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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Underground Analyst

💰 $70,000 - $120,000

EngineeringGeotechnicalGISUtilitiesSurveying

🎯 Role Definition

The Underground Analyst is a specialist who plans, executes, interprets and documents subsurface investigations for underground utilities, mines, tunnels and other buried infrastructure. This role synthesizes desktop records research, geophysical survey methods (GPR, EM, magnetics), field verification (vacuum excavation, potholing, CCTV), survey and GIS/CAD deliverables, and technical reporting to reduce utility conflict risk, inform design and support safe construction execution. The ideal candidate combines hands-on field experience with strong data-processing, reporting and stakeholder communication skills.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Field Technician / Utility Locator with experience in GPR and locating equipment.
  • GIS Analyst or Survey Technician with exposure to as-built and topographic mapping.
  • Junior Geotechnical or Civil Engineering Technician supporting site investigations.

Advancement To:

  • Senior Underground Analyst / Senior SUE Specialist
  • Subsurface Utilities Lead or Utility Coordination Manager
  • Geotechnical Engineer, Tunnel/Mining Project Lead, or Asset Management Lead

Lateral Moves:

  • Utility Asset Condition Analyst
  • Construction Utility Coordinator / Permitting Specialist
  • BIM Coordinator for underground utilities

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Conduct comprehensive desktop utility records research and historical plan reviews to create an initial subsurface utility baseline prior to fieldwork, compiling municipal, utility-owner and as-built records into a centralized data repository.
  • Plan, scope and coordinate subsurface utility surveys (SUE) including selection of appropriate methods (GPR, EM induction, magnetometer, resistivity) to maximize detection accuracy for project-specific constraints.
  • Lead and execute ground-penetrating radar (GPR) surveys, including antenna selection, calibration, data acquisition parameters and field QA to produce interpretable profiles for buried asset detection.
  • Perform electromagnetic induction (EMI) and magnetics surveys for non-conductive and ferrous utility detection, integrating results with GPR to validate asset presence and depth estimates.
  • Conduct targeted daylighting and potholing (vacuum excavation or hand excavation) to physically verify utility locations and depths, document field conditions, and reconcile with survey and records data.
  • Supervise and operate CCTV and pipe inspection systems for internal condition assessment of sewer, stormwater and other buried pipelines; interpret video logs and generate defect and CCTV survey reports.
  • Capture precise survey control and as-built locations using GNSS, total station and level instruments; georeference all subsurface data and produce CAD and GIS-ready deliverables.
  • Create SUE deliverables at ASCE 38-02 or client-equivalent quality levels, including plan-view maps, three-dimensional point data for utility features, and annotated drawings for design teams.
  • Integrate LiDAR, photogrammetry and terrestrial scanning outputs with subsurface detection results to develop comprehensive 3D site models for clash-detection and construction planning.
  • Produce clear, actionable technical memos and final reports that summarize methods, limitations, confidence levels, and recommended mitigation steps to reduce utility conflict and safety risk.
  • Maintain and update enterprise GIS and asset-management databases with verified utility locations, metadata, condition assessments and digital as-built files.
  • Review engineering design drawings to identify underground utility conflicts and provide practical recommendations for redesign, relocation, or protection-in-place strategies.
  • Coordinate with utility owners, municipal stakeholders and contractors to obtain permit approvals, access agreements and utility markups; manage third-party utility locate services as required.
  • Perform geotechnical borehole logging and sample collection when required to correlate subsurface conditions with geophysical results, documenting stratigraphy and groundwater observations.
  • Conduct risk assessments and constructability reviews for proposed excavations, tunneling, and trenching activities, advising project teams on shoring, dewatering and confined space controls.
  • Establish, implement and enforce site-specific health & safety plans for all fieldwork activities, including confined space entry, traffic control, and hazardous-material awareness; maintain training and certifications.
  • Calibrate, maintain and troubleshoot survey and geophysical instruments, maintain calibration logs, and implement vendor-recommended service schedules to ensure data quality.
  • Lead and mentor junior field staff and technicians, providing on-the-job training in survey practices, GPR interpretation, safety procedures and quality assurance.
  • Prepare accurate cost estimates, work scopes and project schedules for subsurface investigation contracts and coordinate field resource allocation to meet budget and timeline constraints.
  • Support tendering and procurement by preparing technical specifications for subsurface investigation packages and evaluating subcontractor proposals for methodology and QA/QC compliance.
  • Implement QA/QC processes for all deliverables, perform peer-reviews of CAD/GIS outputs and technical reports, and ensure consistency with client standards and regulatory requirements.
  • Provide direct technical support during construction, attend site meetings, and perform real-time verification of utility locations to reduce change orders and construction delays.
  • Analyze aggregated subsurface datasets and prepare data visualizations (heat maps, depth-to-utility profiles, clash matrices) that inform design optimization and risk-based decision-making.
  • Maintain project documentation including daily field logs, safety observations, calibration records, chain-of-custody for samples, and digital records for client deliverables.

