Blockage Engineer (Fermanagh)

Vortex Companies - Trenchless Infrastructure Solutions; Newry; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

Mc Allister A Vortex Company is seeking a Drainage Operative to join a growing team. You will safeguard environmental safety and public health by maintaining the subterranean sewer network, ensuring reliability, compliance, and minimal community disruption.

Responsibilities include operating drainage equipment, performing inspections, and adhering to strict health and safety protocols, with potential for out-of-hours standby and flexible shifts in a field-based environment.

Qualifications

• Previous experience in a field-based drainage role.
• Knowledge in confined space entry, cleaning sewer lines, and construction safety.
• Strong verbal and interpersonal communication skills and a proven track record in customer service.
• Current valid driver's license.

Responsibilities

• Operate and maintain drainage fleet and equipment, including high-pressure water jetting rigs, rods, and vacuums.
• Perform routine pre-start checks and cleaning to minimise downtime.
• Carry out reactive and planned sewer maintenance to clear blockages and debris.
• Conduct CCTV surveys and identify defects in underground networks.
• Follow confined space entry procedures with safety gear and protocols.
• Work autonomously in variable shifts, including out-of-hours standby.

Skills

Field-based drainage

Communication skills

Customer service

Driver's license

Job description

Want to be part of one of the country’s fastest growing infrastructure businesses? Mc Allister A Vortex Company delivers cutting edge trenchless technologies and turnkey services to make the worlds water cleaner and we’re growing every day!

Mc Allister A Vortex Company is seeking a Drainage Operative to join the growing team. You will play a critical role in safeguarding environmental safety and public health by maintaining the integrity of our subterranean sewer network. You will help to ensure the network remains reliable, compliant and fit for purpose while minimising disruption to the communities we serve.

Key Responsibilities

Equipment Operation & Maintenance

• Take full accountability for the safe deployment, operational efficiency, and daily maintenance of specialised drainage fleet and equipment (including high-pressure water jetting rigs, mechanical rods, and vacuum machinery).
• Perform routine pre-start asset checks and cleaning protocols to minimise machinery downtime and ensure full operational readiness.

Frontline Sewer Maintenance & Clearing

• Execute reactive and planned maintenance tasks across the sewer network, systematically clearing blockages, structural scaling, and heavy debris.
• Manage environmental safety by conducting thorough site containment, wash-downs, and bio-hazard clean-ups following sewer flooding or overflows.

CCTV Asset Surveying & Defect Identification

• Operate advanced CCTV pipeline inspection cameras and push-rod systems to perform precise condition surveys of subterranean sewer networks.
• Analyse live video feeds to identify, log, and classify structural anomalies or system defects.

Confined Space & High-Risk Protocols

• Conduct safe, compliant entries into certified Confined Spaces (manholes, chambers, and deep pumping stations) to perform physical inspections and manual clearances.
• Enforce strict health and safety frameworks, operating specialised safety kit including gas monitors, escape breathing apparatus, tripods, and rescue winches.

Working Patterns & Out-of-Hours Responsibilities

• Demonstrate high levels of autonomy and strict adherence to personal safety protocols when undertaking lone-working tasks in the field.
• Participate in a variable shift pattern and a mandatory out-of-hours emergency standby rota. This requires a highly flexible approach to working hours, as evening, weekend, and bank holiday callouts will be required to resolve critical network emergencies.

Essential Criteria / Minimum Experience And Training

• Previous experience in a field-based drainage role
• Knowledge in confined space entry, cleaning sewer lines, and construction safety
• Must have strong verbal and interpersonal communication skills and a proven track record in customer service
• Possess a current valid driver’s license

Vortex Companies, LLC and all of its subsidiaries, considers applicants for all positions without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, age, national origin, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, or sexual orientation. All applicants will be considered solely on the basis of their qualifications.

We are a fair chance employer.

PI286843344