Site Geotechnical Engineer

Site Geotechnical Engineer – Ground InvestigationRole OverviewHB Tunnelling is seeking an experienced Site Geotechnical Engineer to plan, organise and supervise ground investigation and survey works for shaft, tunnelling and trenchless construction projects throughout the UK.The successful candidate will coordinate with clients, specialist contractors, HBT’s estimating, design and project teams, and other site stakeholders to make sure investigations are properly scoped, authorised and completed to the required standards.Typical work may include supervising cable percussion and rotary boreholes, trial pits and trial holes, cone penetration testing (CPT), groundwater monitoring, sampling, in-situ testing, geophysical surveys, utility surveys and topographical surveys. The role will involve regular UK travel and visits to active sites.The successful candidate will help define investigation requirements, organise site works, confirm permits and access arrangements are in place, monitor progress and quality, and ensure that field records and samples are correctly collected and managed. They will provide timely updates to clients and project teams, identify unexpected ground conditions or safety issues, and coordinate appropriate follow-up actions.This is a practical, site-focused role. It requires a strong understanding of ground investigation methods and the ability to manage contractors and solve problems on site. The role will also support the interpretation of investigation results and provide reliable information to inform tender assessments, design and construction planning.

Responsibilities

• Key Responsibilities

Planning and Organising Ground Investigations

• Organise site investigations, including boreholes, rotary drilling, trial pits and trial holes, CPT, in-situ testing, groundwater monitoring and other relevant methods.
• Coordinate investigation programmes, site access, contractor availability, equipment, traffic management and other logistics.
• Liaise with clients, landowners, utility providers, designers, site teams and specialist investigation contractors.
• Confirm that required permits, permissions, service information, access arrangements and site inductions are in place before works start.
• Coordinate survey requirements, which may include topographical, utility-detection, setting-out or other project-specific surveys.

Site Supervision and Safety

• Attend site to supervise and monitor ground investigation and survey works.
• Monitor contractor performance, progress, workmanship and compliance with site safety.
• Coordinate daily activities with the client’s representatives, investigation contractors and HBT project teams.
• Identify unsafe conditions, unexpected ground conditions, buried services or departures from the agreed method, and take appropriate action.
• Maintain clear records of site attendance, progress, instructions, delays, changes and any incidents or near misses.

Logging, Sampling and Field Records

• Supervise or undertake geotechnical logging of soils and rock, as appropriate to experience and project requirements.
• Check that borehole, trial pit, trial hole and CPT records are complete, clear and consistent with the investigation specification.
• Monitor sample collection, identification, storage and transfer for laboratory testing.
• Record groundwater strikes, water levels, drilling progress, obstructions, core recovery, drilling difficulties and other relevant observations.
• Ensure field data, photographs, coordinates and records are properly captured and submitted Review factual information supplied by investigation contractors and identify omissions, inconsistencies or issues requiring clarification.
• Coordinate laboratory testing requirements and track samples through to receipt of results.

Client and Project Team Liaison

• Keep clients and project teams informed of progress, changes, delays and emerging findings.
• Discuss practical site arrangements and resolve day-to-day issues with investigation contractors and other stakeholders.
• Provide updates that help project teams understand the status of the investigation.
• Preparation of factual summaries, progress reports and records of completed works.
• Assist with coordinating follow-up investigations where the results or site conditions indicate that further work is needed.

Technical Support and Reporting

• Contribute to ground investigation scopes, specifications, factual reports and geotechnical interpretative reports.
• Review factual reports, field logs, laboratory results and survey information for completeness and technical quality.
• Help interpret ground conditions and identify risks relevant to shafts, tunnelling, pipe jacking and other trenchless works.
• Provide reliable investigation information to support feasibility studies, tender reviews, design development and construction planning.
• Support the preparation of technical reports, risk registers and investigation summaries.
• Capture lessons learned and help improve HBT’s approach to planning and delivering site investigations.

Qualifications

• Experience and Qualifications
• Degree or equivalent qualification in Geotechnical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Engineering Geology or a related discipline.
• Practical experience supervising ground investigation works, including rotary and cable percussion drilling, trial pits or trial holes, and CPT.
• Good understanding of ground investigation specifications, drilling methods, sampling, in-situ testing and laboratory testing.
• Experience liaising with clients, site teams, investigation contractors and other stakeholders.
• Ability to review RAMS, permits and investigation proposals and identify practical or technical concerns.
• Experience with soil and rock logging, field records and factual reporting.
• Familiarity with utility surveys, topographical surveys and working around buried services would be beneficial.
• A full driving licence and willingness to travel to sites throughout the UK.

Required Skills

• Practical, organised and confident working on active construction sites.
• Strong understanding of ground investigation methods and site safety.
• Able to coordinate several investigations or work fronts at the same time.
• Clear communicator who can work effectively with clients, contractors and HBT teams.
• Proactive in identifying issues and following them through to resolution.
• Careful and consistent in maintaining field records and checking technical information.
• Flexible and willing to travel throughout the UK as project requirements demand.