Engineering Specialist (Geotechnical SME)

East West Rail Company; Milton Keynes; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

12% employer pension contribution

36 days annual leave (+2)

Volunteer days

Family-friendly policies

Life assurance (4x)

Employee Assistance Programme

Perkbox discounts

Recognition programme

Learning and development

Job summary

East West Railway Company is seeking an Engineering Specialist (Geotechnical SME) in Milton Keynes for a permanent role. You will act as a subject matter expert in geotechnical engineering, overseeing design and delivery while ensuring compliance with standards and safety.

You will collaborate across teams, mentor engineers, and translate requirements into robust geotechnical designs for foundations, earthworks and associated assets.

Qualifications

• Background in geotechnical engineering on infrastructure projects.
• Ability to solve problems and develop innovative technical solutions.
• Chartered Engineer (CEng) status or equivalent experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical guidance as SME in geotechnical engineering across the project lifecycle.
• Oversee planning, execution and monitoring to meet standards.
• Collaborate with project teams to ensure integrated delivery across disciplines.
• Resolve complex technical issues with innovative solutions.
• Ensure compliance with industry standards and regulations.
• Mentor engineers and promote continuous learning.
• Uphold health and safety principles in line with EWR.

Skills

Geotechnical engineering

Problem solving

Education

CEng status

Job description

Engineering Specialist (Geotechnical SME)

Application Deadline: 19 October 2026

Department: Technical

Employment Type: Permanent

Location: Milton Keynes

Description

A little bit about us:

East West Rail is an infrastructure programme connecting communities between Oxford and Cambridge, a region currently underserved by transport. We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to change that, improving prosperity for people and places along the way.

East West Railway Company was created by the Department for Transport (DfT) to oversee delivery of East West Rail, from construction through to services running, making sure the railway comes together in the right way. The programme is projected to deliver a £6.7 billion annual boost to the regional economy by 2050.

Role Summary

Reporting to the Head of Civil Engineering, you will be a subject matter expert in geotechnical engineering, overseeing the technical aspects of design and delivery. This includes translating requirements into design requirements that meet the appropriate standards, and providing technical assurance of design and delivery work within your area of expertise. You are likely to bring experience of assuring and/or delivering geotechnical designs across a range of assets, including foundations, retaining walls and earthworks.

The Technical function owns the specification for the scheme, interpreting the business case and purpose, and translating these into a system requirements set. Its work falls into two broad areas: establishing standards and requirements, and assuring that these are met during both design and delivery. This work spans a number of domains, each requiring specialist technical capability to provide the right level of knowledge, support and innovation.

Key Responsibilities

In this role, you will:

• Act as a subject matter expert in geotechnical engineering, providing technical guidance and expertise throughout the project lifecycle.
• Oversee the planning, execution and monitoring of engineering work, ensuring it meets quality, safety and performance standards.
• Collaborate with other project teams and stakeholders to achieve seamless integration and delivery across engineering disciplines.
• Resolve complex technical issues, seeking creative and effective solutions to challenges and opportunities.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant industry standards, regulations and good practice.
• Share technical knowledge and mentor other engineers, contributing to a culture of continuous learning and improvement.
• Take responsibility for your own and others' health and safety, adopting and working to EWR's Health and Safety principles.
• Keep taxpayers' money at the forefront of your decisions, bringing a cost-conscious mindset to your work.
• Act as a role model for EWR's vision and behaviours, working in line with EWR's Ways of Working and encouraging others to do the same.

Skills Knowledge and Expertise

Essential Criteria

You will bring:

• A background in geotechnical engineering on infrastructure projects, with a deep understanding of technical principles and industry standards.
• The ability to solve problems and develop innovative technical solutions.

Desirable Criteria

It would also be great if you have:

• Experience within the railway sector.
• Authority to Work in a relevant specialist discipline.
• Chartered Engineer (CEng) status in a relevant discipline, or equivalent experience.

Benefits

• Competitive salary that reflects your skills and experience
• Up to 12% employer pension contribution to support your future
• 36 days annual leave (including bank holidays) plus the option to buy up to 2 extra days
• 2 volunteering days, a chance for you to give back to the community
• Enhanced family-friendly policies to support you and your loved ones
• Life assurance (4x your annual salary) for peace of mind
• Employee Assistance Programme for confidential support when you need it
• Access to Perkbox for a wide range of discounts and wellbeing benefits
• Recognition programme, including on-the-spot and annual awards
• Advanced learning and development opportunities to help you grow.

Diversity and Inclusion:

At East West Railway Company, we’re committed to building an inclusive railway for all. We believe that to do that, we must nurture a diverse team that represents the UK communities that we impact. Our approach is simple - to create an environment where everyone is welcome and able to be themselves. We celebrate diversity and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer, encouraging applications from all backgrounds and experiences.

If you want to connect lives and unlock the future, then we’d love to hear from you.