Load-haul-dump machines, jumbos, trucks, pumps, fans, crushers, conveyors, paste or service systems and workshop equipment.
- Foundation
- Relevant mechanical or mobile plant trade plus mine-type, equipment, access and emergency-response requirements set by the jurisdiction and operation.
- Evidence to show
- Underground environment, equipment and duty, fault or planned task, access context, work completed, testing and shift handover.
Field service or OEM technician
Multiple sites, dealer networks, commissioning and specialist support
Indicative 2026 Australian mining band$135k–$200kAUD annual gross, generally before super- Typical work
- Provide equipment-specific diagnostics, repairs, upgrades, commissioning support, technical reporting and customer advice within OEM or service-provider systems.
- Typical assets
- A defined manufacturer’s mobile fleet, crushers, pumps, drives, hydraulics, engines or specialist components.
- Foundation
- Relevant trade and strong product experience. OEM courses and authorisations are valuable but normally apply to the nominated product family and work scope.
- Evidence to show
- Product model, fault data, diagnostic steps, service information, repair or recommendation, report quality and customer handover.
Workshop or rebuild fitter
Mine workshops, off-site rebuild centres and component shops
Indicative 2026 Australian mining band$105k–$155kAUD annual gross, generally before super- Typical work
- Strip, clean, inspect, measure, repair, machine, assemble and test mechanical components against controlled specifications and quality records.
- Typical assets
- Engines, transmissions, final drives, gearboxes, pumps, cylinders, wheel groups, pulleys, bearing assemblies and rotating components.
- Foundation
- Mechanical, fitting or mobile plant trade matched to the component scope; some roles also value machining capability.
- Evidence to show
- Component and serial traceability, measurements, rejection criteria used, parts replaced, assembly and test records, defects escalated and release authority.
Hydraulic or pneumatic technician
Mobile plant, fixed plant, workshops and specialist service teams
Indicative 2026 Australian mining band$120k–$175kAUD annual gross, generally before super- Typical work
- Diagnose and maintain fluid-power systems, components and interfaces within training, contamination-control and test-authority boundaries.
- Typical assets
- Pumps, motors, valves, cylinders, accumulators, actuators, filtration, hoses, manifolds and compressed-air systems.
- Foundation
- Usually a mechanical or mobile plant trade plus credible fluid-power training and supervised practical depth; individual units do not replace a full trade where one is required.
- Evidence to show
- Circuit or system, symptoms and data, contamination or condition findings, authorised repair, test result and documentation.
Pump or rotating-equipment technician
Processing plants, dewatering, water services and specialist workshops
Indicative 2026 Australian mining band$120k–$175kAUD annual gross, generally before super- Typical work
- Inspect, remove, overhaul, align and return rotating equipment to service while recording condition, clearances and follow-up needs.
- Typical assets
- Centrifugal and positive-displacement pumps, fans, blowers, gearboxes, couplings, seals, bearings and drive trains.
- Foundation
- Mechanical fitting trade with asset-specific experience in assembly, measurement, alignment and condition assessment.
- Evidence to show
- Equipment and duty, condition found, measurements, parts and work completed, alignment or test records, operating result and follow-up recommendation.
Conveyor technician or belt splicer
Mine, process plant, stockyard, rail load-out and port conveyors
Indicative 2026 Australian mining band$120k–$180kAUD annual gross, generally before super- Typical work
- Inspect and maintain conveyor mechanical systems or complete belt preparation, splicing and repair within the worker’s particular trade and competence.
- Typical assets
- Belting, splices, pulleys, idlers, cleaners, skirts, take-ups, drives, structures and transfer points.
- Foundation
- Mechanical conveyor work and belt splicing are not identical pathways. PMB30121 can include conveyor-belt replacement and splicing streams; employers specify the trade and units required.
- Evidence to show
- Conveyor and belt type, inspection finding or scope, personal role, measurements or quality checks, cure or handback record where relevant, and verifier.
Lubrication technician
Mobile and fixed plant lubrication programs
Indicative 2026 Australian mining band$95k–$145kAUD annual gross, generally before super- Typical work
- Complete planned lubrication, sampling and contamination-control tasks, inspect delivery systems and escalate abnormal condition instead of treating lubrication as a simple top-up round.
