Geotechnical / Pavement Engineer

Durkin Construction; Sydney; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Durkin Construction is seeking a Geotechnical / Pavement Engineer to join our Sydney team. The role blends field investigations, project coordination and office engineering across roads, airports and civil infrastructure. Training will support pavement investigations and design.

Key activities include coordinating boreholes, logging soils, supervising drilling crews and preparing technical reports for clients. Willingness to work night shifts across Sydney/NSW is required.

Qualifications

• Degree in Civil Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering or related field.
• Approximately 3–7 years geotechnical experience; other levels considered.
• Experience in geotechnical site investigations including logging, sampling and in-situ testing.
• Experience supervising drilling operations and field investigations.
• Ability to work independently on site and coordinate with contractors.

Responsibilities

• Plan, coordinate and supervise geotechnical site investigations including borehole drilling, test pits, sampling and in-situ testing.
• Log soils and rocks to Australian Standards.
• Supervise drilling crews and manage field investigations.
• Coordinate service locating and survey activities as part of site investigations.
• Prepare factual geotechnical reports and assist with assessments and recommendations.
• Assist with pavement investigations and design under training.

Skills

Geotechnical engineering

Site investigations

Drilling supervision

Project coordination

Technical reporting

Pavement investigations

Fieldwork

Communication skills

Education

Civil Engineering degree

Tools

GPR

Electromagnetic locating

NDD (Non-destructive digging)

FWD testing

Job description

Durkin Construction is looking for a Geotechnical / Pavement Engineer to join our team in Sydney.

We are seeking a capable and motivated engineer with a strong geotechnical background who is confident undertaking field investigations, supervising drilling operations, managing site activities and preparing technical reports.

The role will involve a combination of fieldwork, project coordination and office-based engineering, with opportunities to work across a range of infrastructure projects, including roads, airports and other civil infrastructure.

The successful candidate will primarily be involved in geotechnical investigations and project delivery, while also supporting our pavement engineering team with pavement investigations, assessments and design.

Strong geotechnical experience and competency are essential. Previous pavement engineering or design experience is desirable but not required, as training and support will be provided.

This is an excellent opportunity for a geotechnical engineer looking to broaden their technical experience and develop additional skills in pavement engineering.

Key Responsibilities

Geotechnical Engineering and Site Investigations

Plan, coordinate and supervise geotechnical site investigations, including borehole drilling, test pits, sampling and in-situ testing.

Undertake detailed soil and rock logging in accordance with relevant Australian Standards.

Supervise drilling crews and subcontractors, ensuring investigations are completed safely, efficiently and to the required technical standards.

Manage day-to-day site activities, including site access, permits, safety requirements and coordination with clients and contractors.

Assess ground conditions during investigations and make appropriate technical decisions regarding sampling, testing and investigation requirements.

Coordinate service locating, utility clearance and survey activities as part of site investigations.

Coordinate laboratory testing programmes and review field and laboratory results.

Prepare factual geotechnical investigation reports and assist with geotechnical assessments and recommendations.

Communicate with clients, contractors and other stakeholders throughout project delivery.

Assist with project planning, scheduling, budgeting and monitoring of investigation programmes.

Assist with pavement investigations, including pavement coring, boreholes, sampling, FWD testing and other pavement assessment methods.

Review and interpret pavement investigation and laboratory testing results.

Assist with pavement condition assessments and rehabilitation recommendations.

Undertake pavement design and analysis with training and support from experienced pavement engineers.

Assist with the preparation of pavement investigation, assessment and design reports.

Develop familiarity with Austroads pavement design methodologies, TfNSW specifications and relevant industry standards.

Service Locating and Survey Coordination

Coordinate with service locating and survey teams to support safe and accurate site investigations.

Review utility information, service locating results and site constraints before intrusive investigations.

Assist with borehole and investigation location set-out and verification.

Coordinate survey requirements and review investigation coordinates and levels.

Work closely with internal field crews to ensure investigation activities are properly planned and coordinated.

About You

Degree in Civil Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering or a related discipline.

Approximately 3-7 years of relevant geotechnical engineering experience, although candidates with other experience levels and demonstrated competency will be considered.

Demonstrated competency in geotechnical site investigations, including soil and rock logging, sampling and in-situ testing.

Experience supervising drilling operations and managing field investigation activities.

Ability to work independently on site, identify ground conditions and make sound technical decisions.

Good understanding of relevant Australian Standards and geotechnical investigation practices.

Ability to coordinate site activities, contractors and investigation programmes.

Strong organisational, problem-solving and communication skills.

Good technical writing and reporting skills.

Willingness to undertake fieldwork across Sydney and NSW, including night shifts where required.

Desirable but Not Essential

Experience preparing factual and interpretive geotechnical reports.

Experience in pavement investigations, assessments or pavement design.

Familiarity with Austroads pavement design methodologies and TfNSW specifications.

Exposure to underground utility investigations and service locating methods, including GPR, electromagnetic locating and non-destructive digging (NDD).

Familiarity with site surveying, borehole set-out, coordinate systems and survey data collection.

Experience working with excavation permits, utility clearances and underground service constraints.

Experience with FWD, GPR, DCP and other pavement investigation methods.

Experience working on road, airport, rail or other transport infrastructure projects.

Experience in project coordination, client communication and management of field investigation budgets.

What We Offer

A varied role combining geotechnical field investigations, project management and engineering design.

Opportunities to work on major infrastructure projects across Sydney and NSW.

Training and professional development in pavement engineering and design.

Exposure to a broad range of geotechnical and pavement investigation methods.

Access to Durkin's in-house investigation and testing capabilities, including drilling, service locating, utility investigation, FWD, GPR and NATA-accredited laboratory testing.

The opportunity to take ownership of site investigations and develop broader technical and project management skills.

A supportive team environment with opportunities for career progression.

Competitive remuneration based on experience and capability.

About Durkin Construction

Durkin Construction is a Sydney-based company specialising in geotechnical investigations, pavement engineering, construction materials testing and associated services for civil infrastructure projects.

We provide integrated investigation, testing and engineering services to government agencies, councils, consultants and contractors across NSW.

With in-house drilling, service locating, pavement investigation, FWD, GPR and NATA-accredited laboratory capabilities, our team is involved in projects from initial field investigations through to engineering assessments and design.