Principal Geotechnical Engineer

Sweco UK; Leeds; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading engineering consultancy in Leeds is seeking a Principal Geotechnical Engineer to join their team, focusing on diverse infrastructure projects. This role involves managing project delivery and client relationships while mentoring team members. Ideal candidates will have a relevant engineering degree and experience in geotechnical design across various sectors. The position offers flexible working arrangements and opportunities for career progression.

Benefits

Flexible working arrangements

Career progression opportunities

Inclusive company culture

Qualifications

• Demonstrated technical experience in transportation, water, energy, and development projects.
• Proven experience in managing projects, including programming and monitoring.
• Record of project delivery in geotechnical design.

Responsibilities

• Deliver high-quality technical delivery on geotechnical projects.
• Manage relationships with clients and maximize business opportunities.
• Support workload management and resource allocation within the team.

Skills

Project delivery in major infrastructure geotechnical design

Technical experience in geotechnical engineering

Leadership and team motivation

Education

BEng / MEng in Civil Engineering or BSc / MSc in Engineering Geology

MSc in Geotechnical Engineering

Chartered Engineer (IEng / CEng) / Geologist (CGeol)

Job description

Society is in your hands, what are you waiting for?

We are currently looking for a talented and motivated Principal Geotechnical Engineer to join our Ground Engineering team. This role will be based at our Leeds office and can be worked flexibly, with a minimum of 3 days per week in the office/on site and the option of adjusted start and finish times.

Please note we will be relocating to Leeds City Centre mid‑next year from our current base in Chapel Allerton.

What does the role involve?

As an active member of the Ground Engineering team you will help deliver a diverse portfolio of projects across the UK for a range of market sectors including highways, water, energy and development. The team provides a wide range of geotechnical design services across all project stages: feasibility studies, ground investigations, geotechnical interpretation, preliminary and detailed design, and construction supervision.

Sweco offers diverse experience for its engineers, including projects spanning various industry sectors and a mix of geotechnical activities such as ground investigation specification and management, earthworks and structures design, and construction‑stage support.

You will be joining a very experienced and enthusiastic team that has recently supported the British Antarctic Survey’s £100 M Antarctic Infrastructure Modernisation Programme, delivered detailed geotechnical design for prominent projects such as the Queensferry Crossing, Stockholm Metro Extension, A47 improvement programme, major junction improvements for the M2, M25 and M27 motorways, and Beauly HDVC Converter Station.

This is an exciting time to join Sweco, and if you want to be part of a company that is small in all the best ways but large enough to provide a diverse and exciting workload, this job is for you.

Responsibilities include:

Health & Safety

• Ensure that Health & Safety is considered an integral part of any design and construction solution, including adherence to statutory and company procedures to identify and mitigate risk and to inform others of any residual hazards.

Client Relationship Management

• Manage relationships with individual client contacts to maximise opportunities across the business while providing a high service level on each project.
• Build a market base in the field of geotechnical opportunities.

Project Delivery

• Provide high‑quality technical delivery and governance on geotechnical projects to ensure a “technically excellent” delivery in accordance with the client’s brief.
• Act as the geotechnical discipline lead for multidisciplinary projects, directing geotechnical teams and liaising with the project team and client as necessary.
• Support the team manager with workload management and resourcing of the ground engineering team.

Financial / Commercial Management

• Prepare and track project budgets and manage the financial aspects of projects.
• Adhere to the Sweco Project Management Framework.
• Administer contract functions, including management of change and risk.

People Management

• Support the Team Manager in leading a team with the required skills and knowledge to undertake all aspects of geotechnical engineering, including ground investigation and interpretation, infrastructure design and specification, and construction‑stage support.
• Mentor individuals within the team to achieve the required blend of skills and foster a culture of continuous improvement.

Business Development

• Contribute to the preparation of PQQs and tenders as required.
• Recognise opportunities for cross‑selling within current clients and manage commissions to realise these opportunities in consultation with relevant parties.

To be successful in this role, you’ll have:

• A successful record of project delivery in major infrastructure geotechnical design.
• Significant demonstrable technical experience in geotechnical engineering applied to transportation, water, energy and development projects.
• Proven experience in managing projects, including programming, resourcing and monitoring.
• Proven ability in the leadership and motivation of individuals and teams.

In terms of qualifications, you’ll have:

• A BEng / MEng in Civil Engineering or BSc / MSc in Engineering Geology or Earth Science.
• An MSc in Geotechnical Engineering or a related applicable field is desirable.
• Chartered Engineer (IEng / CEng) / Geologist (CGeol) status.

You’ll experience a diverse, inclusive, friendly and flexible working environment where colleagues are encouraged to grow and develop. A meaningful job where you’ll help transform society by being a trusted consultant to our clients.

If you believe you have the skill set required, are keen to join a business with genuine opportunities for career progression, then we’d love to hear from you.

Let’s transform society together at Sweco.

About Us

Transforming society together, we're planning and designing sustainable communities and cities of the future.

Solving the great societal challenges of our time is more relevant, demanding and inspiring than ever before. At Sweco, we bring together experts with different perspectives and skills to develop solutions that address the challenges of urbanisation, harness the positive power of digitalisation and make societies more sustainable.

We offer our clients a combination of global expertise and local presence, adapted to their business and reality. Our ambition is to be our clients’ most relevant partner, working together to help them solve their challenges, today and into the future.

Sweco is committed to enabling all its colleagues to achieve a great balance between work and their other priorities, such as caring responsibilities, leisure activities, further learning or other interests. We offer flexible start and finish times, part‑time and hybrid working options so that you can flex your hours around your day‑to‑day needs.

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

It’s important to us that all our colleagues thrive at work – we strive to have a friendly and inclusive culture that respects the contribution individuals can bring to Sweco. We aim to promote equality, inclusivity and diversity for everyone.

Here at Sweco we positively encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, pregnancy or maternity/paternity.

We have signed the Armed Forces Covenant to ensure those who serve or have served, and their families, are treated fairly. To find out more, see The Armed Forces Covenant – Our Commitments.

We are also proud to be a Disability Confident Committed employer and will interview applicants covered by the Equality Act 2010 that opt into the guaranteed interview scheme on the application form and meet the minimum criteria for the role.

If you have a disability that requires a reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the application process or to use the online application system, please contact [e-mail] for assistance.

In order to address your request the following information is needed:

• Name
• The best method for contacting you (phone or email)
• The position title
• Requisition/vacancy number

Please note: we reserve the right to close vacancies before the advertised closing date.