Principal Engineering Hydrogeologist

Jacobs; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Annual leave 24 days + buy/sell up to

Pension contributions up to 10%

Private medical cover

Digital GP access

Family planning and fertility support

Enhanced parental leave

Employee networks and wellbeing

Life assurance

Income protection

Professional memberships

Volunteer time and charity funding

Job summary

Jacobs is seeking an experienced Principal or Associate Director level Hydrogeologist to lead the national hydrogeology team and deliver a diverse portfolio of groundwater projects across the UK and Europe.

You will provide senior technical leadership, mentor colleagues, engage with clients, and shape the growth of Jacobs' hydrogeology capability while enjoying flexible hybrid working and a supportive, inclusive culture.

Qualifications

• Significant professional experience in hydrogeology (Principal Consultant level).
• Groundwater conceptualisation, assessment, and interpretation.
• Experience designing and delivering hydrogeological investigations.
• Numerical and/or analytical groundwater modelling experience.
• Ability to lead technical delivery within multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience mentoring and developing junior professionals.
• Strong communication and client-facing skills.
• Full UK driving licence and willingness to undertake site visits.
• Ideally experience in water resources and sustainable abstraction programmes.
• Experience with groundwater modelling software (MODFLOW, FEFLOW, MIKE SHE, SEEP/W, PLAXIS).
• Python, GIS or other data analysis and modelling tools.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical delivery across a diverse portfolio of hydrogeology projects.
• Provide senior hydrogeological expertise across groundwater assessments and water resources programmes.
• Mentor and develop junior professionals within the team.
• Engage with clients and multidisciplinary teams to deliver quality outcomes.

Skills

Groundwater conceptualisation

Investigations design

Hydrogeological modelling

Project delivery leadership

Mentoring junior professionals

Client engagement

Communication skills

Tools

MODFLOW

FEFLOW

MIKE SHE

SEEP/W

PLAXIS

Python

GIS

Job description

At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting-edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good.

Your impact

• Shape the future of water, infrastructure, and environmental resilience across the UK and beyond.
• As a Principal or Associate Director level Hydrogeologist, you'll help solve some of the UK's most complex groundwater and environmental challenges, influencing projects that directly impact water resources, major infrastructure, sustainability, and future energy solutions.
• From supporting sustainable abstraction programmes for water companies to advising on nationally significant infrastructure and pioneering geological disposal projects, your expertise will help shape critical decisions that affect communities, the environment, and future generations.
• You’ll also play a key role in developing the next generation of hydrogeologists, strengthening a growing capability and helping build long-term technical excellence across the business.

What's In It For You

• Work on projects that genuinely matterYou'll contribute to nationally important programmes across water resources, transportation, environmental management, major infrastructure, renewables, and emerging nuclear projects.
• Variety you won't find everywhereRather than being confined to a single framework or specialist niche, you'll have the opportunity to work across the full spectrum of hydrogeology, from groundwater modelling and water resources to engineering and environmental applications.
• Flexibility built around youOur hydrogeology team operates as a national, highly connected virtual team. We're open to talent across the UK and are focused on finding the right person, not forcing you into a specific location.
• Accelerate your careerWhether you're an established Principal looking for broader project exposure or an experienced professional ready to step towards Associate Director level, you'll have access to meaningful progression opportunities, technical leadership responsibilities, and the chance to help shape future team growth.
• Collaborate with exceptional peopleJoin a respected team of hydrogeologists, engineers, environmental specialists, modellers, and infrastructure experts who value collaboration, innovation, and technical excellence.

