Chief Geotechnical Engineer

slihrms; Glasgow; Hybrid; GBP 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

AtkinsRéalis in Scotland seeks an experienced Chief Geotechnical Engineer to lead complex ground engineering projects from our Glasgow or Edinburgh offices. You will support delivery, drive technical development, and work with a multidisciplinary team across the UK and overseas.

You will bring chartered status, an MSc/PhD preference, and a strong track record in design reviews, bid support, and client relationships, ensuring high-quality outcomes and innovation.

Qualifications

• Strong academic background with a relevant degree and ideally an MSc or PhD in a relevant subject.
• Chartered status with a relevant institution.
• Excellent technical and numeracy skills.
• Experience in soil-structure interaction workflows and modelling tools.
• Experience in dynamic soil behaviour and seismic design.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex geotechnical projects as a technical leader and project reviewer.
• Support delivery and technical development of ground engineering projects.
• Provide design coordination for onshore renewables, road and rail, and water management projects.
• Perform design reviews and contribute to bid/proposal evaluations.
• Coach and develop early career professionals and drive digital innovation.

Skills

Geotechnical leadership

Project delivery experience

Design reviews

Client & contractor liaison

Technical mentoring

Education

MSc in Geotechnical Engineering

Chartered status

PhD desirable

Job description

Job Description

Overview

Take our vision into the future.

You might know us for the great work we do across our wide variety of projects. We're proud to say it's thanks to our people's diversity of thought, expertise and knowledge. And when you join us, you'll be a part of this genuinely collaborative environment, where everyone's voice is valued and treated equally.

We're passionate about what we do, but we don't take ourselves too seriously. Simply put, this a great place to be. So, when it comes to your life outside of work, ask us about our flexible and remote working policies designed to help you get the most out of life.

We have an opportunity for an experienced Chief Geotechnical Engineer with strong technical and business development credentials for a technical leadership role to be based in Scotland in either our Glasgow or Edinburgh office and to support our increasing workload in the UK and globally. AtkinsRéalis has an impressive current portfolio of nuclear, energy, road, rail, defence and metro tunnelling projects both in the UK and overseas. In Scotland our portfolio of work includes major road infrastructure including the A9 and A83, onshore and offshore renewables, power grids reinforcement and new builds. Locally we support local councils and national clients including Forests and Land Scotland and Transport Scotland. In addition, we support major infrastructure projects in the UK including nuclear new builds and defence infrastructure.

As one of the UK's leading geotechnical consultancies, AtkinsRéalis offers a comprehensive service in ground engineering and tunnelling. With more than 345 UK based ground engineering and tunnelling professionals, our reputation is built on the skills, excellence, and commitment of our people. We are seeking to expand the current team of dedicated technical specialists to deliver these exciting commissions, exploit opportunities for growth and to extend our capability further within the UK and worldwide through our global, connected practices.

Your role

We are looking for an experienced technical leader in ground engineering with a proven track record of leading complex geotechnical projects and delighting their clients. As a recognised specialist in Scotland and the UK, you will support delivery and technical development of ground engineering projects. With a long track record of hands‑on knowledge of the ground engineering industry, delivery of major projects, innovation and supplemented by specialist academic collaboration, you will support our team of over 35 engineering geologists and geotechnical engineers. You will already have extensive experience in many of the following areas and be able to apply that experience to AtkinsRéalis as a technical leader and project reviewer:

• Design of geotechnical structures for onshore renewables, road and rail, power systems and water management at a range of scales and design complexity.
• Experience and practical knowledge of delivery for major infrastructure clients in Scotland.
• Experience and knowledge of design coordination, leadership and building good team, client and contractor relationships to deliver to a high quality.
• Experience in providing design reviews, pragmatically and constructively to support 'right first time' project delivery.
• Experience in providing commercial and technical bid proposal reviews, to support efficient and effective work winning delivery.

About you

A strong academic background with a relevant degree and ideally an MSc or PhD in a relevant subject and hold Chartered status with a relevant institution.

Excellent technical skills and numeracy skills acquired during your academic training and its subsequent application in industry. Understanding of geotechnical variability and design in soil and rock for earthworks, foundations, retaining structures and slopes.

An awareness of the requirements and application of soil‑structure interaction workflows and modelling tools. An awareness and preferably experience of dynamic soil behaviour and seismic design.

Extensive industry network and influence including active participation in wider industry activities including industry‑academic partnerships.

Up to date knowledge of current policy, legislation and standards applicable in geotechnical engineering.

Demonstrating technical expertise and leadership, providing in depth knowledge whilst proactively coaching and developing early career professionals. A desire to drive digital innovation and further AtkinsRéalis' capability in advanced geotechnical analysis.

In addition to that, we expect:

• High motivation to succeed, and to progress and develop your career.
• Personality compatible with a high degree of collaborative and teamwork in multi‑disciplinary national and international projects.
• Communication and writing skills which can produce clear and concise reports or presentations.
• Willingness to travel on short assignments within the UK and overseas for dealing with challenging projects or