5 Jobs You Need to Check Out If You Love Tech, But Hate Coding

We often think that tech-heavy careers are only for people who get excited about complicated Excel macros, or whatever Javascript is (don’t tell me). But you can get around some of Australia’s most cutting-edge tech without a degree in computer science. Here are some great jobs with even better salaries that let you use some really cool tech:

1. Remote Systems Technician

Have you ever dreamed about getting behind the wheel of one of Australia’s largest vehicles? How about several of them at the same time? While autonomously driving cars are pretty rare on our roads, ‘self-driving’ trucks have become a mainstay in some of Australia’s biggest mining and resources projects. There are even mines in West Africa which are considered to be fully autonomous, operating 24 hours a day using remote operations centres.

As a remote systems technician, you’d be expected to monitor the performance of one or more automated machines, often operating thousands of kilometres away. Instead of working shifts as a fly-in-fly-out (FIFO) or a drive-in-drive-out (DIDO) worker, you could be working from a head office in a big city. These are some pretty advanced machines, but you don’t need a uni degree to get started.

2. Virtual / Augmented Reality Developer

You know that cool video game effect where your character sees overlays and data about objectives or hazards as you walk about the futuristic streets? Well, the dream is quickly becoming a reality at mining and resources sites all over the world.

Virtual reality (VR) usually refers to fully-designed 3D environments that you’d explore with a fully immersive set-up like an Oculus. It’s often used in mining and resources to create risk-free training environments and simulations, meaning teams can practise their skills before they get their hands on real equipment or materials. You could even have haptic controllers so that team members can feel like they’re physically holding things and interact with the environment in a meaningful way. If you’re interested in becoming a VR developer you might pursue qualifications in areas such as 3D rendering or even game design to make the training more engaging.

Augmented reality (AR) overlays graphics and 3D objects on top of the real environment using tech similar to Google Glass, where you’re still walking through real space. While this tech is still quite experimental, the mining and resources sector is looking to use it to identify things like hazards or machinery faults in real time. Imagine if you needed to repair a piece of equipment, and you could pull up the operation manual to get a step-by-step guide on how to resolve the problem.

3. Drone Operator

From all the vids on the internet you might think drones are only good for Red Bull races and your uncle who’s really into cinematography these days, but drones have some pretty cool commercial uses as well.

Drones are typically used in mining and resources to create huge, super-accurate 3D scans of a site. This allows them to check up on different aspects of the mine, including measuring stockpiles, flagging potential safety issues like road conditions, and assessing areas planned for drilling or blasting. The best part is that it’s super-fast, and super-safe. If you’re interested in becoming a drone operator, you’ll usually be working with drones way bigger than you’d see out at the park, so you need a special licence to operate them.

4. Mine and Site Design

Mines are way more complicated than just digging a big hole in the ground. There are loads of factors you need to take into account when you’re designing the layout of a site. You need to think about what kinds of resources you’re extracting, and how you are going to retrieve them in a safe and efficient way, while making sure you’re in line with the legal requirements for the site as well.

The biggest mine in Australia is the Fimiston open pit mine, which spans 3.5km by 1.5 kilometres on the surface, and reaches around 700m deep!

In the past, these mines were designed using traditional drafting techniques, but these days it’s possible to create amazing composite 3D images. As a site designer, you’ll be using GPS data, satellite imagery and computer-aided design (CAD) tools to build layouts and schematics that’ll be used by engineers, construction teams and maintenance crews across the life-cycle of the mine.

5. Extraction, construction and robotics operators

While there are also some pretty cutting-edge professions on this list, there are still loads of career options for people who prefer to avoid desk jobs and want to get their hands dirty as well. Working on-site as a mechanic, electrician or engineer means you’ll be interacting with some of Australia’s largest, most powerful and most advanced vehicles and equipment.

You could be in the driver’s seat of a 500-tonne Hitachi dump truck, or work with unique machines as a mobile plant operator. There are also professions like HVAC operators who use complex systems to make sure that the mine stays free of toxic gases that build up during activity, removes moisture and keeps the site cooler and more comfortable.

If you’re keen to find out more about what a career in mining could offer you, make sure you check out our Academy Resourcefulness. It’s full of super-helpful info all about the mining and resources sector, including what qualifications you’ll need, different kinds of jobs and what the future holds. Take a look over here!

6. Caring for others and Community Development

There are plenty of jobs in the mining and resources sector for people who care about people, and they’re using the latest technology and systems to do it. Mining and resources sites need cooks, housekeepers, friendly staff to manage caring for people on site, administration, and travel and people to look after the communities where the companies operate including Aboriginal communities.

Mining and resources companies have obligations to develop the communities they work in and to make sure they engage with and benefit the Aboriginal Traditional Owners on the land they work on. You can work with in the mining and resources sector to help regional and remote communities and Aboriginal people to make change for the better and change lives.

This involves a lot of communication - which means using things like direct e-mail, video recording and editing software and even podcast production to get the message out there. What a way to make a living by communicating with and making a difference in someone else’s life?

7. Save the world

The mining and resources sector is at the forefront of the climate change movement. They are the biggest users of renewable energy so it’s in their interest to advance technology and initiatives in this area.

As we all now, they also cop a lot of flak so they work hard these days to improve their image. We also need them to mine for the resources that we need to build renewable energy sources and infrastructure.

If we’re going to change the world, let alone save it, we need the mining and resources sector to do it. There are opportunities for people who care about climate change and saving the world right across the mining and resources sector and with all the funding and money and the best of the best equipment in terms of tech and programmes to work with – this is where the change will happen. Get involved and be the change you want to see.

Check out the Australian Minerals and Energy Skills Alliance website today