The copper-gold miner said there were major opportunities for superintendents, mechanical engineers and construction supervisors specialising in a range of areas.

It is also chasing underground development operators and technicians as well as health and safety, training and human resources professionals.

At its peak the three and a half year construction project of block cave E26 Lift 1 North, or E26L1N for short, will need up to 180 additional personnel.

The project will deliver 11km of underground development, an underground primary crusher, conveying systems and associated infrastructure.

Personnel needed for the construction will largely be a mixture of Northparkes mine workers and central west contractors.

Full production is expected in mid-2022 with E26L1N expected to produce 40 million tonnes of ore over 10 years.

E26L1N will be designed to use automation and ditigalisation to make it a safer and more productive mine.

Northparkes Mines managing director Hubert Lehman said the block cave project was a major investment in the future of the mine's business and an exciting time for Northparkes.

"We look forward to continuing to contribute to the local community in which we live and work for years to come," he said.

"The opportunities for lifestyle, families and career development are pretty impressive here, especially with many new positions opening up every day. We encourage staff progression and this is a place where you can really make your mark."

His view is shared by Northparkes Mines senior geotechnical operations engineer Linda Snyman.

"There are never two days the same," she said.

"There's never a boring day and you can be home with our family every night.

"Parkes is a great town to live in."

Northparkes, owned by China Molybdenum Company and Sumitomo, was the first Australian mine to use block cave mining with its E26 Lift 1 cave in 1997.