Driller- Sr. Materials Engineering Tech

Title: Driller- Sr. Materials Engineering Tech

State Role Title: Engineering Technician III

Hiring Range: $62,764-$101,992

Pay Band: NV 4

Agency: VA Dept of Transportation

Location: NOVA District Office

Agency Website: www.vdot.virginia.gov/careers

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

NOVA VDOT Materials Section is seeking a Sr. Drill Crew Engineering Technician to provide assistance in the field to the Materials Geology Drilling Section. Position will perform some combination of the following duties: operate all geotechnical, geological and support equipment which includes but is not limited to: soil and rock drilling rigs, support vehicles, bore hole TV camera as well as maintain equipment as needed to ensure safe and productive operation.

Responsibilities include but may not be limited to:

Technical Assistance- Address questions, policies and procedures related to assigned program area. Provide support to field personnel. Provide guidance related to VDOT policy and standards.

Equipment Operation- Transport, set up and operate drills and supplemental equipment used to collect samples and geological information. Install and remove rods, augers, casing and sampling equipment to recover samples of soil and bedrock. Perform preventive maintenance and minor repairs on equipment. Maintain supplies and inventory of equipment.

Records Maintenance- Compile and maintain automated and written reports and project records for assigned program areas. Records are maintained in accordance with guidelines and policies.

Field Reviews and Inspections- Review or inspect field work being performed by VDOT staff or contractors. Determine compliance with policies, procedures and standards.

Drilling Operations and Technical Support- Locate job sites, interpret plans, establish boring locations, and conduct preliminary site surveys. Perform soil survey, pavement, bridge and minor structure investigations. Coordinate with utilities, utility locators and landowners to obtain necessary approvals before drilling operations begin. Perform drilling and core sampling of soil and rock and describe auger cuttings. Collect, log, and store samples for transport to the laboratory for testing. Maintain drilling log. Complete accurate soil and rock identifications/descriptions according to AASHTO and USCS classification systems and accurately record field and laboratory data. Document information regarding site for geotechnical engineering staff. Instruct and perform hands-on training of other geotechnical staff in the use of equipment, site analysis, and safety.

Training and Oversight- Assist drilling supervisor in training new technicians and or overseeing contract drilling crews in the areas of drilling, field-testing, soil and rock descriptions, field logging, rudimentary survey techniques and the completion of appropriate forms.

Project Documentation- Document, enter and complete required data such as work orders, schedules or records. Provide technical assistance to field staff and contractors and provide training.

Time Management- Demonstrate knowledge of all project activities and deliverables. Manage time to ensure project work is completed efficiently and within timeframes established by supervisor. Inform supervisor in a timely manner regarding issues which may affect the scheduled completion of an assignment.

Communication- Communicate with VDOT staff as well as external staff (consultants, localities, etc.) to proactively resolve issues. Advise supervisor on critical developments and field observations.

Engineering Technology- Apply advance principles and practices of engineering technology to assigned program areas. Interpret policies and procedures and apply in daily work assignments.

Minimum Qualifications

• Ability to perform heavy manual labor in all weather conditions.
• Valid driver's license.
• Ability to record field data, prepare reports, and perform mathematical computations.
• Skill in the use of computers and software applications.
• Skill in the operation and maintenance of mechanical drilling equipment.
• Ability to obtain required materials certifications, flagger certification, traffic control technician, and 40-hour OSHA HAZWOPER certification within 12 months of employment.
• Knowledge of geology, regional geological formations, soils, bedrock, materials properties, materials testing, sampling and VDOT specifications.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering plans