Lead Engineer – Geotechnical

Rolls-Royce SMR; East Midlands; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 78,750; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Performance-related bonus

Private Medical Insurance

Pension plan with employer contribution

Job summary

Rolls-Royce SMR is seeking a Lead Engineer in Geotechnical to provide technical leadership across major design programmes. The role involves overseeing geotechnical solutions for complex infrastructure projects while managing a team of engineers.

Key responsibilities include ensuring alignment of geotechnical deliverables with programme objectives, leading analyses, and managing design specifications. The successful candidate will have a Chartered Engineer qualification and experience in large-scale projects.

Qualifications

• Solutions-focused mindset, confidence in decision-making.
• Experience leading geotechnical design on large-scale infrastructure projects.
• Strong expertise in geotechnical analysis and applicable codes and standards.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership and governance for geotechnical deliverables.
• Manage team of engineers and specialists, ensuring design quality.
• Lead geotechnical design across multiple site areas.

Skills

Geotechnical analysis

Foundation design

Project management

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Chartered Engineer (CEng) or equivalent

Job description

Lead Engineer – Geotechnical

Locations: Hybrid working with the primary office location being whichever is closest to you: Derby, Warrington or Manchester.

Our Mission

Deliver clean, affordable energy for all. Our Small Modular Reactor (SMR) provides a British solution to a global energy crisis. We are positioned to become a world leader in SMRs and the UK’s premier green export technology.

The Ground Engineering team

The team enables safe, efficient, and site‑specific deployment of our SMR technology, operating at the intersection of civil design, geoscience, and nuclear safety. It delivers innovative geotechnical solutions that underpin some of the most complex infrastructure challenges in the programme.

The role

Lead technical delivery across major site‑specific design programmes, including GBE‑N and ČEZ. Manage a team of engineers and specialists, shape design assurance, technical direction, and integrate complex geotechnical solutions across flagship projects.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership and governance for geotechnical deliverables supporting site‑specific design, ensuring alignment with programme objectives.
• Lead geotechnical design across multiple site areas, including Reactor Island, Cooling Water Island, and Balance of Plant (BoP). Oversee the design for shallow and deep foundations, earthworks, tunnelling, retaining walls, seismic, coastal and offshore infrastructure.
• Manage scope, specification, supervision, and interpretation of ground investigations.
• Characterise and interpret site data to develop robust ground models and design parameters.
• Lead the delivery of geotechnical analyses, design outputs, reporting, and support the associated safety justification.
• Manage programme resourcing and cost control to support successful project delivery.
• Assure the robustness and validity of technical solutions, mentor junior engineers, and coordinate closely with interfacing disciplines.

What You’ll Bring

• Solutions‑focused mindset, confidence in decision‑making, and the ability to shape direction within complex, regulated environments.

Skills & Experience

• Chartered Engineer (CEng) or equivalent; supported by a relevant degree or demonstrable industry experience.
• Experience leading geotechnical design on large‑scale infrastructure projects, resolving complex engineering challenges, and delivering to programme.
• Strong expertise in geotechnical analysis, foundation design, earthworks, retaining structures, and applicable codes and standards.
• Experience engaging stakeholders, leading technical governance processes, and contributing to safety case or regulated design environments (nuclear desirable but not essential).

Location

Flexible working with regular attendance at a UK office required to support programme delivery, governance, and stakeholder engagement.

What’s In It For You

• Salary: £60,000 – £78,750.
• Bonus: Performance‑related target opportunity 7%.
• Benefits Allowance: £2,200 per annum.
• Pension: 12% employer contribution, 6% employee contribution.
• Holidays: 28 days + public holidays, with the ability to buy or sell up to 4 days.
• Private Medical Insurance: BUPA single cover health care.
• Life Assurance: 6× pensionable pay.
• One‑off payment: £250 for home office purchases.

Selection Process

Initial conversation followed by two interview stages. Updates within 1–2 weeks of application. Successful candidates will complete BPSS clearance, DBS checks, and financial probity screening.

Our Commitment

We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all backgrounds. Inclusivity is fundamental to our culture, and we are committed to fair and accessible recruitment practices. We are a Disability Confident organisation and will make reasonable adjustments where needed.

Pay Range

£60,000.00 – £78,750.00

Why Join Us?

• A flexible, inclusive, and supportive working environment.
• Opportunities for career growth in a rapidly scaling business.
• A culture that values diversity, innovation, and continuous learning.

Our Application Process

• Obtain Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) clearance.
• Complete Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
• Complete basic financial probity check.