- Typical assets
- Bearings, gearboxes, hydraulic systems, engines, final drives, automatic lubrication systems, storage and transfer equipment.
- Foundation
- Role-specific training and verified site competence. A mechanical trade can help but is not universally the entry requirement for dedicated lubrication roles.
- Evidence to show
- Asset and lubricant identification, task and sampling discipline, contamination controls, abnormal findings, records and escalation outcome.
Condition-monitoring technician
Reliability teams supporting fixed and mobile assets
Indicative 2026 Australian mining band$115k–$170kAUD annual gross, generally before super- Typical work
- Collect and interpret condition data, identify developing defects, communicate confidence and limitations, and turn findings into prioritised maintenance recommendations.
- Typical assets
- Rotating equipment, gearboxes, bearings, motors, structures, oils and components monitored through vibration, thermography, ultrasound or oil analysis.
- Foundation
- A mechanical, electrical or technical background plus method-specific training and mentored analysis. Collection, analysis and certification levels should be stated accurately.
- Evidence to show
- Technique and level, asset baseline, data quality, finding and confidence, recommendation, defect confirmation and maintenance feedback.
Tyre fitter or tyre technician
Open-pit fleets, tyre bays, workshops and field response
Indicative 2026 Australian mining band$110k–$165kAUD annual gross, generally before super- Typical work
- Inspect, remove, fit, repair and manage tyres, wheels and rim assemblies using equipment and controls appropriate to the vehicle and task.
- Typical assets
- Light vehicles, service trucks, loaders, graders, haul trucks and other earthmoving equipment with specialised tyre and rim systems.
- Foundation
- AUR21926 is the current Certificate II in Automotive Tyre Servicing Technology. Mine and equipment requirements sit on top of the qualification.
- Evidence to show
- Vehicle and assembly type, task personally completed, inspection finding, tooling and exclusion controls, service record and authorised sign-off.
Mill reliner
Grinding-mill shutdowns at mineral processing operations
Indicative 2026 Australian mining band$115k–$180kAnnualised; campaign utilisation varies- Typical work
- Work as part of a specialised crew removing and installing mill liners and supporting equipment inside a tightly controlled outage and confined work system.
- Typical assets
- SAG, ball and other grinding mills, liner systems, fasteners and mechanised relining equipment.
- Foundation
- This is a distinct specialist pathway. Nationally accredited mill-relining courses exist, including equipment-specific courses; employers define entry, supervision and competence requirements.
- Evidence to show
- Mill and liner context, crew role, equipment operated, training held, work completed, quality checks and direct supervisor—not a claim of full trade scope unless qualified.
Types of work
The same trade can produce six different careers.
- 01
Rostered maintenance
A continuing crew balances inspections, planned work, defects, breakdowns and equipment history over repeated cycles.
- 02
Shutdowns
A larger campaign workforce completes concentrated work while plant access and handback times are tightly controlled.
- 03
Projects & commissioning
Teams install or modify plant, complete quality records and support verification before operations accepts the asset.
- 04
Workshop & rebuild
Controlled strip, measurement, repair, assembly and testing create deep component knowledge away from the operating plant.
- 05
Field service
Technicians move between sites or equipment, combining product knowledge, diagnostics, reporting and customer communication.
- 06
Reliability
Specialists use condition and failure information to improve maintenance timing, tactics and repeat-defect control.
Images are original conceptual editorial visuals created for The FIFO Hub. They do not depict a named mine, employer or site procedure.
Qualifications and authority
Six foundations people often mix up.
Requirements vary by state, mine, employer, asset and task. Verify the current qualification, vacancy and regulator before paying for training.
MEM30219
Certificate III in Engineering – Mechanical Trade is a current national trade qualification with fitting, machining and fitting/machining specialisations.
MEM31419
Certificate III in Engineering – Fixed and Mobile Plant Mechanic covers trade work on mobile and stationary plant, including servicing, diagnosis and preventive maintenance.
