About the Company

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 Position

In the role of Manager, Drilling & Field Operations  you will oversee the planning and execution of our field activities including drilling and remote exploration activities (reconnaissance, soil sampling, geophysical surveys, remote camp set up, road and pad construction) to meet our business objectives without causing harm to our people, our contractors and partners, or the communities and environments where we operate. You will report to the VP of Field Operations, and also work closely with, the Zambia Director of Exploration, geology teams, the leaders for our field programs, and other members of the operations team. Your primary responsibility will be to serve as the leader of drilling and field operations for 2-4 unique operating areas and multiple projects per year.

Responsibilities

For 2-4 unique areas, , the Field Operations Manager will be accountable for

• Operations Control Center: Maintain daily contact with and monitor the status of KoBold personnel and contractors while in the field. Ensure field ops and drilling leads maintain close communication with the Project Geologist, Project Data Scientist, and the Senior Project Planner
• Reporting: Working closely with the Zambia Manager of HSE, execute and maintain KoBold’s system for tracking health & safety incidents and provide periodic reporting
• Compliance: Understand applicable local laws and regulations and the practices of our joint venture partners and ensure that we follow them in all our operations
• Field Service Contractors: Identify, evaluate, contract with, and manage  contractors and vendors for a wide range of field operations, from camp construction to helicopter transport to emergency medical services
• Logistics: Arrange for the shipment of equipment and material to and from KoBold’s project sites
• Local Management: Deploy to remote project locations as required to implement and manage programs
• Process Improvement: Creating ways of working that allow us to continue to work more effectively and to be nimble so that we can support machine-learning-driven dynamic field programs, where we adapt our plan based on the data we collect at each stage
• Stakeholder Engagement: With leadership direction and support, help represent KoBold Metals with local stakeholders

Qualifications

You must have:

• At least 15 years of experience supervising drilling operations and field operations in mineral exploration & mining, oil & gas or a related industry with a minimum of 5 of those years in a leadership capacity
• Demonstrated commitment to and familiarity with developing and implementing high standards of health & safety in the workplace
• The ability to problem-solve in remote environments
• The ability to work in remote and isolated locations for extended periods of time
• Must speak, read, and write in English; French is an asset 
• A high degree of independence and the ability to work effectively with limited supervision
• Familiarity with Project Management principles and managing projects remotely
• Strong project management skills, strategic planning, and multi-disciplinary management  and oversight
• Enjoyment in working with people in a wide variety of disciplines and different parts of the world
• Strong communication skills and a passion for cross functional engagement and collaboration
• Interest in contributing broadly to the success of the company and eager to pitch in where needed
• Valid First Aid Certification (Level 3 or Wilderness First Aid is preferred)

It is helpful but not required to have:

• Run programs in different countries and/or remote environments
• Worked in a small company or as a member of a very small team with a broad mandate working in a fast paced project environment. 
• Project Management Professional (PMP) designation, CRSP designation, Red Seal designation (electrical, carpentry, plumbing), trained or experienced in operating heavy equipment.
• Mechanical or civil engineering degree

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

This position is full-time, exempt.

The US base salary range for this full-time exempt position is $90,000-$130,000.

Location: Chililabombwe,  Zambia.  At this time, we are only accepting applications from Zambian nationals.

ABOUT SAND

Sand Technologies is a global Physical AI company using data and AI to make critical industries work better. We partner with governments, cities and enterprises to improve how essential systems operate across healthcare, water, energy, telecommunications and infrastructure.

Our work delivers proven real-world impact. We have built AI systems that help manage London’s water supply, supported telecom network planning across hundreds of cities, and developed digital healthcare platforms serving tens of millions of people across Africa. From intelligent command centers to AI-powered infrastructure platforms, we help organizations sense, analyze and act in complex environments.

Our people are ambitious, curious and relentlessly practical. Our teams work alongside clients in the field, solving hard problems and deploying solutions that last. With colleagues across Africa, Europe, the UK and the US, we operate across the full stack - from research and engineering to deployment and capability building.

Our mission is simple: to harness AI to solve humanity’s most pressing challenges.

ABOUT THE ROLE

Sand is expanding across Africa and beyond, partnering with governments and public sector officials to deliver transformative AI and data solutions. We have deployed our flagship platform - the Health Operating System (HOS) - in more than 5 countries already. 

