Geotechnical Design Engineer - Rail

Carrington West; England; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading rail contractor in the United Kingdom is seeking an experienced Geotechnical Design Engineer to join their team. The role involves developing geotechnical design solutions for various projects, including foundations, retaining walls, and piling. Applicants should hold a degree in Civil or Geotechnical Engineering and have at least 4 years of relevant experience. The position offers a competitive day rate and is based in Doncaster with potential flexibility for remote work.

Qualifications

• Minimum 4 years of post-graduate experience in geotechnical or civil design.
• Experience with foundation design, piling, and retaining structures.
• Detail-oriented and technically strong self-starter.

Responsibilities

• Undertake geotechnical design work including foundation design and piling design.
• Collaborate with civil, structural, and project teams for integrated design solutions.
• Prepare design submissions and technical documentation.

Skills

Geotechnical design

Problem-solving

Technical design work

Collaboration

Education

Degree in Civil Engineering or Geotechnical Engineering

Tools

GEO5

Job description

Are you a geotechnical design engineer with experience of working on rail infrastructure projects?

Are you looking for a new contract position?

Location: Doncaster (3 days in office, 2 from home) - potential to be based in Manchester as well
Rate: £350-£400 day (subject to IR35 assessment)
Contract: Initial 6 months with likely extensions

We're looking for a geotechnical design engineer with a strong background in to join a leading rail contractor to work on HS2. This is an excellent opportunity for someone who enjoys hands-on technical design work and wants to progress into a long-term position with a growing design team.

You’ll play a key role in developing geotechnical design solutions for a range of projects - from foundations and retaining walls to piling and ground improvement. You’ll work closely with a multidisciplinary design team and be supported by senior engineers and project leads, gaining exposure to a variety of complex and rewarding projects.

Key Responsibilities

• Undertake geotechnical design work including foundation design, piling design, retaining structures, and slope stability assessments.
• Use GEO5 and other industry-standard software to produce design calculations and technical reports.
• Collaborate with civil, structural, and project teams to deliver fully integrated design solutions.
• Support the preparation of design submissions, specifications, and technical documentation.
• Participate in design reviews and provide geotechnical input to multidisciplinary meetings.
• Contribute to project planning, cost estimation, and risk assessments related to ground engineering.

About You

We’re looking for someone proactive, detail-oriented, and technically strong - a self-starter who enjoys problem-solving and working in a collaborative environment.

Essential

• Degree in Civil Engineering or Geotechnical Engineering (MSc preferred but not essential).
• At least 4 years of post-graduate experience in geotechnical or civil design.
• Experience with foundation design, piling, and retaining structures.
• Proficiency in GEO5 (or similar geotechnical software).

Desirable

• Familiarity with rail infrastructure or major civil projects (not essential if geotechnical expertise is strong).
• Experience producing design deliverables to industry standards (e.g. Eurocodes, BS codes).