Materials Technician

Balfour Beatty plc; Falkirk; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

Balfour Beatty plc is looking for a Materials Technician to join the Falkirk project, performing inspection, sampling, testing and reporting of construction materials on site and in the laboratory.

You will work in the Materials Engineering team, ensuring materials meet specifications and UKAS requirements, with hands-on testing across laboratory and field environments and a focus on accuracy and quality.

Qualifications

• Experience in construction materials testing environment.
• Knowledge of UKAS-accredited laboratory procedures.
• Ability to test soils and concrete and to perform associated QA tasks.
• Good understanding of material specifications and compliance requirements.
• Strong record-keeping and attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Inspect and test construction materials on site and in the laboratory.
• Prepare samples and carry out field and laboratory testing.
• Maintain accurate testing records and report results to project timelines.
• Ensure testing adheres to UKAS standards and project specifications.
• Identify quality risks and assist in non-conformance reporting.
• Support safety, calibration, and housekeeping in the laboratory.

Job description

About the role

Balfour Beatty is looking for an experienced Materials Technician to join our team on a major civil engineering project based in Falkirk.

You will play an important role in supporting the successful delivery of the project by carrying out inspection, sampling, testing and reporting of construction materials, both on site and within the laboratory.

Working as part of the Materials Engineering team, you will help ensure that materials used across the project meet the required specifications, quality standards and UKAS requirements.

This is a hands-on role offering a varied mix of laboratory and site-based testing, ideally suited to someone with previous experience working with construction materials, particularly soils and concrete, who takes pride in accuracy, quality and getting things right first time.

What you'll be doing

As a Materials Technician, you will:

• Undertake inspection and testing of construction materials both on site and within the laboratory.
• Sample materials for approval and compliance testing in accordance with relevant standards and procedures.
• Carry out sample preparation including quartering, riffling and crushing.
• Undertake in-situ testing which may include:
  • Dynamic Cone Penetrometer testing
  • Plate Load testing
  • Sand Replacement testing
  • Light Weight Deflectometer testing
  • Nuclear Density testing
  • Pavement quality testing
• Carry out laboratory testing including:
  • Moisture Content testing
  • Moisture Condition Value testing
  • Particle Size Distribution, wet and dry
  • Density testing
  • Concrete compressive strength testing
  • Soil classification
• Carry out concrete slump testing and prepare, test and crush concrete cubes for compliance.
• Maintain accurate records of testing and provide results within required project timescales.
• Ensure testing is undertaken in accordance with relevant UKAS standards, specifications and test methods.
• Identify and immediately report areas of quality risk or opportunity.
• Record and report defects through the project's non-conformance procedures.
• Undertake environmental and balance checks within the laboratory.
• Maintain equipment calibration records and report equipment defects requiring attention.
• Ensure laboratory equipment and working areas are maintained to a high standard of cleanliness and organisation.
• Support audits of the Laboratory Quality System and assist in closing out identified findings.
• Maintain safe systems of work both on site and within the laboratory.
• Maintain a strong focus on Zero Harm, following risk assessments, method statements and project Health & Safety requirements.
• Support the wider Materials Engineering and project teams with technical materials knowledge where required.
• Support, develop and mentor trainee technicians where appropriate.
• Identify and share best practice and opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Support the project's wider sustainability objectives.

Who we're looking for

We're looking for someone with previous experience working within a construction materials testing environment, ideally within a UKAS-accredited laboratory.

You will ideally have:

• Previous experience working within a UKAS-accredited materials testing laboratory.
• Practical experience testing construction materials, particularly soils and concrete.
• Experience carrying out both laboratory and site-based materials testing.
• A good understanding of relevant construction material specifications, test methods and compliance requirements.
• Experience of concrete testing, including slump testing and the preparation and crushing of concrete cubes.
• An understanding of soil testing and classification.
• Strong awareness of Health & Safety requirements within laboratory and construction site environments.
• The ability to work accurately and maintain detailed testing and quality records.
• A proactive approach to identifying and reporting defects, risks and non-conformances.
• Good organisational skills with the ability to manage testing requirements and meet project deadlines.
• The ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a wider project team.
• A flexible and adaptable approach to changing project requirements.
• Good IT skills, with experience using Microsoft Excel desirable.
• A valid CSCS card.
• A full UK driving licence.

Why work for us

Professional & Personal Development

The size and scale of Balfour Beatty coupled with our strong pipeline of work provides incredible opportunities, regardless of what stage you are at in your career.

We encourage and empower our employees to take control of their career and explore which part of the business they want to work in and what role is right for them. We actively encourage our managers and employees to have open communication throughout the year about wellbeing, development and career opportunities.

We're also very proud of our Balfour Beatty Academy. Whether it's sharpening your technical expertise, improving your personal skills or seeking support to become professionally qualified.

• Be part of a major energy infrastructure investment that shapes the UK's low-carbon future.
• Work on challenging, high-profile projects with the support of a skilled, multi-disciplinary team.
• Join a culture of learning, improvement, and excellence - where your voice makes a difference.
• Enjoy a competitive salary and benefits package, development opportunities, and a flexible, inclusive working environment.

About us

From Dunfermline's tramways in 1909 to highland hospitals today, Balfour Beatty has been trusted for over a century to deliver the complex and critical infrastructure and iconic buildings Scotland relies on.

We have the people, knowledge and experience to safely deliver projects right first time, maximising value for money and ensuring a positive social impact and inclusive economic growth for local communities.

Our award-winning sustainable projects, including active travel, Passivhaus and retrofit, demonstrate our commitment to supporting Scotland's transition towards net zero in the built environment.

Diversity and inclusion

At Balfour Beatty we believe that diversity and inclusion are essential components of any successful, happy workplace. Through our Value Everyone Diversity and Inclusion Strategy and Action Plan, we are growing our diverse workforce and developing our inclusive culture where everyone is able to thrive and reach their full potential, regardless of their identity or background. To find out how we are making this a reality, visit www.balfourbeatty.com/diversityandinclusion

To help and support us with our desired commitment to create an inclusive culture we are members of WISE, enei, Business Disability Forum and the Association for Black and Minority Ethnic Engineers (AFBE). In 2020, we signed the Audeliss and Involve Open Letter to demonstrate our commitment to taking key long term and sustainable actions on Black Inclusion. Balfour Beatty is also a Gold Award holder in the Ministry of Defence 'Employer Recognition Scheme' and actively encourage applications from Armed Forces personnel, veterans and reservists.

As a Disability Confident Employer, we are committed to working with people who have disabilities and long-term health conditions to remove barriers for them in obtaining employment. We are also committed to offering applicants with a disability an interview if they meet the minimum requirements for the role. For more info, visit https://disabilityconfident.campaign.gov.uk/

We are looking to continually improve our resourcing process and ensure that it is fair and inclusive for all. If you have any feedback on the process, please share this with us at: [e-mail]