Tunnel Engineer - TBM and Cavern Works

Parsons; Tayma; On-site; SAR 312,000 - 446,000; Full time

Job summary

Parsons is seeking an experienced Tunnel Engineer for TBM tunnelling and cavern works in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. The role focuses on ground support, geotechnical monitoring, and coordination across major underground infrastructure projects.

You will oversee construction activities, ensure compliance with drawings and specifications, and manage safety and quality on site. Ideal candidates have a minimum of 10 years in tunnelling, familiarity with NATM/SEM methods, and a proven track record in TBM

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering or related field is required.
• Minimum 10 years of experience in tunnelling or major underground projects.
• Experience with TBM tunnelling and cavern construction is essential.
• Strong knowledge of ground support systems and geotechnical monitoring.

Responsibilities

• Support TBM tunnelling and underground cavern construction activities from planning to closeout.
• Monitor TBM performance, excavation progress, and production efficiency.
• Verify segmental lining installation complies with specifications.
• Oversee backfill grouting and ensure quality procedures are followed.
• Coordinate with geotechnical, QA/QC, design, and HSE teams.
• Prepare progress reports and support short-term construction planning.

Skills

TBM tunnelling

Tunnel engineering

Underground construction

Segmental lining

Backfill grouting

Geotechnical monitoring

Ground movement assessment

QA and QC

Construction supervision

Look-ahead scheduling

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering

Tools

BIM

IFC drawings

Job description

Job Snapshot

Role: Tunnel Engineer - TBM and Cavern Works

Location: Tabuk, Saudi Arabia

Industry: Civil Engineering

Function: Civil & Structural Engineering

Experience: Minimum 10 years

Job Type: Full-time

Position Overview: Tunnel Engineer - TBM and Cavern Works in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia is a Civil Engineering opportunity focused on TBM tunnelling, underground cavern excavation, ground support, geotechnical monitoring, construction supervision, and multidisciplinary coordination across major infrastructure works. The role supports safe and technically compliant delivery of bored tunnels, shafts, caverns, cross-passages, and underground structures while ensuring construction follows approved drawings, methodologies, specifications, quality requirements, and HSE standards.

Job Details

Country: Saudi Arabia

City: Tabuk

Industry: Civil Engineering

Function: Civil & Structural Engineering

Salary: 28000-40000 Estimated salary range based on similar jobs in the job city; please confirm the final offer with the employer.

Gender: Any

Candidate Nationality: Any

Job Type: Full-time

Role Context

The Tunnel Engineer - TBM and Cavern Works provides field and technical engineering support throughout complex underground construction activities. The position monitors TBM production, segment installation, backfill grouting, cavern excavation, ground support, geotechnical behavior, and construction quality while coordinating closely with contractors and project engineering teams. The engineer also supports the full TBM lifecycle from assembly and launch through tunnelling, breakthrough, reception, dismantling, and demobilization. Effective performance in this role helps maintain construction progress, control underground risk, respond to unexpected ground conditions, and ensure tunnel infrastructure is delivered safely and in accordance with design requirements.

Key Responsibilities

• Support TBM tunnelling and underground cavern construction activities throughout planning, execution, commissioning support, and project closeout.
• Monitor TBM operational performance, excavation progress, advance rates, and production efficiency.
• Verify segmental lining installation is completed in accordance with approved construction requirements.
• Monitor backfill grouting activities and confirm required procedures, materials, and quality standards are maintained.
• Support excavation of underground caverns using NATM, SEM, drill and blast, or other approved methodologies.
• Review site activities against IFC drawings, specifications, method statements, approved procedures, and technical requirements.
• Identify technical discrepancies and coordinate Requests for Information with appropriate project stakeholders.
• Support resolution of field engineering issues that could affect tunnelling progress, quality, safety, or constructability.
• Participate in TBM assembly, launch preparation, production tunnelling, breakthrough, reception, recovery, and decommissioning activities.
• Assist with planning TBM dismantling, component removal, temporary works removal, and demobilization.
• Coordinate daily engineering matters with contractors, subcontractors, supervisors, and construction teams.
• Interface with Geotechnical, Survey, Design, QA and QC, and HSE personnel to resolve construction and technical issues.
• Coordinate engineering interfaces involving main tunnels, caverns, shafts, cross-passages, access adits, and temporary works.
• Review geotechnical instrumentation data associated with tunnel and cavern construction.
• Monitor tunnel convergence, settlement, deformation, and ground movement measurements.
• Identify abnormal monitoring trends and elevate potential ground behavior concerns for technical assessment.
• Verify installation of ground support systems including shotcrete, rock bolts, steel ribs, waterproofing, and permanent structural support.
• Monitor workmanship and installation quality of segmental tunnel linings.
• Review unexpected ground conditions and support documentation in accordance with Geotechnical Baseline Report requirements.
• Assist with technical assessment of geological or geotechnical conditions encountered during excavation.
• Monitor cavern excavation productivity and compare actual progress against planned construction targets.
• Support preparation of short-term construction plans and look-ahead schedules.
• Contribute to construction performance reviews and identify constraints affecting production.
• Prepare daily, weekly, and monthly engineering and construction progress reports.
• Maintain accurate records of tunnelling activities, excavation progress, technical observations, and site conditions.
• Support implementation of project Health, Safety, and Environmental requirements and Life-Saving Rules.
• Monitor high-risk underground work including confined space entry, lifting activities, TBM operations, and excavation works.
• Participate in toolbox talks, safety inspections, incident investigations, and corrective action follow-up.
• Support QA and QC inspections covering tunnel linings, shotcrete, waterproofing, ground support, and permanent structural installations.
• Maintain inspection records, technical documentation, site diaries, and construction reports.
• Assist with preparation of as-built documentation and final engineering records.
• Support handover documentation and project closeout activities.

