GeoTechnical Engineer

We have a position for a Senior Geotechnical Engineer – if you are available and meet all requirements below, please send an updated CV, copy of ID/Passport and all required documents below.

 

Start date:  ASAP

Duration:  voyager contract – Permanent

Location:  Cape Town

Salary: Please inform required monthly salary

 

Qualifications & Experience:

 

Master’s degree in Geotechnical Engineering

Minimum of three to five years’ experience

Conversant with Windows, MS Office, Golden Software suite, Rockworks, ArcGIS, Global Mapper, Delph Seismic Interpretation

Preferable Offshore experience

 

Job Purpose:

 

The purpose of the job function is to establish all necessary geotechnical parameters required, to determine if an identified mineral reserve / resource area can be mined by the companies actual mining systems in an economical manner.

Engineer, in conjunction with the technical team, production enhancing methods on the actual seabed crawler system which can increase the hourly mining rate output.

Engineer’, in conjunction with the technical team, a crawler excavation system which can be used in mineral reserve areas where the actual geotechnical soil conditions are averse to the actual mining system and require an additional mechanical cutting and loosening device to enhance the excavation / mining process.

Managing the geotechnical department and supervising the geotechnical assistants.

 

Duties & Responsibilities:

 

Lab Analysis:

Submit samples to geotechnical laboratories (Geoscience labs, Rock labs, etc.)

If possible, perform one or two samples with laboratory to check results and confirm QA/QC of lab

Able to perform geotechnical laboratory testing, i.e., particle size analysis (fine sediments), oedometer, direct shear and triaxial shear, plastic, and liquid limit (Atterberg tests), unconfined compressive strength (UCS) with absorption, point load index strength, rock petrography, and CT scanning (voids and permeability)

 

Sampling vessel: and other exploration works

 

Supervise and train assistant geotechnical engineers

Manage the collection and organization of data

Perform geotechnical tests on clay, rock, and sand samples (i.e., IRS and GSI, penetrometer and shear vane on clays, sieving, density, etc.)

Data capturing of geotechnical tests and sending information to Head Office

Photograph sample testing (before and after)

Assist, note and discuss geology (based on geotechnical observations) with screen logging geologists

Process and analyse drill tool trends with inhouse software and send processed information to Head Office

Create maps of footwall (types and based on clay shear strength or IRS in the case of rock)

Report on any findings regarding adverse strati-graphical conditions, based on observations from drill tool and tool trend findings (short weekly/summary report of important observations geological and geotechnical related)

Create/aid new templates and ‘operating manuals’ for procedures/tests

 

Office and Data Management:

Analyse data from laboratories and vessel – i.e., QA/QC data

Determine mechanical specific energies for both sampling and mining vessels

Model and grid processed data through Rockworks, Global Mapper and ArcGIS geotechnical model of a mining area

Conceptualize and determine mining rates based on geology and modeled processed data

Reporting (hard copy and soft copy) of processed geotechnical data and update mine geologists with digital data (i.e., grids, shapefiles, maps, etc.)

Database administrator, data management and data QA/QC

Assisting with geology and geotechnical engineering database

Ensure that all data collected and created are copied to the head office server

Draft/update standard operating procedures/guidelines for all geotechnical duties

Comply with all company standard operating procedures/guidelines when performing duties

Able to execute and calculate soil hydraulic loosening techniques.

Able to calculate soil mechanical loosening and cutting techniques.

Able to execute and calculate soil hydraulic transports by pumping.

 

Development and Research:

Mining vessel Crawler cutter design (model)

Investigate new strategies to improve exploration and mining, i.e., offshore CPT, new testing techniques, improve sampling and testing, etc.

Attend courses that will benefit the company and develop engineer

 

Behavioural/Altitudinal Competences:

Analytical ability

Good Judgement

Persistence

Achievement & Goal orientated

Shows Initiative

Excellent Verbal & Written communication

Individual leadership

Working as part of a team of technical specialists.

Able to work on his own

Willing to travel to the work sites and spend time on board.