Driller Assistant

Professional Engineering Consultants•Wichita, KS

About The Position

The Driller Assistant supports the Driller, other Driller Assistants, and Project Engineers with daily geotechnical drilling operations, with occasional environmental drilling work. The role assists with drilling and sampling, well installation and abandonment, soil borings, rig setup and movement, equipment handling, maintenance, and field documentation. The position also supports site safety, sample management, inventory, and routine exploration tasks. Work is primarily conducted in the field and involves travel, overnight assignments, flexible schedules, and overtime depending on workload. The work environment is described as friendly, respectful, collaborative, and team oriented, with daily peer interaction about work progress, client needs, and technical issues. PEC states that it aims to support productive work, quality time away from the office, and positive career growth. The position requires frequent standing, walking, reaching, bending, kneeling, crouching, crawling, climbing, balancing, and handling tools and equipment. It involves regularly lifting up to 50 pounds and occasionally lifting up to 100 pounds.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
Mechanical aptitude and experience working with mechanical systems.
Sufficient knowledge of geotechnical drilling techniques to be responsible for an entire project.
Ability to travel and stay overnight for out-of-town assignments; willing to travel 75% of the time.
Ability to work flexible schedules, including overtime based on drilling workload.
Collaborative approach and ability to work effectively with colleagues and clients.
Ethical conduct, confidentiality, and attention to safety and security.
Ability to follow safety protocols and guidelines.
Ability to meet physical demands, including lifting and carrying equipment, working in varied weather conditions, and traveling to different locations.
Valid driver’s license with acceptable violation history.
Familiarity with DOT and IFTA regulations.

Nice To Haves

Experience working with hydraulic systems.
Geotechnical drilling experience with soils augers, wet rotary drilling, and wireline coring.
Commercial Driver’s License (CDL).
40-hour HAZWOPER certification.

Responsibilities

Perform drilling duties, including handling drill rods, wrenches, and other tools behind the drill rig.
Load and unload drilling equipment from company vehicles and trailers.
Assist with drilling and sampling geotechnical test borings, installing wells, plugging and abandoning wells, and drilling soil borings.
Complete labor-intensive projects assigned by the Driller, Project Coordinator, or Project Manager.
Develop and maintain working knowledge of drilling equipment, tooling, and field operations.
Monitor drilling equipment performance and identify maintenance and repair needs.
Complete daily reports, safety paperwork, and vehicle and equipment inspections, and submit required paperwork to the office daily.
Attend safety meetings and comply with client safety standards and programs.
Maintain clean and organized equipment and job-site areas.
Handle drilling mud by picking up filled sacks and emptying mud into the mixer container; monitor drilling-fluid properties.
Perform equipment repairs and maintenance in the field and at the shop.
Ensure sample bags and cores are correctly and legibly labeled, kept in numeric order by designated footage, and securely closed; build chip trays.
Assist with rigging up and down and moving to new drill locations.
Fuel site equipment and perform preventative maintenance, including oil changes, greasing, and fueling.
Complete daily site, mast, and pre-shift inspections on equipment.
Provide site introductions to visitors.
Maintain an accurate parts inventory.
Assist the lead operator with routine exploration tasks.
Take on other projects and responsibilities as assigned at the company’s discretion.