Ideal Profile

• Bachelor 's Degree in Civil Engineering, Mining Engineering, Tunnelling Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• Minimum 10 years of experience in tunnelling, underground construction, or major infrastructure projects.
• Practical experience supporting TBM tunnelling using Earth Pressure Balance, Slurry, or Hard Rock Tunnel Boring Machines.
• Experience supporting underground cavern excavation using NATM, SEM, drill and blast, or comparable underground construction methods.
• Strong understanding of TBM operations, tunnel excavation processes, and underground construction sequencing.
• Knowledge of segmental lining installation, backfill grouting, tunnel waterproofing, and permanent support systems.
• Familiarity with shotcrete, rock bolts, steel ribs, and other ground support methods.
• Experience reviewing construction drawings, technical specifications, method statements, and engineering submissions.
• Strong site engineering and construction supervision background.
• Understanding of geotechnical instrumentation, settlement monitoring, tunnel convergence, and ground movement assessment.
• Experience coordinating with contractors, consultants, project teams, and specialist engineering disciplines.
• Working knowledge of QA and QC inspection procedures and construction documentation requirements.
• Familiarity with EN, BS, ITA, and other relevant tunnelling standards and industry practices.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills for responding to underground construction challenges.
• Effective written and verbal communication capability in multidisciplinary project environments.
• Experience on metro, rail, highway, utility, transportation, or other major underground infrastructure projects is advantageous.
• Familiarity with Geotechnical Baseline Reports and Ground Investigation Reports is desirable.
• Experience supporting launch shafts, reception shafts, cross-passages, and underground interface works is beneficial.
• Professional registration or engineering institution membership is an advantage.

Skills Set

• TBM tunnelling
• Tunnel engineering
• Underground construction
• Bored tunnels
• Cavern construction
• Earth Pressure Balance TBM
• Slurry TBM
• Hard Rock TBM
• NATM
• SEM
• Drill and blast
• Segmental lining
• Backfill grouting
• Tunnel waterproofing
• Shotcrete
• Rock bolts
• Steel ribs
• Ground support systems
• TBM launch
• TBM breakthrough
• TBM reception
• TBM dismantling
• Shaft construction
• Cross-passages
• Access adits
• Geotechnical monitoring
• Tunnel convergence monitoring
• Settlement monitoring
• Ground movement assessment
• Geotechnical Baseline Report
• Ground Investigation Report
• Construction supervision
• Site engineering
• IFC drawings
• Method statements
• RFI coordination
• QA and QC
• Construction reporting
• Look-ahead scheduling
• Production monitoring
• Underground HSE
• Confined space operations
• BIM
• Construction management systems
• As-built documentation

Why Join Us

This position offers tunnelling professionals the opportunity to contribute directly to complex Civil Engineering works in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia where underground construction, geotechnical behavior, production performance, and site safety require disciplined technical oversight. The role provides broad exposure to TBM operations, cavern excavation, ground support, instrumentation, quality control, and multidisciplinary field coordination. The combination of major infrastructure scale and specialized underground construction also provides strong career value for engineers seeking deeper expertise in tunnelling technology, construction supervision, geotechnical risk management, and technically demanding project delivery.

About the Company

Parsons Corporation provides engineering, program management, construction management, and technical consulting services for complex infrastructure projects. Its multidisciplinary teams support major transportation, underground, civil, and infrastructure developments across Saudi Arabia through advanced engineering, construction supervision, digital delivery, and integrated project management.