In Rwanda, hundreds of clinics have already been digitized, transforming rural facilities into next-generation health centers that are redefining care in Africa. Sand’s groundbreaking HOS integrates data and services to drive better outcomes - from maternal health to chronic disease management - already reaching more than 1 million patients. Designed for digital empowerment, the HOS equips thousands of frontline health workers with the tools and support they need to magnify their impact and strengthen community health.

The HOS is already operational across multiple countries, with plans to expand to 16 countries by the end of 2026, led by our Country Directors. 

This is not an idea — it’s already happening, and the momentum is accelerating. But healthcare is only one example; Sand is growing in various industries, namely water, energy, and telecommunications.

As a Solution Manager you will work closely with the Ministry of Health (MoH) and our health system clients. You will be the strategic and operational anchor for all in-country activities—from managing the intelligence center launch to driving partnerships with Ministries of Health. You’ll wear two hats: country representative and solutions champion. 

Our ideal candidate for this role is customer-obsessed, deeply curious, and adaptable in a dynamic environment. We’re looking for someone who will help define and scale our healthcare solutions as we continue to grow and expand. 

RESPONSIBILITIES 

•  Own & drive the product backlog, and manage the configuration, testing, and rollout of products and solutions at rural health Facilities and Intelligence Centers & 

• Act as the HOS’s first user advocate, capturing feedback and identifying gaps in usability, workflow integration, and performance. This will involve going into the field to understand users across the spectrum; from Community Health Workers to Ministers of Health. 
• Lead user training and change management efforts—ensuring frontline health workers and supervisors can effectively adopt and use digital tools. 
• Actively troubleshoot and triage issues, working closely with the central product and engineering teams to prioritize fixes and feature improvements. 
• Collaborate cross-functionally to support data quality improvement, ensure consistent reporting, and enable value-based decision-making at all levels of the health system. 
• Contribute to product documentation, internal playbooks, and user-facing materials to ensure knowledge is codified and shared. 
• Support value use case development by linking product features with impact metrics, surfacing what’s working and where the next opportunity lies. This will require being able to quickly identify value delivery opportunities and execute on them independently and in collaboration with the rest of the team. 

REQUIREMENTS

•  5+ years of experience in health IT, EMR systems, or digital health delivery—ideally in low-resource settings. 

• Strong experience in product or implementation roles where you've supported tool deployment, end-user onboarding, or process rollout. 
• Familiarity with platforms such as DHIS2, OpenMRS, CommCare, or similar. ● Demonstrated ability to synthesize user feedback into actionable product insights. 
• Clear, empathetic facilitation and training skills—you can turn confusion into confidence. 
• Ability to work comfortably in rural or under-resourced environments and maintain tight feedback loops with distributed teams. 
• Must be based in Zambia.

Work Environment 

This is a hybrid role with significant in-person requirements. While some responsibilities can be performed remotely, the role demands regular presence on the ground to build relationships, oversee implementation, and liaise with local stakeholders. At the same time, given the high degree of virtual collaboration with colleagues and partners across multiple geographies, the successful candidate must be highly self-driven, comfortable working in small in-person teams while contributing to larger efforts virtually, and disciplined in using online collaboration tools and video conferencing to maintain constant communication.

About Sand

Sand Technologies is a global Physical AI company using data and AI to make critical industries work better. We partner with governments, cities and enterprises to improve how essential systems operate across healthcare, water, energy, telecommunications and infrastructure.

Our work delivers proven real-world impact. We have built AI systems that help manage London’s water supply, supported telecom network planning across hundreds of cities, and developed digital healthcare platforms serving tens of millions of people across Africa. From intelligent command centers to AI-powered infrastructure platforms, we help organizations sense, analyze and act in complex environments.

Our people are ambitious, curious and relentlessly practical. Our teams work alongside clients in the field, solving hard problems and deploying solutions that last. With colleagues across Africa, Europe, the UK and the US, we operate across the full stack - from research and engineering to deployment and capability building.

Our mission is simple: to harness AI to solve humanity’s most pressing challenges.

