Tunnelling Engineers

Location: South West

Key Responsibilities

Designing, planning, and overseeing the construction of underground tunnels, including managing technical aspects like soil and rock mechanics analysis, structural design, and construction methods to ensure projects are completed safely, within budget, and to required specifications, often working on large-scale transportation or infrastructure projects such as highways, railways, and water conveyance systems.

Required Job Skills, Experience And Qualifications

Construction management

• Overseeing the construction process, including selecting appropriate excavation methods (e.g., TBM, Sequential Excavation Method)
• Monitoring construction progress and ensuring compliance with safety regulations
• Coordinating with contractors and other engineering disciplines

Technical expertise

• Applying knowledge of ground mechanics, structural engineering, and construction techniques specific to tunneling
• Assessing potential risks and developing mitigation strategies
• Contributing to design reports, technical specifications, and contract documents

Project planning and budgeting

• Developing project timelines and cost estimates
• Managing project budgets and ensuring cost‑effective construction

Collaboration and communication

• Liaising with clients and other engineering teams
• Presenting technical information and project updates to relevant parties
• Strong understanding of soil and rock mechanics principles
• Proficiency in relevant design software (e.g., Plaxis, finite element analysis programs)
• Experience with tunnel construction methods and project management
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills
• Awareness of safety regulations related to underground construction

Design and analysis

• Performing geotechnical investigations to assess soil and rock conditions.
• Designing tunnel structures, including lining systems, support of excavation (SOE) methods, and ventilation systems.
• Utilizing specialized software for numerical modeling and stress analysis.

Specialization options

• Tunnel ventilation engineer: Designing and managing ventilation systems within tunnels
• Tunnel lining engineer: Focusing on the design and installation of tunnel lining segments
• TBM (Tunnel Boring Machine) engineer: Expertise in operating and maintaining Tunnel Boring Machines

Qualifications And Experience

• A Bacherlor degree of equivalent in an Engineering discipline (preferably Civil, Structural or Mechanical)
• SMSTS trained (Mandatory)
• IOSH Managing Safely in Construction (Preferable but not mandatory)
• CSCS Card
• 3+ years working in an underground environment on Earth Pressure Balance Tunnel Boring Machines
• Previous experience working as the PIC (Person in Charge).

Company Background

The Joseph Gallagher Group is a family owned Civil Engineering business that delivers expertise whilst putting client satisfaction at the core of the business. Built on a personal reputation for honesty and quality, we understand the actions we take affect the communities and environments we operate in.

LIFE Culture

We're promoting a culture change within the industry and demonstrating initiatives to dramatically improve Health, Safety and Wellbeing. In 2014, we launched our award‑winning cultural safety programme (LIFE) which is deeply embedded into the company’s DNA and core values.

Disability Confident Committed

We are a disability confident employer and we're committed to providing equal opportunities in employment. All individuals will be treated in a fair and equal manner and in accordance with the law regardless of gender, marital status, race, religion, colour, age, disability or sexual orientation.

Reasonable Adjustments

We want to make our recruitment processes accessible to everyone, so if there is any way that we can support you to enable you to be the best you can, please contact the HR team at

We are one of the UK's leading civil engineering and tunnelling contractors, offering a wide range of construction and specialist services.