Trenching Engineer Offshore

About the role

As an Offshore Trenching Engineer, you combine your geological expertise with data analysis to plan and optimize trenching operations within our offshore projects as effectively as possible. You play a key role in both the preparation phase and the execution of complex installation works worldwide. Through short site and vessel visits, you help increase the vessel’s productivity. You are primarily based at our headquarters in Aalst.

What you’ll do

• You analyze and assess all available seabed data (geophysical and geotechnical) and project constraints, translating these into clear, structured reports.
• You advise on the most suitable techniques and equipment to bury cables in the seabed (trenching) and define realistic productivity expectations (strategy).
• You identify geological and operational risks that may impact trenching operations and communicate these clearly to tender and project teams.
• You determine the optimal configuration of trenching equipment based on expected soil conditions and identified risks.
• You are responsible for preparing formal Burial Assessment Studies, documenting all geological information, trenching strategies, and associated risks for both tenders and projects.
• You monitor trenching progress during project execution and provide recommendations to improve productivity, quality, and performance.
• You ensure that lessons learned from previous projects are incorporated into new tenders and ongoing projects.
• You develop dashboards, scripts, and analytical tools that enable accurate interpretation of seabed conditions and trenching performance.

What do you need?

 

• You hold a Master’s degree or higher in geology, geotechnics, or an engineering discipline with a strong affinity for soil mechanics.
• You have an interest in trenching operations, subsea cable installation, and offshore energy.
• You work in an analytical, structured, and accurate manner, with strong attention to detail and the ability to handle large datasets.
• Experience with tools such as Python, Power BI, Excel, or VBA is a plus.
• You communicate clearly and professionally, both in writing and verbally, and have a strong command of English.
• You are primarily based in Aalst but are willing to travel regularly for short international/offshore assignments.

Why working for us

Working at Jan De Nul means helping to find solutions to some of the biggest challenges of our time: from energy transition to rising sea levels to smart mobility. It means learning and working together every day, with the aim of ensuring the global quality of life for generations to come. 

 

What we offer

• An ongoing training programme through our JDN Academy.

• The opportunity to exercise at work through our FIT programme.  

• A permanent contract with 42 paid holidays (20 statutory, 12 ADV and 10 public holidays).

• A healthy work-life balance (flexible working hours and occasional work from home).  

• A competitive salary with thirteenth month and double holiday pay, including:

  • Meal vouchers and eco vouchers  

  • Opportunity to participate in the Flex Reward programme, including bicycle and car leasing, including fuel card or charging pass in Belgium.  

  • Intervention public transport and bicycle allowance  

  • Group and hospitalisation insurance  

  • Option of iPhone with data subscription

  • Various staff discounts 

*applicable with Belgian contract.

 

The world becomes what you make of it Jan De Nul is shaping water and land worldwide. We drive the transition to renewable energy with offshore energy infrastructure. We focus on nature-inclusive dredging solutions to build ports and protect our coastline. We develop innovative construction projects for smart mobility and sustainable buildings. And we redevelop our planet by giving polluted sites a new purpose. At Jan De Nul, the world becomes what you make of it.  

 

Jan De Nul Group promotes diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We are an equal opportunities and anti-discrimination employer.

Trenching, Soil, Soil mechanics, geotechnical, geotech, offshore trenching, geology, geotechniek, civil engineering, offshore trenching, grondmechanica