Secondary Functions

  • Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis.
  • Contribute to the organization's data strategy and roadmap.
  • Collaborate with business units to translate data needs into engineering requirements.
  • Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies within the data engineering team.
  • Assist in development and maintenance of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for subsurface investigation and SUE deliverable production.
  • Help evaluate and pilot new survey and sensor technologies (e.g., high-frequency GPR, machine-learning assisted interpretation, robotic locators).
  • Prepare client-facing presentations and site briefing materials that summarize findings, risks and recommended next steps.
  • Support business development by preparing technical sections of proposals and responding to client technical queries.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Ground-Penetrating Radar (GPR) operation and data interpretation for utility locating and subsurface profiling.
  • Electromagnetic induction (EMI) and magnetometer survey techniques for buried asset detection and metal-detection workflows.
  • CCTV pipeline inspection operation, logging, and defect coding for sewer/stormwater condition assessment.
  • Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE) deliverable preparation according to ASCE 38-02 or client-specific SUE standards, including quality-level documentation.
  • GIS data creation and management (ArcGIS Pro / QGIS): feature attribution, geodatabase management, spatial analysis and cartographic production.
  • CAD and drafting skills for utility plans using AutoCAD and Civil 3D to produce plan-view and profile drawings and as-built documentation.
  • 3D modeling and BIM integration for underground utilities (Revit or other BIM platforms) and clash-detection workflows.
  • Surveying fundamentals: GNSS RTK, total station operation, leveling and control network establishment for high-accuracy utility positioning.
  • LiDAR and photogrammetry post-processing for above-ground-to-below-ground integration and 3D site modeling.
  • Data processing and scripting: Python, SQL or R for data wrangling, automation of deliverables and basic geospatial analysis.
  • Advanced MS Excel for data validation, depth reconciliation, and reporting (pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, macros).
  • Knowledge of geotechnical logging, borehole data interpretation and correlation methods to align geophysical signatures with subsurface conditions.
  • Asset management system familiarity (Maximo, CityWorks or equivalent) and experience uploading as-built records and condition data.
  • Health & safety certifications and practices (Confined Space, HAZWOPER awareness, traffic management, first aid) relevant to fieldwork.
  • Technical writing and report composition for regulatory submissions, client reports and internal quality records.

Soft Skills

  • Exceptional attention to detail with the ability to synthesize complex subsurface datasets into accurate, defensible conclusions.
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills for client-facing interactions, stakeholder coordination and technical report writing.
  • Problem-solving and critical thinking to interpret ambiguous geophysical data and provide practical mitigation recommendations.
  • Project management and time management abilities to prioritize multiple field programs, reporting deadlines and budget constraints.
  • Team leadership and training aptitude to supervise field crews and mentor junior analysts.
  • Client-centric mindset with experience managing expectations, explaining limitations, and delivering value-driven outcomes.
  • Adaptability and resilience working in variable field conditions, inclement weather and changing site constraints.
  • Negotiation and stakeholder engagement skills when coordinating with utility owners, permitting agencies and contractors.
  • Quality-focused mindset to perform peer reviews, enforce QA/QC and continuously improve standard procedures.
  • Ethical and safety-first attitude with a commitment to regulatory compliance and responsible data stewardship.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor's degree in Geology, Civil Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering, Surveying, Geophysics, Geography (GIS) or a closely related technical discipline.

Preferred Education:

  • Master's degree in Geotechnical Engineering, Subsurface Engineering, Geophysics, GIS or related field; professional certifications (P.E., CPG) advantageous.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Geology / Applied Geoscience
  • Civil Engineering / Geotechnical Engineering
  • Surveying & Geomatics
  • Geophysics
  • Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
  • Construction Management (with subsurface focus)

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 3–8 years of progressive experience in subsurface investigations, utility locating, SUE projects, or geotechnical/site investigation programs.

Preferred: 5+ years of hands-on experience performing GPR, EMI, CCTV inspections and producing ASCE-level SUE deliverables; demonstrated experience with GIS/CAD integration, site field management, and multi-stakeholder coordination.

  • Experience working with municipal utilities, heavy civil construction, transportation projects, mining or utility owners highly desirable.
  • Proven track record of delivering field and digital deliverables under health & safety frameworks and client-specific QA/QC standards.
  • Demonstrable examples of technical reports, SUE drawings and GIS datasets available for review during hiring process.
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