Driller's Assistant / Drill Helper

Job Posting: Driller's Assistant / Drill Helper - Geotechnical | Environmental Division

Company: Seylone

Location: Long Island, NY (regional work across NY, NJ, CT, PA, DE)

Employment Type: Full-Time

Compensation: $25 to $32 per hour, based on experience and certifications

About Seylone:

Seylone is a leading construction and consulting firm, specializing in advanced geotechnical and environmental services such as test pits and borings. Our commitment to excellence, innovation, and safety has made us a preferred partner for the industry's top engineering and development firms. By delivering comprehensive solutions and supporting the foundation of significant projects, Seylone plays a crucial role in the construction and consulting landscape.

Position Overview:

Seylone is seeking a Driller's Assistant to join our Geotechnical and Environmental Division. This is a full-time field role supporting our drillers on geotechnical and environmental soil borings, rock coring, and monitoring well installations for public agencies and prime engineering firms across the New York metro area and the Mid-Atlantic. The work covers both open sites with track-mounted rigs and tight interior, basement, and limited access locations inside active buildings.

This is not an entry level laborer position. We are looking for a helper who has already spent time on a drill crew and knows the work: how a boring is advanced, how a split spoon is driven and recovered, how rods and casing are handled, how mud is mixed and kept circulating, and how a rig is set up and kept running. You should be able to anticipate what the driller needs next without being told. The right candidate is reliable, physically capable, careful with samples and documentation, and ready to step up to running a rig as the division grows.

Key Responsibilities:

• Assist the driller with rig positioning, setup, leveling, and breakdown at each boring location
• Handle, assemble, and break down drill rods, augers, casing, core barrels, and sampling tools
• Operate hand tools and sample handling equipment including split spoons, Shelby tubes, and core boxes
• Label, seal, and store soil and rock samples and core runs according to project requirements
• Mix and maintain drilling fluids, operate the mud pump and tub, and monitor fluid levels and circulation
• Manage cuttings, drums, and decontamination of tooling and equipment between borings
• Load and unload rigs, tooling, consumables, and water at the yard and on site
• Move equipment and tooling into and out of basements, mechanical rooms, and other limited access locations
• Help install groundwater monitoring wells, piezometers, and other instrumentation
• Support boring logs, daily drilling reports, and other field documentation
• Keep the work area clean, organized, and safe at all times and leave every location properly restored
• Perform routine maintenance, greasing, cleaning, and inspection of rigs, pumps, and tooling
• Participate in daily safety briefings and toolbox talks and follow all site specific and client safety requirements
• Work professionally and respectfully with project managers, engineers, inspectors, building personnel, and the public
• Work outdoors in a variety of site and weather conditions, with occasional night or weekend shifts when a project requires it

Skills & Qualifications:

• Minimum 1 year of hands-on experience as a drill helper or driller's assistant on geotechnical or environmental drill rigs - Required
• Working knowledge of SPT sampling, hollow stem auger, mud rotary, and casing advancement methods - Required
• Experience handling drill rods, augers, casing, core barrels, and sampling tools - Required
• Valid driver's license with clean driving record - Required
• OSHA 10 - Required (OSHA 30 preferred)
• Ability to lift and carry 75+ lbs repeatedly and work on your feet for a full shift - Required
• Must be based on Long Island, NY or able to report daily to our yard in Medford, NY - Required
• Reliable transportation to the yard and job sites - Required
• Willingness to travel for out of town projects when needed (hotel accommodations provided by Seylone) - Required
• 40-Hour HAZWOPER - Preferred
• NYC SST card - Preferred
• SWAC or TWIC - Preferred
• Class A or B CDL - Preferred
• Confined Space, Fall Protection, First Aid - Preferred
• Limited access or interior drilling experience - Preferred
• Rock coring and monitoring well installation experience - Preferred
• Mechanical aptitude and comfort working around heavy equipment, hydraulics, and hand and power tools
• Attention to detail in sample handling, labeling, and documentation
• Strong work ethic, punctuality, and the ability to take direction and work as part of a crew
• Professional, even-tempered, and respectful toward crew members, inspectors, engineers, and clients
• Desire to learn the trade and grow into a driller role

Why Join Seylone?

Becoming a part of Seylone means joining a team that is at the cutting edge of construction and consulting services. We are building an in-house geotechnical drilling division from the ground up with new equipment and a steady backlog from established clients. Helpers who start with us now will be trained directly by experienced drillers and will have a clear path to running their own rig as the fleet grows. We offer competitive pay, comprehensive benefits, and a dynamic work environment that fosters professional growth. Our collaboration with leading engineering and development firms provides our team members with unparalleled opportunities to contribute to significant projects and make a lasting impact in the industry.

Application Process:

To apply, please submit a resume. Include the drilling companies you have worked for, rigs and drilling methods you have worked on, certifications you currently hold (OSHA, HAZWOPER, SST, SWAC, TWIC), CDL class and endorsements if held, and references.

Seylone is an equal opportunity employer, dedicated to promoting diversity and inclusion in the workplace.