About the role

Sand is scaling rapidly across Africa, partnering with Ministries of Health to deploy the Health Operating System (HOS) — a decision-support and execution platform that transforms how health systems sense, analyze, and act on data. The HOS is already operational across multiple countries, with plans to expand to 15 countries by end of 2026, supported by 80+ Forward Deployed Engineers.

As a Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE), you are the technical spearhead of our client engagement in Zambia. Unlike our roaming FDE roles, this is a permanently embedded position. You will be based full-time within the Ministry of Health in Zambia, becoming a long-term extension of the client's operational team. Your mandate is to build deep institutional relationships, develop comprehensive understanding of the national health system, and deliver sustained value over an extended engagement — not just rapid sprints, but lasting transformation.

This is not staff augmentation. You are an amalgamation of three roles:

1. The Software Engineer — Deep technical acumen to build and deploy production-grade solutions using Sand's product suite
2. The Product Manager — Strategic foresight to understand client problems, influence business objectives, and identify expansion opportunities
3. The Consultant — Client-facing finesse to navigate complex stakeholder relationships, manage scope, and transfer knowledge

Your primary mission is to prove our value fast, delivering functional solutions rapidly using Sand's products, playbooks, and tools, and then maturing those solutions into mission-critical infrastructure that the Ministry depends on daily. Over time, you become the institutional memory of the deployment — the person who understands the data landscape, the stakeholder dynamics, and the operational realities better than anyone.

Who We're Looking For

The Forward Deployed Engineer is a highly ambitious individual. You are someone who is deeply keen on learning — someone who dives in headfirst to solve some of the hardest, most complex problems in global health. You thrive on understanding the technology, understanding the stakeholders, understanding our product suite, and weaving all three together to deliver solutions that change how health systems operate.

This role is not for someone looking for comfort or routine. It is for someone who wants to step outside of their comfort zone, build something they can be proud of, and grow faster than they thought possible. The FDE programme is a career accelerator — an intensive rotation that exposes you to technical depth, strategic thinking, and client leadership in equal measure, all while working on problems that matter for millions of people.

For this permanently embedded role, you also need the maturity and resilience to sustain deep client relationships over months and years — not just weeks. You will become the face of Sand in Malawi, and that requires patience, cultural fluency, and the ability to navigate institutional complexity while maintaining momentum.

Key Responsibilities

Serve as Sand's Permanent Technical Presence in Zambia

• Embed full-time within the Ministry of Health, becoming a trusted member of the client's extended team
• Develop deep, longitudinal understanding of the national health data landscape, institutional dynamics, and operational priorities
• Build and maintain relationships across all levels of the Ministry — from frontline data officers to senior leadership
• Act as the primary technical point of contact for all Sand activities in-country, coordinating with launchers, country directors, and visiting FDE teams

Drive On-Site Value Delivery

• Rapidly unlock, explore, and integrate client data sources (e.g., DHIS2, SCADA systems, network management platforms, operational databases)
• Understand client problems through prototyping and rapid value delivery — deploying POCs and MVPs using Sand's product components and playbooks
• Transition initial solutions into hardened, production-grade systems that the Ministry relies on daily
• Own the long-term health of deployed solutions — monitoring adoption, troubleshooting issues, and iterating based on user feedback
• Deliver and track value generated through deployment of Sand products

Enable Product-Led Growth

• Lead with Sand's existing product suite — know the products by heart and where each solution is most effective for the domain you're deployed in
• Document learnings, client challenges, and successful solutions as reusable patterns for the broader FDE community
• Drive discovery and expansion by uncovering new opportunities on the ground

Build Local Capacity and Sustainability

• Work alongside Ministry teams to co-create solutions and progressively transfer knowledge, ensuring they can operate and maintain systems independently
• Identify, recruit, and mentor local data engineers, scientists, and analysts to build sustainable in-country capacity
• Develop training materials and documentation tailored to the local context, language, and skill level
• Be the continuity that ensures handover isn't a cliff — you bridge the gap between Sand's deployment and the Ministry's long-term ownership

Feed the Platform Feedback Loop

• Channel field learnings back to improve the core product through structured mechanisms (Technical Deep Dives, Solution Swarms, pattern documentation)
• Turn "gravel roads" into "paved superhighways" — document solution patterns so the next FDE can move faster
• Contribute field feedback that influences 30% of the product roadmap

