Energy & Electrical Power Systems Lead

Job Description

The mining industry has steadily become worse at finding new ore deposits, requiring >10X more capital to make discoveries compared to 30 years ago. The easy-to-find, near-surface deposits have largely been found, and the industry has chronically under-invested in new exploration technology, relying on the manual techniques of yesteryear - even as demand accelerates for copper, lithium, and other metals to build electric vehicles, renewable energy, and data centers.

KoBold builds AI models for mineral exploration and deploys those models-alongside our novel sensors-to guide decisions on KoBold-owned-and-operated exploration programs. In the six years since founding, KoBold has become by far both the largest independent mineral exploration company and the largest exploration technology developer. Our data scientists and software engineers, who come from leading technology companies, jointly lead exploration programs with our renowned exploration geologists.

KoBold has proven its first discovery with materially less capital than the industry average and found one of the best copper deposits ever discovered: the copper is far more concentrated than the global average of copper mines, and this asset alone is expected to generate meaningful revenue for decades. KoBold has a portfolio of more than 60 other projects, each of which has the potential for another high-quality discovery.

KoBold is privately held; investors include institutional asset managers T. Rowe Rice and Canada Pension Plan Investments; technology venture capitalists Andreessen Horowitz, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, BOND Capital, and Standard Investments; and natural resources companies Equinor, BHP, and Mitsubishi.

About the role

This role will oversee all electrical engineering, energy systems, and power-infrastructure requirements for the Mingomba Project and provide technical oversight to other KoBold projects within the Africa portfolio. It is a senior technical position responsible for the design, installation, commissioning, and reliability of all electrical and energy systems required for shaft-sinking operations, while also advising on power strategy, renewable integration, underground distribution, site electrification, and safety compliance across multiple sites.

The role will work closely with EPCM partners, contractors, suppliers, and KoBold's multidisciplinary teams to ensure electrical systems are safe, efficient, compliant, and aligned with KoBold's long-term operational strategy.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of electrical load assessments from concept design through detailed design and into operations.
• Forecast short, medium, and long term electrical demand based on project scope, phasing, and operational scenarios.
• Validate and update load models as designs evolve and construction progresses.
• Develop and own the project's power supply strategy (temporary and permanent).
• Evaluate options for grid connection, distributed generation, backup power, and resilience/redundancy.
• Interface with utilities, network operators, and regulators to secure and manage power connections, upgrades, and approvals.
• Ensure power supply strategy aligns with cost, schedule, carbon, and reliability targets.
• Provide subject matter expertise and technical leadership for all electrical systems (e.g., MV/LV distribution, transformers, switchgear, protection, UPS, earthing, lighting, building power, process loads, renewables, and any other relevant technical details).
• Review and approve electrical designs, specifications, calculations, and drawings from internal teams and external consultants/vendors.
• Ensure designs comply with applicable codes, standards, and company requirements.
• Support HAZOPs, HAZIDs, design reviews, and risk assessments focused on electrical and energy aspects.
• Ensure compliance with electrical safety regulations, standards, and internal procedures.
• Coordinate electrical engineering inputs across civil, structural, mechanical, process, controls, IT, and architectural disciplines.
• Work closely with construction and commissioning teams to ensure constructability, safe commissioning, and smooth handover to operations.
• Support integration of electrical systems with control systems, monitoring, metering, and energy management platforms.
• Support development of energy efficiency and decarbonisation strategies (e.g., demand reduction, load management, renewables, storage, electrification).
• Define and track key electrical and energy performance indicators (e.g., demand, consumption, power quality, losses).
• Provide input into sustainability certifications, ESG reporting, and regulatory submissions as required.
• Manage relationships with utilities, equipment suppliers, engineering consultants, and contractors.
• Contribute to technical sections of RFPs, vendor evaluations, and contract negotiations for electrical equipment and services.
• Provide clear technical requirements and acceptance criteria for electrical systems and components

Qualifications

• Intellectual curiosity and eagerness to learn about all aspects of mineral exploration.
• Excitement about joining a fast-growing early-stage company, comfort with a dynamic work environment, and eagerness to take on an evolving range of responsibilities.
• Keen not just to build cool technology, but to figure out what technical product to build to best achieve the business objectives of the company.
• 10+ years experience in power sourcing and trading, industrial engineering systems, and mining electrical systems,Commercial and Technical diligence on Power infrastructure, from planning, contracting and execution
• Proven track record leading Electrical Transmission and Distribution projects in mining or heavy industrial environments.
• Solid Good understanding of electrical safety, hazardous areas, protection systems, and regulatory compliance.
• Experience coordinating contractors, EPCMs, OEMs, and multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Advantageous: Experience in with hoist/winder electrical systems, underground reticulation, and electrical commissioning.
• Advantageous: Knowledge of modern Mine electrification innovations and BEV technologies

KoBold Metals is an equal opportunity workplace and an affirmative-action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunities for people of any race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, age, citizenship, disability, or veteran status.

This position is a contract position.

Location: Flexi, Zambia. All candidates must be legally authorized to work in Zambia.