Blockage Engineer (Fermanagh)

McAllister; Newry; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

Mc Allister A Vortex Company is seeking a Drainage Operative to join our growing team. You will safeguard environmental safety and health by maintaining the integrity of our subterranean sewer network and ensuring it is reliable, compliant and fit for purpose while minimising disruption to communities.

You will operate and maintain drainage equipment, perform CCTV surveys, handle confined space entries, and work shifts including evenings, weekends, and bank holidays on an emergency standby rota.

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.
• Must have a current valid driver’s license.

Responsibilities

• Take full accountability for safe deployment and maintenance of drainage fleet and equipment.
• Perform routine pre-start asset checks and cleaning protocols.
• Execute reactive and planned maintenance across the sewer network.
• Clear blockages, manage environmental safety, and conduct bio-hazard clean-ups.
• Operate CCTV pipeline inspection cameras and log defects.
• Conduct confined-space entries for inspections.
• Adhere to health and safety, lone-working protocols, and standby rota.

Skills

Field-based drainage experience

Confined space entry

Sewer cleaning

Communication skills

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.
• 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.
• 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 / MinimumExperience andTraining

• 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.