Requirements — Essential

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, or related technical field
• 5+ years of experience in software engineering, data engineering, data science, system deployment, or technical leadership
• Proficiency in at least one of: Python, SQL/PostgreSQL, JavaScript — with ability to write production-grade code
• Strong problem-solving skills with a bias toward action and rapid prototyping
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills — comfortable presenting to senior government or corporate stakeholders and translating between technical and non-technical audiences
• Experience working with or deploying to government, public sector, or large institutional clients
• Proven ability to lead local technical teams and build capacity
• Willingness to relocate and be permanently based in Zambia for the duration of the engagement (12-24+ months)
• Language: Local language proficiency is a significant advantage

Requirements — Preferred

• Experience with data integration, ETL pipelines, and working with diverse data sources
• Experience in one or more of Sand's focus domains: health informatics/digital health, water utility operations, telecommunications network operations, or energy systems
• Familiarity with domain-specific platforms (e.g., DHIS2, OpenMRS for health; SCADA, GIS for water/energy; OSS/BSS for telecom)
• Experience with BI and dashboarding tools, particularly Apache Superset
• Experience with data transformation tools such as dbt or Airflow
• Comfort working with data dictionaries, reporting requirements, and identifying common data quality issues
• Knowledge of data security, privacy, and interoperability standards (e.g., FHIR for healthcare, GDPR, local data sovereignty requirements)
• Experience operating in resource-constrained environments (unreliable power, limited connectivity)

Work Environment

This is a permanently embedded role. You will work on-site at the Ministry of Health in Zambia 4 days per week, with 1 day for focused remote work, internal collaboration, and knowledge sharing with the broader FDE community. You should expect to be based in Zambia for a minimum of 12-24 months.

You must be self-driven, comfortable operating as Sand's primary technical representative in-country, and disciplined with online collaboration tools to stay connected with the broader Sand team across geographies. Cultural sensitivity, adaptability, and genuine interest in the local context are essential — you are not passing through, you are putting down roots.

About the company: 

KoBold Metals is a mineral exploration company looking to discover ore deposits with the metals needed for clean energy and electrification: copper, cobalt, nickel, and lithium. We are building an outstanding exploration team and project portfolio in Zambia, both on 100%-owned projects and partnerships with other exploration and mining companies.  Our global team includes the best of the industry in exploration geoscience, data science, software engineering, and business personnel. 

Mingomba Mining Ltd is managed and operated by KoBold Metals in partnership with EMR Capital and ZCCM-IH.  The company is building a rapidly growing team of Zambian geologists, engineers, operators, and executives to identify, acquire, explore, and develop exploration opportunities and mineral resources drawing upon KoBold’s technology and the expertise of colleagues worldwide.

We are seeking to hire Drilling Supervisors and Engineers to help accelerate our mission.  We are committed to equal employment opportunities for all people.

About the position

In the role of Drilling Supervisor, you will be responsible for overseeing exploration drilling operations at project sites. You will work closely with our Field Drilling Manager to manage drilling operations, and ultimately manage drilling in their absence.  You will conduct exploration drilling without causing harm to our people, our contractors and partners, or the communities and environments where we operate. The role will also require responsibility in financial, commercial and technical operations involved in drilling

Work Location: Zambian Copperbelt 

 Ideal Candidate Must have:

1.  Demonstrable exceptional abilities in Health, Safety, Environment & Quality management on a drill operation
2.  Good understanding of different mineral exploration drilling methods and equipment and maintenance principles and oversee the drilling process to ensure its safety and efficiency. 
3. Good drill contract management experience - ability to assess commercial and technical proposals and performance of drill contractors and manage drill contract relationships
4. Solid Technical background in drilling.

Job Duties General:

1. Standardize Kobold Metals Zambia drilling practice, equipment and record keeping.
2. Lead and manage across departments through collaboration
3. Partner with geological personnel to develop and execute drill programs safely and effectively 
4. Liaise with Kobold Metals Zambia Contracts, Environmental and Safety stakeholders to coordinate contracts and tenders.
5. Promote and participate in the application of new technologies (tools, equipment, and fluids).
6.  Identify and maintain operational cost reductions and/or productivity improvements to safely and effectively achieve drilling targets.

