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Geotechnical / Tailings Engineer

CPT - Southern Suburbs, Western Cape

SRK Consulting (Pty) Ltd
External Vacancy
Geotechnical / Tailings Engineer (EST1 / EST2) 
 
A vacancy for a Geotechnical / Tailings Engineer has become available in our Cape Town office. Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates to fill the vacancy.
 
Description:
 
We are seeking a motivated Junior to mid-level Geotechnical / Tailings Engineer to join our team. This is an excellent opportunity for an early-career engineer to build a strong foundation in geotechnical engineering and tailings/storage facilities, working alongside experienced engineers and specialists on a range of projects.
 
You will be involved in both office-based and field-based work, assisting with investigations, analysis, design, monitoring and reporting for geotechnical and tailings-related projects.

Qualifications, Experience and Skills:
 
The candidate must have:
 
Essential:
  • A Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering, Engineering Geology, or closely related field.
  • A minimum of 2 to 5 years of relevant experience in geotechnical or tailings engineering.
  • Strong academic grounding in soil mechanics, rock mechanics, and/or geotechnical engineering.
  • Eligibility for registration as an Engineer-in-Training / Candidate Engineer / equivalent with the relevant professional body (or already registered).
  • Possess the ability to prioritise and multi-task and meet project deadlines.
  • A valid driver’s license with own reliable transport.
  • A valid passport and be willing to travel to remote project sites for work, international travel may form part of the role.
Advantageous (non-essential):
  • Exposure to mining, tailings storage facilities, or dams projects.
  • Experience with basic and/or specialised geotechnical software (e.g. Slide, SLOPE/W, PLAXIS, SEEP/W or similar).
  • Previous site experience (geotechnical investigations, construction monitoring, QA/QC)
Roles and responsibilities:
 
Under the supervision of senior engineers, the candidate will:
  • Assist with geotechnical investigations:
    • Plan and supervise site investigations (boreholes, test pits, in situ testing).
    • Coordinate with drilling contractors and laboratories.
    • Log soils/rock and collect samples in accordance with standards.
  • Support tailings and geotechnical design tasks:
    • Contribute to stability analyses of embankments, slopes, and tailings storage facilities.
    • Assist with seepage, settlement and deformation analyses.
    • Help prepare design drawings, sections, and details in collaboration with designers/drafters.
  • Contribute to monitoring and performance assessment:
    • Assist with instrumentation planning and data collection.
    • Support the review and interpretation of monitoring data and preparation of summaries for senior review.
  • Support engineering calculations and modelling:
    • Perform basic geotechnical calculations under guidance.
    • Use numerical/analytical software (e.g. slope stability and seepage packages) after appropriate training.
  • Assist with reporting and documentation:
    • Draft technical notes, site visit reports, investigation reports and sections of design reports.
    • Ensure calculations, logs and data are clearly documented and filed.
  • Participate in fieldwork and site visits:
    • Travel to project sites (which may be remote) for investigations, construction support and monitoring.
    • Adhere strictly to company and client health, safety and environmental (HSE) procedures.
  • Support project delivery and coordination:
    • Help with planning and organising tasks to meet project timelines.
    • Liaise with team members, contractors and occasionally clients as directed by senior staff
Core Competencies:
 
We are investing time and mentoring into developing this role, so we are looking for someone who is:
  • Hungry to learn and grow – curious, asks questions, and keen to understand both the detail and the bigger picture.
  • Technically inclined – strong analytical skills, comfortable with calculations, data, and problem-solving.
  • Detail-oriented – careful and methodical with logging, data capture, calculations and documentation.
  • Proactive and responsible – takes initiative, follows through on tasks, and delivers on commitments.
  • A good communicator – able to write clearly and concisely, and communicate with team members professionally.
  • Team-oriented – works well within multidisciplinary project teams and is willing to assist where needed.
  • Field-ready – willing and able to travel and work on site, sometimes in remote locations and varying conditions, in line with HSE requirements.
Salary and Rewards:
 
Market related with Company Benefits.
 
We believe that people are our major asset. Our ability to attract and retain highly motivated employees is largely dependent on the opportunities that we provide for individuals to satisfy their personal goals within the framework of the organisation. In order to achieve these objectives, we aim to:
  • Pay above-average packages for good performance and monitor the remuneration structure in each relevant market so that we don’t fall behind;
  • Accommodate individual preferences for work assignments and schedules as far as possible;
  • Support an open-door policy. Where employees feel they have difficulty in discussing concerns with their seniors, they have direct access to any Partner, Member of the Human Resources Committee or the Human Resources Manager and ultimately the Managing Director.
We believe that a high-quality organisation relies on high quality employees in all posts and at all levels.
 
Upon becoming a permanent member of staff, the Company will endeavour to pay an annual performance bonus to each permanent employee as a reward for individual / financial performance. The Company reserves the right to pay an interim bonus during the year, normally in December.  This forms part of the annual bonus.
 
The Company is an employee-owned Company.  In line with the Company policy, an offer of available shares is made each year and employees are encouraged to invest in their Company.  Partners consider the views of shareholders on the admission of new employees as shareholders.
 
Detailed applications must be forwarded to the Human Resources Department via the website www.srk.co.za by 16 March 2026.
 
SRK reserves the right not to make an appointment. Submissions from underqualified or overqualified applicants may not receive a response. Applicants not receiving a response within 4 weeks should deem their applications to have been unsuccessful.