AUR31220
Certificate III in Mobile Plant Technology reflects broad service and repair work on mobile plant machinery. Employers decide which trade pathways fit their fleet and role.
Role-specific training
Belt splicing, tyre servicing, mill relining, fluid power and condition monitoring have distinct qualifications, units or certification pathways. One is not a blanket substitute for another.
High-risk work classes
Dogging, rigging, forklifts, certain cranes and boom-type EWPs at or above the regulated threshold require the relevant licence. A fitter trade does not automatically include them.
Competence must be verified
Inductions, VOCs, appointments and equipment authorisations sit on top of qualifications. Requirements vary by state, mine, employer, task and risk profile.
Mechanical is a role family, not one universal ticket.
A fixed-plant fitter, mobile plant mechanic, belt splicer, tyre fitter and mill reliner can all work on a mine’s mechanical systems while holding different qualifications and authority. Site induction does not erase those boundaries.
Career map
Progression means wider judgement and accountability.
A strong tradesperson does not need to become a supervisor. Technical depth, work management, product support and engineering are equally credible branches.
- 01
Entry & apprenticeship
Build supervised practical evidence through a training contract, workshop, contractor, OEM or site-based pathway.
- 02
Trade delivery
Become dependable on a defined asset class, complete quality work and close out defects and records clearly.
- 03
Asset depth
Develop stronger diagnosis, measurement, failure awareness and equipment history across repeated maintenance cycles.
- 04
Specialisation or coordination
Move into hydraulics, condition monitoring, reliability, product support, planning, leading hand or another defensible stream.
- 05
Leadership or engineering
Take broader accountability for people, work management, technical governance, plant strategy, projects or operational performance.
Hydraulics · rotating equipment · condition monitoring · OEM support
Depth comes from repeatable diagnosis, accurate measurement, clear limits and feedback that improves the next maintenance decision.
Leading hand · planner · scheduler · execution coordinator
The focus expands from completing a task to making work executable, sequencing interfaces and returning useful information to the system.
Supervisor · reliability · engineer · superintendent
Progression adds people, risk, quality, technical governance, asset strategy, production interfaces and organisational accountability.
Beyond trade delivery
Mechanical leadership and technical roles.
These roles build on evidence of judgement, planning and communication. Time served or a job title alone does not establish competence.
Leading hand
Indicative 2026 Australian mining band$135k–$185kAUD annual gross, generally before superCoordinates the work front: task allocation, scope clarity, constraints, tooling, quality checks, apprentice support and communication with the supervisor.
Mechanical supervisor
Indicative 2026 Australian mining band$155k–$215kAUD annual gross, generally before superOversees mechanical work, labour, safety, schedule, quality and cross-discipline interfaces. The company title and any statutory appointment are separate matters.
WA statutory supervisor
Indicative 2026 Australian mining band$160k–$220kAUD annual gross, generally before superA Schedule 26 appointment can cover a processing plant, workshop or another nominated place. Current eligibility includes relevant experience, approved WHS risk training and a legislation examination.
Maintenance planner or scheduler
Indicative 2026 Australian mining band$115k–$165kAUD annual gross, generally before superTurns defects and strategies into executable work: scope, labour, duration, parts, tooling, access, drawings, dependencies and feedback into the work-management system.
Reliability specialist
Indicative 2026 Australian mining band$140k–$200kAUD annual gross, generally before superUses condition, defect and failure information to improve tactics, investigate repeat problems and support risk-based maintenance decisions.
Mechanical or plant engineer
Indicative 2026 Australian mining band$130k–$195kAUD annual gross, generally before superSupports design, technical assurance, plant changes, studies, projects and maintenance strategy within professional competence and organisational governance.
Superintendent or maintenance leader
Indicative 2026 Australian mining band$190k–$280kAUD annual gross, generally before superCarries wider accountability for people, risk, budget, contractors, work management and performance across multiple crews or asset areas.
Technical support or trainer
Indicative 2026 Australian mining band$125k–$185kAUD annual gross, generally before superBuilds equipment capability through troubleshooting support, procedures, coaching, practical assessment and consistent technical expectations.