Job Description 

Drill Contract Management

•  Collaborate with Exploration, Development and Contracts teams to uphold the drill tender process for planned programs. 
• Manage contract renewal or termination processes including negotiation drill contract terms and conditions
• The scope of work shall include technical and equipment specification requirements, (identifying appropriate contractors).
• Ensure contractor compliance with KoBold Metals’ Group Safety Policies and other related policies
•  Partner with Kobold Metals Zambia representatives and contract administrators to review the Contractor Safety Assessment Checklist prior to awarding Drilling Services contracts.
• Establish protocol, instilling the importance of regular liaison between drilling supervision, management, contracts, and contractor representatives for the timely completion of contracts before commencing any drilling activity.
•  Drive the process for conducting preliminary start-up safety inspections (post contract award) of all drilling and support equipment, providing accurate and regular reports to ensure rigs and equipment arrive as scheduled and are Standard-compliant.
•  Lead and advise the Commercial teams in engaging industry for exploration drilling services ensuring screening for industry recognized and accredited drilling companies with the highest safety standards. 
• Validate and approve drilling invoices before submission to finance

Production & Project Management Monitoring

• Daily presence and oversight on all active drill sites
• Develop and support daily logistics plan for core and sample movement
• Hold Monthly Management meetings with contractors. 
• Utilize the KoBold Drilling Technology system dashboard and ensure Contractor compliance to reporting accurate drilling data. 
• Provide expert drilling advice to Drill Contractors in a collaborative manner
• Conduct regular technical discussions with regional drill managers and project managers to effectively identify and quickly resolve problems.
•  Generate Daily, Weekly and Monthly reports for management team and provide management updates on the performance of the drill program

• Reports shall include individual rig information (Rig Performance Availability & Reliability statistics); 

• Identify and report on potential technical modifications at drilling operations that would improve production and/or reduce cost. 

Technical Skills & Competence 

• Good Understanding of drilling systems on drill equipment and technical specifications and applicability in exploration 
• Demonstrated track record of pre-empting and solving drilling problems
• Costing and scheduling drilling operations.
• Ability conduct technical post-drilling programs for technical studies - eg. geotechnical and hydrological testing post hole completion
• Analyze and design drilling plans according to data and rate of production.
• Designing directional paths
• Identify opportunities to improve cost efficiency (e.g., minimizing downtime)
• Good understanding of auxiliary equipment, spares and consumables required for coordination with material suppliers and contractors.
• Adhere  to relevant government rules and guidelines for drilling procedures.
• Take care to preserve natural environment
• Keep informed about the latest engineering techniques and software
• Risk management of drill program
• Major Emergency Management (MEM)

Leadership

• Support Drilling Manager and supervising KoBold staff on rigs.
• Drive a culture of training and development
• Plan off site training annually for drilling personnel - entry level, advanced, and expert.
• Be eager to self-develop
• Manage teams across cultures (local and international)
• Supervising drilling and solving technical problems.
• Enforcing safety and disaster recovery procedures.
• Manage drill contractors as business partners by:
• Clearly communicating KoBold approach and procedures
• Monitor progress and provide adjustments for optimal drilling
• Solve engineering problems that arise during drilling
• Ensure safe operations

 Qualifications:

• An accredited engineering degree, diploma or certificate is necessary - Mechanical/Mining related degree or courses.
• More than 8+ years fieldwork experience in mining & exploration drilling projects in particular
• Added advantage of master level in civil engineering, mechanical engineering or mineral/mining engineering, geology and earth sciences is also beneficial 
• Experience as Drilling Supervisor or Drilling Section Leader 
• Rigging certification - added advantage
• Valid Driver’s license
• Registration with Engineering Institute of Zambia (Engineer, Technician, Craftsperson) or relevant international body

Desirable Attributes: 

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, as well as the ability to build and maintain relationships with a range of people
• Have a heart to develop talent
• a good technical understanding of the scientific principles of disciplines such as geology, physics, math and chemistry
• a high level of numeracy and IT skills
• the analytical ability to think through potentially complex problems and develop solutions
• Initiative and drive, willingness to learn
• teamwork skills and the ability to cooperate with others
• sensitivity to different cultures and ways of working
• the ability to work under pressure

 This position is a full-time contract role.  At this time we are only accepting applications from Zambian nationals.