Dream Australia

Geotechnical Engineer

Geotechnical engineering is a branch of civil engineering concerned with the behaviour of earth materials.

Geotechnical Engineers plan, direct and conduct survey work to analyse the likely behaviour of soil and rock when placed under pressure by proposed structures, and designs above and below ground foundations.

Duties

• Determining construction methods, materials and quality standards, and drafting and interpreting specifications, drawings, plans, construction methods and procedures;
• Organising and directing site labour and the delivery of construction materials, plant and equipment, and establishing detailed programs for the coordination of site activities;
• Obtaining soil and rock samples at different depths across sites and testing samples to determine strength, compressibility and other factors that affect the behaviour of soil and rock when a structure is imposed and determining the safe loading for the soil;
• Studying architectural and engineering drawings and specifications to estimate total costs, and preparing detailed cost plans and estimates as tools to assist in budgetary control;
• Monitoring changes to designs, assessing effects on cost, and measuring, valuing and negotiating variations to designs;
• Analysing structural systems for both static and dynamic loads;
• Designing structures to ensure they do not collapse, bend, twist or vibrate in undesirable ways;
• Assessing present and future travel flow patterns taking into account population increase and needs change; and
• Designing the physical aspects of transportation systems such as highways, railroads, urban transit, air transportation, logistical supply systems and their terminals.

Skills Required

• Able to identify, analyse and solve problems;
• Good oral and written communication skills;
• Aptitude for computing and design;
• Practical and creative;
• Able to work without supervision;
• Able to work as part of a team;
• Able to accept responsibility; and
• Willing to contribute and adhere to the safety requirements of the operation.