Geotechnical Engineer

Roles and responsibilities

Key Responsibilities of a Geotechnical Engineer:

1. Site Investigation and Soil Testing

• Conduct Site Surveys and Investigations: Carry out detailed investigations of the ground conditions at construction sites. This involves drilling boreholes, performing test pits, and collecting soil, rock, and water samples for laboratory analysis.
• Geotechnical Site Reports: Prepare site investigation reports that summarize soil properties, groundwater conditions, and potential geotechnical risks. These reports form the basis for foundation design and construction planning.
• Soil and Rock Testing: Perform a variety of tests (e.g., Standard Penetration Tests (SPT), cone penetration tests (CPT), soil shear strength tests, compressibility tests, etc.) to determine the mechanical properties of soil and rock layers, such as shear strength, compaction, permeability, and consolidation.
• Environmental Considerations: Assess the environmental impact of the project on the surrounding geology, groundwater systems, and ecosystem, ensuring compliance with environmental regulations.

2. Foundation Design

• Design Foundations: Based on the results of site investigations, design appropriate foundations for structures, including shallow foundations (e.g., slab-on-grade, spread footings) and deep foundations (e.g., piles, caissons, or drilled shafts), considering factors like load-bearing capacity, soil settlement, and groundwater conditions.
• Geotechnical Modelling: Use geotechnical software and advanced modeling techniques (e.g., PLAXIS, GeoStudio, Settle3D) to analyze soil-structure interaction and predict foundation behavior under various load conditions.
• Foundation Recommendations: Provide recommendations on foundation types, depth, and construction methods to ensure that the structure remains stable throughout its lifecycle.

3. Slope Stability and Ground Improvement

• Slope Stability Analysis: Analyze and design solutions for slopes, embankments, and excavations to ensure their stability. This includes assessing the risks of landslides, erosion, and soil movement in areas prone to these conditions.
• Ground Improvement Techniques: Recommend methods to enhance the stability of weak or unstable soils, such as soil stabilization, grouting, ground reinforcement (e.g., geotextiles, soil nails), and dewatering techniques.
• Retaining Structures: Design retaining walls, slope stabilization systems, and other ground support structures to prevent soil erosion and to manage groundwater flow.

4. Geotechnical Risk Assessment

• Risk Identification and Mitigation: Identify potential geotechnical risks (e.g., soil settlement, liquefaction, landslides, flooding) and propose solutions to mitigate these risks. This might include design changes, monitoring techniques, or remediation measures.
• Seismic Analysis: Assess the potential impact of seismic activity on the foundation and structure, especially in earthquake-prone areas. Provide recommendations on seismic design criteria, such as foundation types and reinforcement strategies.
• Monitoring and Testing During Construction: Oversee or conduct in-situ testing and monitoring during the construction phase to ensure that the geotechnical conditions remain stable and that the construction process aligns with the initial design.

5. Environmental and Regulatory Compliance

• Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA): Collaborate with environmental engineers to ensure that geotechnical aspects are considered in the environmental impact assessments. This may involve assessing groundwater contamination, soil erosion, or potential geohazards that could affect the surrounding environment.

Desired candidate profile

• Under general supervision, performs routine duties.
• Displays knowledge and abilities to evaluate, select and apply standard engineering techniques, procedures and criteria to meet basic engineering and construction specifications.
• Displays applications of sound professional judgment on details of work.
• Independently performs walk-downs and inspections of installed commodities to assure conformance with specifications and design.

• Holds a Degree in Geology/Survey as minimum.
• Well experienced in Earth works, Enabling Works, Geotechnical Surveys, Topographic Surveyes, Geophysical Surveys, Marine Surveys etc
• Aware of Abu Dhabi Regulations
• Can work independently on Site and manage a small team of Inspectors/Land Surveyors
• Geotechnical Modeling Software: PLAXIS, GeoStudio, Settle3D, and other specialized geotechnical software for simulation and analysis.
• Geotechnical Data Analysis Tools: Excel, MATLAB, or custom analysis tools for interpreting soil data, performing calculations, and creating reports.
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS): For mapping and analyzing the geographical context of soil and rock properties.