Materials Technician

About The Role

Balfour Beatty is a leading national infrastructure and construction company with more than a century of heritage in Scotland, delivering key projects that strengthen communities and improve national connectivity.

The Netherton Hub is a major new energy infrastructure development located near Peterhead in Aberdeenshire, forming a key part of SSEN Transmission’s multi‑billion‑pound Accelerated Strategic Transmission Investment (ASTI) programme and its wider Pathway to 2030 upgrade of the Scottish transmission network.

Designed to strengthen the UK’s ability to transport renewable electricity from the north of Scotland to high‑demand centres nationwide, the hub will incorporate a new High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) converter station, a 400 kV substation, a 132 kV substation, and associated operational facilities. Once complete, it will enable efficient long‑distance transmission of offshore and onshore renewable energy, supporting both UK and Scottish Government net‑zero targets while delivering significant economic benefits, job creation, and local supply‑chain opportunities.

By joining the ASTI Netherton Hub project, candidates will gain hands‑on experience delivering one of the UK’s most significant energy programmes, developing advanced personal and professional skills, benefiting from long‑term career progression within a national framework, and playing a direct role in strengthening Scotland’s renewable‑powered future.

Balfour Beatty Regional runs a UKAS accredited laboratory to the highest technical and quality standards; every member of staff is expected to be highly professional, conscientious, and hardworking. Main duties are as follows, but additional tasks or duties may be required.

• Sampling materials for Approval / Compliance testing to UKAS standards
• Sample preparation (quartering, riffling and crushing)
• In‑situ testing:
  Dynamic cone penetrometer, Plate load, Sand replacement, Light Weight Deflectometer, Nuclear density testing and Pavement quality testing
• Laboratory testing:
  Moisture contents, moisture condition values, particle size distribution (wet and dry), density and compressive strength of concrete, soil classifications
• Carryout concrete slump tests and making/testing/crushing cubes for compliance.
• Laboratory environmental checks and balance checks
• Calibration of equipment
• Keeping laboratory clean and tidy including equipment
• Understanding standards, test methods and specifications
• As civil engineering involves many different materials, understand their properties, uses and restrictions are vital in making the right decisions during construction and ensuring we get it right first time.
• Ensure a relentless focus on Zero Harm
• Support the delivery of Sustainability activities
• Maintain and supervise safe methods of work for the materials team on site and in the laboratory
• Undertake inspection and testing on site and in the laboratory as required by the contract, identifying and reporting areas of risk and opportunity immediately
• Comply with the site quality system for the materials testing laboratory.
• Record and report defects through the contract non conformance procedure
• Deliver results by deadlines as required by the contract and project teams
• Maintain equipment calibrations and notify the lab manager of any defects requiring attention.
• Identifying, recording and reporting of Best Practice to project and offsite
• Assist undertaking audits of Laboratory Quality System on the project, and other contracts as required by agreed rotas and ensure that identified findings are closed out

• Previous experience working in a UKAS-accredited laboratory
• Experience working with construction materials and specifications, primarily soils and concrete
• Strong focus on health and safety within a laboratory environment, including:
• Following risk assessments and method statements
• Attending daily briefings
• Supporting site health and safety audits when required
• Ability to operate and work to an agreed budget
• Materials technical expertise to advise contracts when necessary
• Valid CSCS card
• Full UK driving licence