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Drillforeurope

Online platform for HDD job opportunities, Connecting 120 companies.

12/06/2026

“Women in leadership roles on the jobsite? Absolutely possible. And we need more of them.”

That was the clear message from Marie Hartmann of Bohlen & Doyen Bau GmbH during the 2nd DCA Spring Talks in Aachen. She shared inspiring insights into her daily work and her wide range of responsibilities in horizontal directional drilling. And Marie was not the only woman on stage.

Hosted by the WE-HDD Group, the event brought together professionals from across Europe for a day of presentations, conversations and an interactive workshop. With many female speakers sharing their expertise, experiences and career paths, the event showed that women are already helping shape the future of HDD.

For young women who are exploring their next step, that matters. Because HDD might not be the first industry that comes to mind. But it is a sector where technical skills, curiosity, teamwork and problem-solving are highly valued. On the jobsite, in engineering, in project management, in safety, in planning and in leadership.
Through initiatives like WE-HDD, supported by , the industry is making these stories more visible and keeping the conversation about inclusion moving.

Curious what a career in HDD could look like? Visit https://drillforeurope.com/ and read more stories from women working in the industry.

10/06/2026

Three questions for ... In this Q&A, co-owner and senior engineering consultant Fabiola Schnau, gives an insight into her career in HDD: from the technical challenges and variety of the work to her experience as a woman in a traditionally male-dominated industry, and her advice for young professionals entering the field.

1. What appeals to you about HDD?
"For me, HDD is a highly demanding, practical and future-oriented technical field, offering great variety, continuous development and the opportunity to contribute to truly exceptional projects."

2. How doe you experience working as a woman in a traditionally male-dominated industry?
"Naturally, at the beginning there was a brief thought as to whether, as a woman, I would be accepted in this environment. However, that concern quickly disappeared during my early site experiences. With a certain level of self-confidence, good preparation and a natural approach, I found that people treated me with respect and that prejudices did not need to become the focus."

3. What is your advice for young professionals?
"My personal advice would be: always believe in yourself and have the courage to explore new paths. At first, many things may appear complex or intimidating, but with commitment, willingness to learn and perseverance, you grow into every challenge."

Read the full interview with Fabiola: https://drillforeurope.com/blog/three-questions-for-fabiola-on-technology-trust-and-finding-your-place-in-hdd/

22/04/2026

Three questions that provide further insight into working in the HDD industry. Thank you Kevin, for your contribution!

1️⃣ How did you end up working in HDD?

“I got into HDD through a friend who had been in the industry for a few years. One of the reasons I started working at is that they operate a four-day working week on certain projects.”

2️⃣ What has been a project you’re particularly proud of?

“A project in Münster. We completed a large reaming of 1000 mm and pulled in a bundle of 14 pipes. Finishing a job like that and seeing everything work – that’s a good feeling.”

3️⃣ Why would you recommend HDD to young people?

“Every site is different; you’re constantly facing new challenges. It’s a job with a future. Especially with the energy transition, it’s only becoming more important.”

Would you like to contribute too? Get in touch via a direct message.

20/03/2026

In HDD, precision is everything. A drill head can be pushed hundreds of metres through the ground, often passing close to existing infrastructure such as gas lines, fibre cables, or water pipes.

That’s why every bore starts with a carefully designed drill profile. Entry angle, curve radius, depth and exit point are all planned in advance. During the drilling process, the team continuously monitors the position of the drill head using guidance systems that measure depth, angle and direction in real time.

But technology alone is not enough.

Experienced drillers constantly interpret the data, adjust the steering of the drill head, and work closely with the locator above ground. It’s this combination of planning, technology and craftsmanship that allows HDD teams to guide a bore accurately through the ground.

Curious about the skills behind HDD projects? Discover more about careers in the industry at drillforeurope.com.

📷 Digital Control Incorporated

19/03/2026

Who wants to learn?

That’s the question OCU Group asks when looking for new talent in Horizontal Directional Drilling. Instead of searching only for experienced professionals, they are mostly interested in candidates with the right mindset: curious, motivated and ready to grow.

In this interview, Mike, Managing Director of OCU’s Trenchless & HDD division, and Lucy, Chief People Officer at OCU Group, share how they develop the next generation of HDD professionals.

👉 Read the full article here:
https://drillforeurope.com/blog/who-wants-to-learn-recruitment-at-ocu-group/?utm_source=facebook&utm_campaign=ocu%20group

13/03/2026

HDD dictionary: the final terms from Phase 2: equipment and what you will encounter on site.

1. Stringing Area / Roller track: Area used for preparation of the pipe(s) to be pulled, preferably a little longer than the drill and if possible in an almost straight line in elongation of the borehole.

2. BHA: Bottom Hole Assembly: Anything in the drill string below the standard drill pipes; different in every phase of the project. Think drill bit, bent sub during pilot hole, or reamer and subs during reaming.

3. Surface Preperation: Preparation of the working area for entry- and exit point, depending on the requirements of owner or permits (removal of topsoil, gravel or steel plates etc).

4. Casing: Steel pipe over a certain length of the borehole at entry and/or exit point to overcome section that are difficult to drill.

Got something to add? Share it with us, we’re shaping this series together!

09/03/2026

That’s a lot of women around one drill. And we love to see it!

More and more women are finding their way into the HDD industry – on site, in engineering, geology or in leadership. The team from American Augers shows exactly what that looks like.

A nice reminder there’s plenty of room for women in HDD. Keep on going. You belong here.

And don’t forget: WE-HDD Spring Talks is coming up! Let’s bring the women of HDD across Europe together in Aachen on 28 May. Register here: [email protected]

04/03/2026

Engineering under electric skies 💥

Remember chef-turned-surveyor Peter Tersteeg? He’s now working at a rather extraordinary jobsite.

On this horizontal directional drilling-project in Canada, temperatures dropped to -20°C while the team worked around the clock on a 1,882-metre intersect bore: two drill heads meeting each other underground with extreme precision. To make that happen, the bore path was monitored 24/7 by a four-person survey team using gyro steering technology to stay exactly on track over long distances.

Want to read more about Peter’s remarkable career journey? Read the full blog here
🔗 https://drillforeurope.com/blog/switching-careers-chef/?utm_source=facebook&utm_campaign=switching%20careers

📷 Brownline

17/02/2026

Maintenance is the quiet force behind every successful HDD project. When a rig starts on time, a recycling unit keeps the mud clean, tools are ready, and downtime stays low, it is rarely luck. It is people behind the scenes doing the work that keeps the work running.

Curious what roles exist behind the scenes in HDD? Explore opportunities on Drill For Europe: link in bio.

10/02/2026

Spotlight vacancy!

As a Senior Project Manager at Van Leeuwen Sleufloze Technieken, you take the lead from tender to delivery, working closely with teams in the office and on site. It is a role for someone who enjoys responsibility, sees opportunities, and is confident in guiding both projects and people. With room for initiative and a forward-thinking environment, VLST offers a place where experience meets ambition.

Interested? Check the full vacancy via https://drillforeurope.com/vacancy/senior-project-manager.

Van Leeuwen Sleufloze Technieken

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