Geotechnical Design Engineer (Piling)

Aldwych Consulting; East Horsley; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A specialist geotechnical contractor in East Horsley is seeking a Geotechnical Design Engineer to join their design team. This predominantly office-based role involves leading designs for embedded retaining walls and providing technical input for temporary works. The ideal candidate should have proven experience, strong communication skills, and the ability to work independently. The position offers a supportive environment with opportunities to influence technical decisions and diverse project exposures across the UK. Candidates must be eligible to live and work in the UK.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in embedded retaining wall design.
• Strong understanding of piling design and geotechnical principles.
• Ability to manage workload and interpret ground investigation data.

Responsibilities

• Lead and produce designs for embedded retaining walls.
• Provide technical input and design checks for temporary works.
• Liaise directly with clients and project teams.

Skills

Embedded retaining wall design

Piling design

Geotechnics

Ground-structure interaction

Temporary works

Communication skills

Job description

A well-established, specialist geotechnical contractor with nationwide operations is seeking an experienced Geotechnical Design Engineer to join its growing design team near Guildford. The organisation is known for its agility, technical expertise, and close-knit working culture, supporting projects for Tier 1 contractors, major developers and principal contractors across the UK.

With multiple rigs operating simultaneously across a variety of sites, the business delivers a broad range of piling and retaining structures-from residential basements to commercial developments and infrastructure assets. They now require a capable engineer who can work confidently and independently, bringing strong technical judgement and practical understanding of buildability.

The Opportunity

You will play a key role in the full design lifecycle, from early feasibility and tender support through to final construction drawings. This is predominantly an office-based role, with regular involvement in design meetings, collaborative sessions with estimators and project managers, and direct communication with clients on technical and methodological matters.

This position offers real influence over engineering decisions, working within a flexible environment that values initiative, clear communication, and practical geotechnical understanding.

The company is specifically seeking someone experienced-a specialist who does not require extensive training-and who can confidently take responsibility for key design elements.

Core Responsibilities

• Lead and produce designs for embedded retaining walls, including contiguous, secant and sheet pile systems (retaining wall expertise is essential).
• Undertake geotechnical design for a variety of pile types including CFA piles, rotary bored piles, low-bearing piles and other foundation solutions.
• Provide technical input and design checks for temporary works, including:
  • Working platform design
  • Crane base design
  • Excavation support and stability assessments
  • Associated access / temporary load-bearing elements
• Project & Client Engagement:
  • Attend and contribute to internal and external design coordination meetings.
  • Liaise directly with clients, project teams and stakeholders – this is a client-facing position where communication skills are highly valued.
  • Support the preparation and development of method statements and design reports.

Commercial & Tender Support

• Work closely with tendering teams to support estimating, pricing and technical assessments during early project stages.
• Provide value-engineering recommendations and optimise designs as projects progress.
• Assist in developing cost‑effective, buildable and compliant solutions for live and tendered works.

Candidate Profile

• Proven experience in embedded retaining wall design-this is a non-negotiable requirement.
• Strong understanding of piling design, geotechnics, and ground-structure interaction.
• Practical familiarity with temporary works, including relevant industry standards and safety protocols.
• Ability to work independently, manage your own workload, and interpret ground investigation data confidently.

Desirable Attributes

• Comfortable working within a flexible, collaborative contractor environment.
• Strong communication skills – able to explain complex geotechnical principles clearly.

Experience Supporting Tenders and Pricing Activities

• A pragmatic mindset with an interest in constructability, value engineering, and efficient delivery.

What You Can Expect

• A supportive and flexible working culture with a low-bureaucracy environment.
• Exposure to diverse projects across the UK, working with major contracting partners.
• Opportunities to influence technical direction and design processes.
• Long-term career stability within a respected specialist contractor.
• The chance to work closely with operations, tendering and engineering teams, expanding your commercial and delivery skill set.

Aldwych Consulting values diversity and promotes equality. No terminology in this advert is intended to discriminate against any of the protected characteristics that fall under the Equality Act 2010. We encourage and welcome applications from all sections of society and are happy to discuss reasonable adjustments and / or additional arrangements as required to support your application.

Candidates must be eligible to live and work in the UK.

For the purposes of the Conduct Regulations 2003, when advertising permanent vacancies we are acting as an Employment Agency, and when advertising temporary / contract vacancies we are acting as an Employment Business.