New York State Department of Civil Service
Division of Classification & Compensation
Tentative Classification Standard
Occ. Code 7252200
Assistant Drill Rig Operator, Grade 8 7252200
Drill Rig Operator, Grade 12 7252300
Drill Supervisor, Grade 16 7253500
Supervisor Drilling Operations, Grade 20 7254500
Brief Description of Class Series
Positions in this series use specialized training and experience to oversee or operate drilling equipment used for acquiring samples of rock, soil, and pavement, and measuring ground water as part of subsurface explorations for geotechnical engineering purposes.
These positions are classified only in the Department of Transportation.
Distinguishing Characteristics
Drill Rig Operator: non-competitive ; first supervisory level; supervises and trains the Regional Drill Crew; oversees field drilling operations and maintains records.
Drill Supervisor: assists in oversight of the statewide drilling operation; trains regional drill crews in proper and safe drilling techniques; and plans and directs drilling projects.
Supervisor Drilling Operations: one-position class; assigned to the Geotechnical Engineering Bureau in Albany; oversees the statewide drilling operations, including both State and contractor drill crews.
Illustrative Tasks
Assistant Drill Rig Operator
Obtains soil, rock, and pavement core samples.
Drives drilling equipment and supports vehicles to borehole site and sets up drilling equipment.
Manually drills hand auger holes, probes, and test pits.
Operates bulldozers, pumps, and grout mixers.
Progresses borehole by means of hollow stem auger, mud rotary, drilled-in casing, driven casing, or rock coring; records sample blow counts during progression of the borehole.
Performs preventive maintenance and minor repairs on all drilling equipment.
Prepares field drill log and maintains productivity and equipment records.
Performs traffic flagging.
Supervises drill crew in the absence of the Drill Rig Operator.
Performs routine tasks to assist in regional snow and ice control operations.
Drill Rig Operator
Supervises a drill crew obtaining soil and rock samples for engineering purposes.
Selects the drilling method suitable for the geologic conditions encountered during borehole progression.
Installs geotechnical instrumentation devices such as slope indicators and open well piezometers.
Assembles a floating barge when drilling over water, which includes anchoring and stabilizing, to provide a safe working platform.
Reads engineering plans to identify boring locations and coordinates utility clearance for boreholes in accordance with Industrial Code 53.
Maintains detailed field logs for each boring.
Trains subordinate staff in proper and safe drilling techniques.
Drill Supervisor
Travels statewide to assist and provide guidance to regional drill crews.
Inspects and approves drilling equipment used by drilling contractors.
Provides technical support to drilling contractors.
Maintains a statewide drill tool inventory.
Processes drill tool requests from regional drill crews and purchases replacement drill supplies such as diamond bits and core barrels.
Revises and updates NYSDOT Drill Tool Catalogue.
Assists in establishing standards for new drilling equipment.
Supervisor Drilling Operations
Supervises Drill Supervisors.
Advises and assists regional drill crews with drilling in difficult and unique situations.
Plans ways to improve drilling methods and plans and implements appropriate training for statewide drilling personnel.
Provides technical support to drilling contractors.
Inspects and approves equipment used in drilling and develops specifications for improving equipment.
Assists engineering staff in preparing language for drill contracts.
Minimum Qualifications
Assistant Drill Rig Operator
Non-competitive: satisfactory completion of the two-year Assistant Drill Rig Operator traineeship; or two years of experience assisting in the operation of drilling equipment used for acquiring samples of rock, soil, and pavement, and measuring ground water as part of subsurface exploration for geotechnical engineering purposes.
Drill Rig Operator
Non-competitive: three years of experience assisting in the operation of drilling equipment used for acquiring samples of rock, soil, and pavement, and measuring ground water as part of subsurface exploration for geotechnical engineering purposes.
Drill Supervisor
Promotion: two years of experience as a Drill Rig Operator.
Open-competitive: six years of experience assisting in the operation of drilling equipment used for acquiring samples of rock, soil, and pavement, and measuring ground water as part of subsurface exploration for geotechnical engineering purposes, or four years of experience assisting in the operation of drilling equipment used for acquiring samples of rock, soil, and pavement and measuring ground water as part of subsurface exploration for geotechnical engineering purposes, two years of which must have been as the primary operator of a drill rig, including supervision of a drill rig crew performing subsurface exploration for geotechnical engineering purposes.
Supervisor Drilling Operations
Promotion: two years of service as a Drill Supervisor.
Open-competitive: eight years of experience supervising a drill rig crew responsible for performing subsurface exploration for engineering purposes.
When required to operate motor vehicles, candidates for all titles in this series must possess a valid New York State driver's license appropriate for the type of vehicle to be operated.
Note: Classification Standards illustrate the nature, extent, and scope of duties and responsibilities of the classes they describe. Standards cannot and do not include all the work that might be appropriately performed by a class. The minimum qualifications above are those required for appointment at the time the Classification Standard was written. Please contact the Division of Staffing Services for current information on minimum requirements for appointment or examination.
09/2020
MK