- Introduction
- Build a remote engineering team
- Speed up delivery
- Cut costs by over 85%
- Improve collaboration and team efficiency
Client Profile
- Soil testing and analysis
- Foundation and retaining wall design
- Geotechnical investigation reports
- Site feasibility assessments
- Slope stability evaluations
Challenges Faced
As the project load grew, the client started running into serious challenges:
There were few local candidates with experience in tools like PLAXIS, GEO5, AutoCAD Civil 3D, or Slope/W.
Local engineers demanded high salaries. On top of that came costs for office space, insurance, benefits, and hardware.
Recruiting through agencies took 6 to 10 weeks on average—far too slow for the pace of incoming work.
They tried using freelancers from Upwork and Fiverr. But the time zone gaps, weak communication, and lack of accountability made it risky.
The existing engineers were overloaded. Reports were being rushed, quality was slipping, and delivery deadlines were being missed.
Solution Implemented
- A senior engineer (7 years’ experience in foundation design and geotechnical analysis)
- A mid-level engineer skilled in report writing, CAD drafting, and site data interpretation
- Familiar with Australian geotech standards (AS 1726, AS 2159)
- Proficient in PLAXIS, GEO5, AutoCAD Civil 3D
- Comfortable working full-time in Australian hours
- Experienced with tools like MS Teams, Dropbox, and Trello
Result and Benefits
Over the next 3 months, the client saw massive improvements:
Average turnaround time on geotechnical reports dropped by 40%. Internal engineers were no longer overburdened and could focus on QA/QC and client communication.
The cost of each remote engineer was just $1225/month. That’s more than 85% lower than the total cost of a local hire. The savings were used to expand marketing and win more bids.
With a better-staffed team, the accuracy of reports improved. There were fewer revisions and more positive feedback from clients and reviewers.
Daily standups, shared dashboards, and strong communication habits helped create a seamless remote experience. The team began to operate like one cohesive unit—despite being in different countries.
Zedtreeo’s prepaid, month-to-month model meant no lock-ins. The client could scale up or pause based on project needs.
“They didn’t feel like freelancers. They felt like part of our office. Reliable, skilled, and proactive.” – Project Manager, Geotech Firm
Related Remote Roles
- Civil Engineers (transportation, drainage, structures)
- Structural Designers (Revit, STAAD.Pro, ETABS)
- Environmental Engineers (compliance and remediation)
- Pavement Design Engineers
- Foundation & Piling Engineers
- CAD Technicians (AutoCAD, Civil 3D, MicroStation)
- Estimators and Quantity Surveyors (BOQs, Tendering)
- BIM Modelers (Revit, Navisworks)
- GIS Analysts and Mapping Experts
- Site Coordination Assistants (data entry and reporting)
- Dedicated full-time (40 hrs/week)
- Trained in international codes
- Aligned to your timezone
- Backed by Zedtreeo’s support and management team
Conclusion
- Scaled its team without local hiring delays
- Delivered projects faster and at higher quality
- Saved over 85% in operational costs
- Reduced team burnout and improved morale
- Built a flexible, future-ready workforce
* We take our clients’ confidentiality seriously. While we’ve changed their names, the results are real.