WA distinction: A business may use “mechanical supervisor” as a position title. WA mining law separately requires statutory supervisors for nominated areas such as processing plants and workshops. Confirm whether a role carries that written appointment and its current eligibility requirements.
The evidence test
Make your mechanical experience verifiable.
Employers need more than a trade certificate and a list of sites. Show the environment, asset, fault or scope, what you personally did, the result and who observed the work.
Too vague
“Maintained heavy mining equipment and fixed plant.”
More useful“On a rostered ore-handling crew, inspected an assigned conveyor drive, recorded abnormal bearing condition, supported the planned change within my trade scope, completed mechanical checks and returned the findings and follow-up work to the supervisor.”
EvidenceShowAvoid
TradeQualification, specialisation, apprenticeship status and any relevant restrictionsUsing “mechanical” as if every pathway were interchangeable
EnvironmentFixed plant, mobile fleet, workshop, underground, field service, shutdown or projectsSaying only “mine-site fitter”
AssetMachine, component, system, make/model or duty you actually worked onListing the entire site fleet
TaskInspected, diagnosed, measured, removed, rebuilt, aligned, fitted, tested or closed outCopying a generic position description
BoundaryWhat you owned, assisted with, were licensed to perform and who accepted the workImplying rigging, analysis or trade authority you did not hold
ResultMeasurement, test, return to service, defect raised, follow-up action or handoverInvented savings or unsupported reliability claims
RefereeA supervisor, planner or technical lead who directly observed the workA senior contact who cannot verify your capability
Important boundaries
Six shortcuts that do not hold up.
“I am a fitter, so I can dog or rig the lift.”
Mechanical trade competence and high-risk work licensing are separate. The task, licence class, lift plan, site system and assigned role must all line up.
“Diesel fitting and fixed plant are interchangeable.”
They share mechanical principles, but the assets, fault patterns, work controls and evidence differ. Translate the overlap honestly and identify the gaps.
“A short course makes me a specialist.”
Training can start a pathway. Specialist credibility comes from supervised application, accurate analysis, clear limits and verified outcomes.
“An induction means I am site ready.”
Induction can support mobilisation. It does not replace the trade, role evidence, medical, licences, VOCs, equipment competence or a vacancy.
“Breakdown experience proves maintenance depth.”
Breakdown response matters. Rostered roles also value inspections, planned work, defect follow-up, equipment history, reporting and repeat-failure control.
“A trades assistant role makes me a fitter.”
A good TA can build valuable exposure and references. Trade status comes through the recognised apprenticeship, qualification or formal recognition pathway.
Official sources
Check the qualification, licence and mine.
Source-checked 27 August 2026. Qualifications and requirements can change.
01↗02↗03↗04↗05↗06↗07↗08↗09↗10↗11↗
Training.gov.au — MEM30219
Current Certificate III in Engineering – Mechanical Trade and its fitting-related specialisations.
Training.gov.au — MEM31419
Current Certificate III in Engineering – Fixed and Mobile Plant Mechanic.
Training.gov.au — AUR31220
Current Certificate III in Mobile Plant Technology.
Training.gov.au — PMB30121
Current Certificate III in Polymer Processing, including conveyor-belt replacement and splicing streams.
Training.gov.au — AUR21926
Current Certificate II in Automotive Tyre Servicing Technology.
Training.gov.au — 11406NAT
Nationally accredited Course in Operate a Mill Reline Machine.
Safe Work Australia — High-risk work licences
National overview of the work classes that require high-risk work licensing.
WorkSafe WA — Mining statutory positions
Current WA eligibility for statutory supervisors and other Schedule 26 appointments.
Jobs and Skills Australia — Fitter (General)
National occupation profile for the core fitting trade pathway.
Jobs and Skills Australia — Diesel Motor Mechanic
National occupation overview for diesel engine and heavy-vehicle mechanical work.
Jobs and Skills Australia — Mechanical Engineer
National occupation overview covering mechanical systems, operation, maintenance and installation.
Independent career guidance: The FIFO Hub is not a mine operator, regulator or registered training organisation. Confirm qualifications, licences, appointments, inductions, VOCs and task requirements with the relevant authority and employer.