Tunnel Engineer - TBM Survey and Alignment

Parsons; Dubai; On-site; AED 246,000 - 357,000; Full time

Job summary

Parsons is seeking a Tunnel Engineer for TBM survey and alignment in Dubai, UAE. You will supervise survey activities, verify TBM guidance, monitor alignment and settlement, and ensure tunneling stays within tolerances and safety requirements.

Ideal candidates have a bachelor’s degree in civil/geomatics engineering and at least eight years of TBM surveying experience, with metro project exposure preferred. This is a full-time, on-site role in a demanding underground construction environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Survey Engineering, Geomatics Engineering or related discipline.
• 8+ years of relevant professional experience in TBM survey or metro tunneling.
• Experience with TBM guidance data and alignment verification.

Responsibilities

• Supervise TBM tunnel survey activities and review survey data.
• Prepare daily/weekly survey reports on alignment status and deviations.
• Monitor TBM advance with alignment checks and surface movement observations.
• Review traverse calculations and verify tunnel control points at stations.
• Check TBM guidance calculations and alignment against tolerances.
• Maintain underground control networks and transfer surface control through shafts.
• Coordinate with surveyors, inspectors, contractors, and engineers to resolve survey issues.
• Maintain complete survey logs and progress documentation.
• Support 3D measurements before/after breakthroughs and during break-ins/break-outs.

Skills

TBM tunnel surveying

Tunnel alignment

Underground control networks

3D tunnel measurements

Settlement monitoring

Education

Bachelor's degree in Civil/Geomatics Engineering

Tools

Total station

Laser guidance systems

3D scanners

Job description

Tunnel Engineer - TBM Survey and Alignment Job Snapshot Role: Tunnel Engineer - TBM Survey and Alignment Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates Industry: Civil Engineering Function: Surveying Experience: Minimum 8 years Job Type: Full-time Position Overview Tunnel Engineer - TBM Survey and Alignment in Dubai, United Arab Emirates is a specialist Civil Engineering opportunity supporting survey control, alignment verification, and construction monitoring for TBM and metro tunneling works. Parsons Corporation is hiring an experienced tunnel survey professional to supervise underground survey activities, review TBM guidance data, monitor alignment and settlement trends, coordinate breakthrough surveys, and ensure tunnel construction remains within approved tolerances, specifications, and safety requirements.

Job Details Country: United Arab Emirates City: Dubai Industry: Civil Engineering Function: Surveying Salary: 22000-32000 Estimated salary range based on similar jobs in the job city; please confirm the final offer with the employer. Gender: Any Candidate Nationality: Any

Role Context

This role provides specialist survey and alignment support throughout TBM tunnel construction, segment production, station interfaces, NATM connections, and breakthrough activities. Accurate control networks, reliable guidance calculations, and continuous monitoring are essential to keeping tunnel drives within tolerance and identifying deviations before they affect structural interfaces or construction progress. The Tunnel Engineer will combine field surveying knowledge with technical review, instrumentation coordination, reporting, and on-site problem solving across demanding underground works.

