Principal Geotechnical Engineer

McDermott International, Ltd; Greater London; On-site; GBP 75,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading engineering firm in the UK is seeking a Principal Geotechnical Engineer to address complex geotechnical challenges in subsea oil and gas projects. This role requires at least 10 years of relevant experience and a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering. Responsibilities include leading the Geotechnical team, conducting analyses, and collaborating with various engineering disciplines. The ideal candidate will demonstrate strong problem-solving skills and the ability to communicate effectively. This position plays a crucial role in project success.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years of experience in subsea/offshore oil and gas projects.
• Chartered Engineer status preferred.
• Comprehensive knowledge of design standards and codes.

Responsibilities

• Deliver assigned work within schedule, budget, and quality standards.
• Conduct seismic slope stability and liquefaction analyses.
• Lead the Geotechnical team and provide mentorship.

Skills

Geotechnical calculations

Project coordination

Problem-solving

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering

Master’s or Ph.D. in Geotechnical Engineering

Tools

Plaxis 2D/3D

ABAQUS

MS Office applications

Job description

The Principal Geotechnical Engineer is responsible for addressing unique and complex technical challenges with significant impact on business outcomes. This position demands proactive problem-solving and innovative thinking to develop creative solutions for geotechnical challenges in subsea oil and gas projects. The role influences project direction, resource allocation and technical strategies within the discipline, operating under general function policies and industry guidelines.

Experience working with SURF Contractor is essential to be considered for the role

Responsibilities

Key Tasks and Responsibilities

• Technical responsibilies:
• Perform conceptual, FEED, and detailed analyses and designs in accordance with design basis, project specifications, codes, and standards.
• Apply advanced technical expertise and broad business knowledge to resolve complex and non-standard issues.
• Prepare accurate and detailed design calculations, analyses, reports, and procedures.
• Collaborate with structural, pipeline, installation, and other engineering disciplines to provide geotechnical input to multi-disciplinary project teams.
• Deliver high-quality work demonstrating deep geotechnical knowledge and experience.
• Prepare technical reports, specifications, and geotechnical calculations.
• Develop scopes of work for geotechnical and geophysical surveys in shallow and deepwater fields, including laboratory testing programs for subsea pipelines and structures.
• Interpret geotechnical survey data and derive design soil parameters.
• Conduct geohazard assessments to support field layout and pipeline routing.
• Design shallow and deep foundations for subsea structures (e.g., PLET, ILT, PLEM).
• Perform pipe-soil interaction assessments for surface-laid and buried pipelines.
• Assess trenching requirements and design rock berms.
• Conduct seismic slope stability and liquefaction analyses.
• Provide geohazard risk mitigation recommendations.
• Leadership responsibilies:
• Lead the Geotechnical team to deliver assigned work within schedule, budget, and quality standards, in compliance with McDermott and project-specific procedures.
• Plan, organise and manage all aspects of geotechnical scope, deliverables, schedule, and manpower resources in coordination with the Functional Manager.
• Ensure clear definition of interfaces and deliverables.
• Monitor progress and productivity, implementing corrective actions as necessary.
• Represent the Geotechnical discipline in meetings with project teams, clients, certifying authorities, auditors, and third parties.
• Provide mentorship and technical guidance to junior engineers and share expertise across the department.

Reports to:

Reports to Lead Engineer, Project Engineering Manager, or Project Manager.

Functional: Discipline Lead / Department Manager.

Liaises With: All engineering disciplines, Safety Department, Project Management Team, Document Control, Planning, Cost Control, QC, Certification Groups, Procurement, Subcontractors, Vendors, and Clients

Qualifications

Essential Qualifications and Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering; Master’s or Ph.D. in Geotechnical Engineering preferred.
• Minimum 10 years of experience in subsea/offshore oil and gas projects with major contractors or consultants, primarily in detailed design.
• Comprehensive knowledge of design techniques, analysis methods, and application of relevant standards, codes, and guidelines.
• Strong project coordination and execution skills.
• Chartered Engineer status with a recognized professional body (e.g., ICE) preferred.
• Proficient in geotechnical calculations, reporting, and documentation; familiar with standards such as API-RP-2GEO, DNV-RP-F114, ISO-19901-4.
• Skilled in numerical analysis using Plaxis 2D/3D, SLOPE/W; experience with ABAQUS is advantageous.
• Proficient in MS Office applications (Word, Excel, etc.).
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Demonstrated ability to resolve complex geotechnical issues and provide innovative solutions.

About Us

Our ingenuity fuels daily life. Together, we’ve forged some of the most trusted partnerships across the energy value chain to make what was once just an idea a reality: laying subsea infrastructure thousands of feet below sea level, installing platforms hundreds of miles from shore, using our expertise to design and build offshore wind infrastructure, and reshaping the onshore landscape to deliver the energy products the world needs safely and sustainably.

For more than 100 years, we've been making the impossible possible. Today, we're driving the energy transition with more than 30,000 of the brightest minds across 54 countries.