Drilling Operations Manager

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 our first Drilling Operations Manager who will lead field operations and help us stand up a world-class drilling services program.

The system is defined as much by how it operates as how it is built. Mechanics, sensing, and software converge at the drill pad, where performance is proven under real conditions and refined through rapid iteration. Progress depends on tight feedback loops between field behavior and system evolution, driven by high-quality data and disciplined observation. This work sits within continuous operations where safety, reliability, and client expectations are non-negotiable. This role operates at that boundary, where clear signal from the field and consistent execution determine how quickly the platform advances.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

• Lead end-to-end field execution on a novel diamond drilling platform, establishing reliable operating procedures under real-world conditions
• Translate conventional drilling knowledge into adapted methods, troubleshooting and refining performance on unfamiliar systems
• Enforce strict safety systems across all crews, ensuring consistent compliance, incident prevention, and continuous improvement
• Direct and coordinate multiple field teams, setting expectations, managing performance, and maintaining operational discipline
• Serve as the primary communication bridge between field operations, external clients, and internal safety, technical, and executive leadership
• Build and maintain structured reporting and a metrics-driven framework capturing activity, safety, productivity, and equipment reliability, converting data into clear actions that improve outcomes
• Identify inefficiencies and failure points in real time, implementing corrective actions that improve throughput, safety, and cost performance
• Operate with full ownership in the field, making independent decisions while maintaining continuous, high-quality communication across all levels of the organization
• Maintain operational visibility across 24/7 drilling activities, including time-sensitive communication outside standard hours when field conditions, safety matters, client needs, or equipment issues require immediate attention
• Support deployment planning, logistics coordination, and rapid mobilization across varied project locations
• Contribute to the evolution of the platform by feeding field learnings into engineering, product, and operational strategy

WHO YOU ARE

• Deep, hands-on expertise in drilling operations with a proven ability to operate, troubleshoot, and optimize in the field
• Demonstrated track record of leading crews in demanding environments with clear authority, accountability, and results
• Strong safety leader with embedded knowledge of field risk management, compliance systems, and incident prevention practices
• Highly effective communicator capable of engaging field personnel, clients, and senior leadership with clarity and precision
• Self-directed operator who takes ownership in ambiguous situations without reliance on step-by-step instruction while keeping stakeholders consistently informed
• Disciplined with strong reporting habits and the ability to structure, analyze, and communicate operational data and performance trends
• Proven ability to apply first-principles thinking to adapt and solve unfamiliar problems
• Comfortable operating across both field and office contexts with consistent execution standards
• Data-metrics-oriented mindset with experience tracking metrics and driving continuous improvement
• Willing and able to travel frequently and on short notice, with a base in the western United States near a major airport

HOW WE WORK

This is the part of the job description most worth your time. If the way we work doesn't sound like the environment you want, this isn't the right role for you.

• Responsible Engineer. Every subsystem has one owner, regardless of seniority. If it's yours, you own it from requirements through field performance. There is nowhere to hide, and no one to pass the buck to.
• Field-first. Heavy equipment does not prove itself in CAD. We test on drill pads, iterate in hours, and expect engineers to spend real time with the operators who run our systems.
• Two continents, one team. El Segundo and our South African office hand off overnight. This demands disciplined written communication: clear specs, decisions written down, assumptions surfaced. Verbal-only decisions don't survive the handoff.
• 24/7. Drilling doesn't stop. Neither does engineering. On-call rotations and occasional field response come with the territory.
• Made in America. We buy American-made where we can. We are building the industrial base this country forgot it needed, and our supply chain reflects that commitment.
• Uncompromising safety. No hole, no deadline, no customer is worth getting someone hurt. If you see something unsafe, you have the obligation to stop the operation, no matter who is watching.