We Offer

• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements
• 24 days annual leave plus the option to buy up to 10 additional days
• Enhanced pension contributions of up to 10%
• Private medical cover and Digital GP access
• Family planning and fertility support services
• Enhanced parental leave and family support programmes
• Employee Networks We have a commitment to hiring a diverse workforce and supporting colleagues of different backgrounds
• Life assurance at four times your salary
• Income protection for long-term financial security
• Access to wellbeing support, including Calm and Daily Burn
• Professional memberships funded and ongoing development opportunities
• Paid volunteering time, matched charity funding, and community engagement programmes

About The Opportunity

• We're looking for an experienced Principal or Associate Director level Hydrogeologist to join our national Hydrogeology team and lead technical delivery across a diverse portfolio of projects.
• You’ll provide senior hydrogeological expertise across groundwater assessments, water resources programmes, environmental studies, ground investigations, and major engineering projects. The role combines technical leadership, project delivery, client engagement, and mentoring, making it ideal for someone who enjoys both solving complex technical challenges and helping others succeed.
• You’ll work closely with multidisciplinary teams across the UK and increasingly support projects within Europe, bringing hydrogeological insight to some of the industry's most exciting and technically demanding programmes.
• This is a role for someone who wants influence, variety, and the opportunity to make a visible impact.

Here is what you'll need

Essential

• Significant professional experience in hydrogeology (typically already at Principal Consultant level)
• Strong grounding in groundwater conceptualisation, assessment, and interpretation
• Experience designing and delivering hydrogeological investigations
• Numerical and/or analytical groundwater modelling experience
• Ability to lead technical project delivery within multidisciplinary teams
• Experience mentoring and developing junior professionals
• Strong communication and client-facing skills
• Full UK driving licence and willingness to undertake occasional site visits

Ideally, you'll also bring experience of

• Water resources and sustainable abstraction programmes
• Groundwater modelling software such as MODFLOW, FEFLOW, MIKE SHE, SEEP/W or PLAXIS
• Python, GIS, or other data analysis and modelling tools
• Infrastructure, environmental, water utility, or engineering consultancy projects

The Opportunity You've Been Waiting For

You’ll work on some of the UK's most complex groundwater and infrastructure projects, enjoy genuine flexibility, and help shape the future direction of a growing hydrogeology capability.

Jacobs offers hybrid working and a standard 40-hour working week

Good luck with your application

Joining Jacobs not only connects you locally but globally. Our values stand on a foundation of safety, integrity, inclusion and belonging. We put people at the heart of our business, and we truly believe that by supporting one another through our culture of caring, we all succeed. We value positive mental health and a sense of belonging for all employees.

With safety and flexibility always top of mind, we’ve gone beyond traditional ways of working so you have the support, means and space to maximize your potential. You’ll uncover flexible working arrangements, benefits, and opportunities, from well-being benefits to our global giving and volunteering program, to exploring new and inventive ways to help our clients make the world a better place. No matter what drives you, you’ll discover how you can cultivate, nurture, and achieve your goals – all at a single global company. Find out more about life at Jacobs.

We aim to embed inclusion and belonging in everything we do. We know that if we are inclusive, we’re more connected and creative. We accept people for who they are, and we champion the richness of different perspectives, lived experiences and backgrounds in the workplace, as a source of learning and innovation. We are committed to building vibrant communities within Jacobs, including through our Jacobs Employee Networks, Communities of Practice and our Find Your Community initiatives, allowing every employee to find connection, purpose, and belonging.Find out more about ourJacobs Employee Networks here.

Jacobs partners with VERCIDA to help us attract and retain talent from a wide range of backgrounds. For greater online accessibility please visit https//www.vercida.com/uk/employers/jacobs to view and access our roles.

As a disability confident employer, we will interview disabled candidates who best meet the criteria. We welcome applications from candidates who are seeking flexible working and from those who may not meet all the listed requirements for a role.

We value collaboration and believe that in-person interactions are crucial for both our culture and client delivery. We empower employees with our hybrid working policy, allowing them to split their work week between Jacobs offices/projects and remote locations enabling them to deliver their best work.

Your application experience is important to us, and we’re keen to adapt to make every interaction even better. If you require further support or reasonable adjustments with regards to the recruitment process (for example, you require the application form in a different format), please contact the team via Careers Support.