Principal Geotechnical Engineer

AECOM; Chesterfield; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Career development

Volunteer days

AECOM University

Flexible benefits

Job summary

AECOM seeks a Principal Geotechnical Engineer to lead ground engineering projects from investigation through design and construction in the UK. You will work with senior staff to deliver high-quality solutions, mentor juniors, and manage client relationships.

The role requires a strong geotechnical background, Chartered status preferred, and willingness to travel across the UK. Join a global team delivering major infrastructure projects with a flexible hybrid working model.

Qualifications

• Geotechnical Engineering degree (BSc/MSc) required or equivalent.
• Chartered status preferred; active involvement in professional development.
• Ability to collaborate with Technical Directors and Associates on delivery and client satisfaction.
• Mentor junior staff and support chartered status achievement.
• Prepare and review desk studies, interpretative reports, specs and design reports.
• Prepare fee bids and proposals for internal and external clients.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage geotechnical projects from investigation through design and construction.
• Apply cutting-edge ground investigation, geotechnical design and construction methods.
• Lead teams, develop junior members, and manage relationships with clients.
• Ensure technical quality and adherence to budget and programme; UK travel as required.

Skills

Leadership experience

Mentor junior staff

Client engagement

Travel willingness

Collaboration with senior staff

Education

Geotechnical Engineering degree (BSc/MSc)

Chartered status (Engineer) preferred

Job description

Company Description

Work with Us. Change the World.

At AECOM, we're delivering a better world. Whether improving your commute, keeping the lights on, providing access to clean water, or transforming skylines, our work helps people and communities thrive. We are the world's trusted infrastructure consulting firm, partnering with clients to solve the world’s most complex challenges and build legacies for future generations.

There has never been a better time to be at AECOM. With accelerating infrastructure investment worldwide, our services are in great demand. We invite you to bring your bold ideas and big dreams and become part of a global team of over 50,000 planners, designers, engineers, scientists, digital innovators, program and construction managers and other professionals delivering projects that create a positive and tangible impact around the world.

We're one global team driven by our common purpose to deliver a better world. Join us.

Job Description

Are you ready to challenge the boundaries of what's possible? We're seeking a dynamic Principal Geotechnical Engineer who brings not only deep technical expertise but also an innovative mindset. Whether you come from a traditional geotechnical engineering background or have unconventional experience that adds fresh value, we'd love to hear from you.

We’re looking for a Principal Geotechnical Engineer, to join our Ground Engineering team in Chesterfield.

What can we offer?

We work for leading United Kingdom & Ireland (UK&I) and international clients and have a wide range of commissions across all sectors, some typical examples of current and past projects include National Great Grid Upgrade, High Speed rail, Network Rail CP7 and overseas work including work for the Royal Commission of Al Ula and Neom. Our Ground Engineering Practice covers all aspects of Ground Engineering serving a wide range of end markets including.

• Energy
• Rail
• Highways
• Water
• Development
• Defence
• Nuclear Sectors
• Ports & Marine

And let's not forget about the perks at AECOM. You'll enjoy a range of core and personalized benefits designed to support your future and well-being, customized to fit your lifestyle. Take advantage of career development opportunities, our flexible hybrid working model to ensure a work-life balance that suits your lifestyle, technical practice networks, AECOM University, and volunteering days.

Job Duties Include

Deliver: Lead and manage geotechnical projects from investigation through to design and construction ensuring high quality deliverables. We require ambitious team players with the technical and commercial skills, knowledge and experience to take day-to-day responsibility for delivery of projects, ensuring technical quality and adherence to budget and programme.

Innovate: Apply cutting-edge approaches in ground investigation, geotechnical design, and construction including foundation design, slope stability assessment, and ground improvement.

Lead: The positions will suit those who can work with a high degree of independence, who can support and develop junior team members, engage with internal and external clients developing relationships and lead the input to projects from desk study/feasibility through ground investigation and interpretation to final design.

To be successful candidates must have a proven track record in the delivery of ground engineering projects in the UK and be fully conversant with the technical standards that apply.

Qualifications

Here’s what we’re looking for:

• Degree in Geotechnical Engineering (BSc or MSc), or a related field.
• Chartered status (Engineer) preferred.
• Ability to collaborate closely with our Technical Directors and Associates in project delivery, work winning and maintaining high levels of client satisfaction.
• Actively input to team and client meetings, being prepared to own decisions and put forward alternative ideas and concepts.
• Provide on the job mentoring of junior staff and support them towards achieving chartered status.
• Prepare, check and review a wide range of technical documents, including desk studies, interpretative reports, specifications, construction drawings and design reports.
• Prepare fee bids and proposals for internal and external clients.
• Demonstrable understanding of current design codes, standards, and best practices in geotechnical design, but also open to exploring new methods and innovations.
• Proven leadership experience in similar roles, with an ability to inspire and lead teams.
• Willingness to travel throughout the UK.
• Clean driving licence.

We celebrate diversity, including neurodiversity, and believe it enriches our team. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and abilities. If you are an applicant with a disability that requires reasonable accommodation to complete the application process, please contact us at [e-mail].

Who You Are

• You’re not just technically proficient—you’re passionate about pushing the field forward.
• You thrive on solving complex challenges and enjoy thinking outside the box to deliver sustainable and innovative solutions.
• You value teamwork, mentoring, and leadership, and you’re keen to help shape the future.
• While you’re familiar with established methodologies, you’re also eager to embrace new tools, technologies, and ways of thinking.

Additional Information

Interested in the role or curious about life at AECOM? Follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube to explore our AECOM voices, employee stories, latest projects, and much more!

At AECOM, we are committed to maintaining a secure and trustworthy recruitment process and take any fraudulent hiring activity seriously. To support this commitment, all newly hired employees are required to attend an in-person Day 1 onboarding at an AECOM office location as a condition of employment.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

We are a Disability Confident Employer and will offer an interview to applicants who have a disability or long‑term condition, who meet the minimum/essential criteria for the role. Please let us know using this email address [e-mail] if you would like to apply through the Disability Confident Interview Scheme.

About AECOM

AECOM is the world’s trusted infrastructure consulting firm, delivering professional services throughout the project lifecycle – from advisory, planning, design and engineering to program and construction management. On projects spanning transportation, buildings, water, new energy and the environment, our public‑and-private‑sector clients trust us to solve their most complex challenges. Our teams are driven by a common purpose to deliver a better world through our unrivaled technical and digital expertise, a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion, and a commitment to environmental, social and governance priorities. AECOM is a Fortune 500 firm and its Professional Services business had revenue of $16.1 billion in fiscal year 2025. See how we are delivering sustainable legacies for generations to come at aecom.com and @AECOM.

You will have the flexibility you need to do your best work with hybrid work options. Whether you’re working from an AECOM office, remote location or at a client site, you will be working in a dynamic environment where your integrity, entrepreneurial spirit and pioneering mindset are championed.

You will help us foster a safe and respectful workplace, where we invite everyone to bring their whole selves to work using their unique talents, backgrounds and expertise to create transformational outcomes for our clients.

AECOM provides a wide array of compensation, benefits and well‑being programs to meet the diverse needs of our employees and their families. We’re the world’s trusted global infrastructure firm, and we’re in this together – your growth and success are ours too.

Join us, and you’ll get all the benefits of being a part of a global, publicly traded firm – access to industry‑leading technology and thinking and transformational work with big impact and work flexibility. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we believe in each person’s potential, and we’ll help you reach yours.

Freedom to Grow in a World of Opportunity

Work Location Model: Hybrid