Key Responsibilities

• Supervise and review survey activities associated with TBM tunnel construction and underground infrastructure.
• Prepare daily and weekly survey reports covering alignment status, deviations, trends, and emerging risks.
• Monitor TBM advance activities through alignment checks and surface movement observations, including settlement and heave.
• Review traverse calculations and verify implementation of tunnel control points at stations and access locations.
• Check tunnel virtual axis calculations and confirm TBM alignment against specified horizontal and vertical tolerances.
• Establish and maintain primary and secondary underground control networks.
• Review the transfer of surface control through shafts into tunnel environments.
• Support configuration and use of TBM survey systems for ring installation along horizontal and vertical curves.
• Review TBM guidance calculations, laser target extensions, and alignment inputs used during machine advance.
• Check roll, pitch, and yaw information and assess bored tunnel lips, steps, and geometric deviations.
• Escalate significant alignment concerns to the Tunnel Resident Engineer and senior technical team.
• Support precise surveying activities ahead of TBM breakthroughs and coordinate with receiving shaft teams.
• Conduct and review 3D measurements before and after breakthrough, during TBM break-in and break-out, and around annex interfaces.
• Assist with wriggle surveys and detailed as-built surveys throughout tunnel construction.
• Use survey information to identify locations requiring special segment rings or other geometric adjustments.
• Review setting-out information for NATM tunnel connections and annex structures.
• Support 3D dimensional checks of moulds and precast tunnel segments during production.
• Review survey-related shop drawings, method statements, calculations, and technical submissions.
• Provide site-based technical support where survey accuracy or alignment compliance requires immediate attention.
• Coordinate with surveyors, inspectors, contractors, and engineering teams to resolve survey and geometry issues.
• Maintain complete survey logs, alignment records, control documentation, and progress information.
• Support preparation and verification of tunnel as-built documentation.
• Contribute survey and TBM alignment information to weekly and monthly project progress reports.
• Verify calibration and maintenance records for total stations, prisms, targets, laser guidance equipment, 3D scanners, and TBM-integrated sensors.
• Coordinate with instrumentation and monitoring specialists to compare survey measurements with geotechnical monitoring data.
• Support investigation of unexpected ground movement, machine stoppages, or other tunnel conditions requiring emergency survey checks.
• Ensure survey practices comply with project specifications, ITA guidance, local requirements, and applicable RTA safety procedures.

Ideal Profile

Candidates should hold a bachelor 's degree in Civil Engineering, Survey Engineering, Geomatics Engineering, or a closely related discipline and have at least 8 years of relevant professional experience.

• Proven exposure to TBM tunnel construction, underground surveying, or major infrastructure projects.
• Previous metro project experience is highly important for the role.
• Practical understanding of TBM operating sequences and underground construction methods.
• Experience supporting TBM alignment and tunnel guidance activities.
• Knowledge of traverse calculations, underground control networks, and setting-out procedures.
• Ability to review alignment calculations and interpret three-dimensional survey measurements.
• Familiarity with total stations, laser guidance systems, prisms, targets, and 3D scanners.
• Understanding of tunnel geometry, precast segment installation, steel ribs, shotcrete, and NATM construction interfaces.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, survey documentation, and approved method statements.
• Experience with tunnel break-in, break-out, and breakthrough survey activities is advantageous.
• Familiarity with settlement and heave monitoring in tunneling environments.
• Knowledge of survey requirements for precast segment and mould production is beneficial.
• UAE or GCC consultancy and construction experience is an advantage.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and relevant engineering or survey software.
• Strong attention to accuracy, survey control, documentation, and underground safety.
• Good written and spoken English communication skills.

Skills Set

• TBM tunnel surveying.
• Tunnel alignment.
• Metro tunneling.
• Underground control networks.
• Traverse calculations.
• Tunnel virtual axis.
• TBM guidance data.
• Laser target alignment.
• Horizontal alignment.
• Vertical alignment.
• TBM roll pitch and yaw.
• Ring installation surveys.
• Breakthrough surveys.
• Break-in surveys.
• Break-out surveys.
• 3D tunnel measurements.
• Wriggle surveys.
• As-built surveys.
• Settlement monitoring.
• Heave monitoring.
• NATM interfaces.
• Tunnel setting-out.
• Precast segment surveys.
• Mould dimensional checks.
• Total station.
• Laser guidance systems.
• 3D scanners.
• Survey equipment calibration.
• Instrumentation monitoring.
• Geotechnical data coordination.
• Alignment trend analysis.
• Non-conformance reporting.
• ITA guidelines.
• RTA safety procedures.
• Underground construction safety.

Why Join Us

Dubai 's continued investment in metro, underground transport, and complex utility infrastructure is increasing demand for engineers with specialist TBM survey and tunnel alignment expertise. This position provides direct involvement in control networks, machine guidance, breakthrough preparation, segment geometry, settlement monitoring, and multidisciplinary underground coordination. It offers an experienced survey engineer the opportunity to deepen technical capability on high-precision tunneling works while contributing to major infrastructure delivery in the region.

About the Company

Parsons Corporation delivers engineering, technology, transportation, infrastructure, and project management services across major international developments. Its Middle East teams support complex metro, road, tunnel, utility, and urban infrastructure programs through design, construction supervision, surveying, digital engineering, project controls, and specialist technical expertise.