Principal Geotechnical Engineer

Caulmert Ltd - Engineering, Environmental and Planning; Nottingham; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private medical care

Company pension

Holiday entitlement 25 days + BH

Employee ownership

Job summary

Caulmert Ltd - Engineering, Environmental and Planning invites applications for a Principal Geotechnical Engineer. The role focuses on owning investigations, interpretations, design and reporting, with direct involvement in technical work.

The position emphasizes rail infrastructure, embankments, foundations and ground engineering, with wider opportunities across infrastructure, industrial, mining, waste and development schemes.

Qualifications

• 8–10 years of relevant experience with ownership of investigations and design from definition through construction.
• Chartered Engineer or Chartered Geologist status or near-chartered at Principal level.
• Strong analytical and reporting skills with experience in GIRs and GDRs.

Responsibilities

• Lead ground investigations scope, testing, and safety.
• Lead design of foundations, earthworks and retaining systems.
• Mentor colleagues and manage project scope, fees, programme and client expectations.
• Coordinate client meetings and reporting; ensure QA and value engineering.

Skills

Geotechnical engineering

Rail geotechnics

Ground investigation

Project leadership

Education

Civil/Geotechnical engineering degree

Geology/Engineering geology degree

Postgraduate qualification

Tools

Geotechnical software

Job description

Flexible across North Wales and the North West

Contract type

Full-time, permanent

Are you a technically strong, hands-on geotechnical engineer ready to own complex ground-engineering projects and develop the people around you?

Caulmert is looking to appoint a Principal Geotechnical Engineer to lead investigations, interpretation, design and reporting while remaining directly involved in technical work.

The immediate emphasis is on rail infrastructure, embankments and earthworks, foundations, retaining structures and ground engineering, with wider opportunities across infrastructure, industrial, mining, waste and development schemes.

Who will I be working with?

Caulmert is a progressive multidisciplinary consultancy. You will work with our geotechnical, geoenvironmental, civil, structural and environmental teams, alongside clients, contractors, asset owners and specialist suppliers. The role offers genuine influence over project delivery, technical standards and the development of our ground-engineering capability.

What will the role entail?

Investigation, interpretation and reporting

• Scope and manage proportionate ground investigations, including specifications, testing, contractors, fieldwork quality and safety.
• Interpret geological, hydrogeological, mining and geotechnical information and develop clear ground models, parameters and risk-based recommendations.
• Prepare and review desk studies, GIRs, GDRs, earthworks specifications, Geotechnical Risk Registers and technical advice.
• Define appropriate investigation and assurance strategies, recording uncertainty, assumptions and residual risk clearly.

Design and construction support

• Lead design and assessment of foundations, working platforms, retaining systems, slopes, embankments, cuttings, earthworks and ground-improvement measures.
• Develop practical remediation, material-reuse and stabilisation solutions, including lime or cement treatment where appropriate.
• Support temporary works, contractor-led design, specialist proposals, value engineering and construction-stage change using appropriate software and analytical methods.
• Review calculations, models, reports and specialist submissions, ensuring solutions are safe, practical, coordinated and proportionate to risk.

Project, client and team leadership

• Lead commissions and packages from feasibility through construction, managing scope, fee, programme, resources, subcontractors, risk and change.
• Prepare proposals and bid input, lead client and project meetings, and maintain clear reporting and invoicing.
• Delegate, coordinate and review work, mentor colleagues and improve technical standards, tools, QA and shared learning.
• Support effective team performance, utilisation and wellbeing by helping balance workloads, maintain clear priorities and encourage a positive, motivated and accountable working environment.
• Build trusted relationships with clients, contractors and asset owners, supporting repeat business and the development of Caulmert’s ground-engineering capability.

What experience would be particularly valuable?

Candidates do not need every specialism. Particularly valuable experience includes:

• Infrastructure and rail geotechnics, including embankments, cuttings, existing assets, Access for All works and assurance processes.
• Foundations, retaining structures, temporary works, platforms, settlement and interactions with existing structures.
• Slope stability, earthworks, ground improvement, stabilisation and reuse of site-won materials.
• Mining, quarrying, ground remediation, landfill, waste or geoenvironmental work as complementary capability.

What are we looking for?

Above all, we are looking for a credible Principal-level geotechnical engineer: technically advanced, commercially aware, comfortable taking ownership and still motivated by hands-on analysis, design and project delivery.

• Relevant civil engineering, geotechnical engineering, engineering geology or geology degree; a postgraduate qualification is advantageous.
• Typically 8 to 10 years or more of relevant experience, with capability and responsibility more important than years alone.
• Chartered Engineer or Chartered Geologist, or near-chartered and already operating credibly at Principal level.
• Strong ownership of investigations and design packages from definition through construction support.
• Practical design capability across foundations, retaining structures, earthworks and slope stability.
• High-quality interpretation and reporting, including GIRs, GDRs and earthworks-related deliverables.
• Confident use of relevant geotechnical analysis and design software.
• Experience directing, coordinating and reviewing others and managing fees, programmes, subcontractors, change and client expectations.
• Sound knowledge of Eurocodes, UK standards, CDM and consultancy QA, plus a full UK driving licence.

What do we offer?

You will join a friendly, professional and ambitious business where your contribution, ideas and results are recognised.

• Varied multidisciplinary work across relevant infrastructure, development and environmental sectors.
• Flexible working arrangements, balanced with the needs of clients, projects, offices, fieldwork and team development.
• Competitive remuneration, 25 days’ holiday plus bank holidays, increasing to 30 days with length of service.
• Private medical care, company pension and investment in professional and technical development.
• The opportunity to join an employee-owned business and, where appropriate, potentially purchase Company shares.
• A clear pathway towards Associate-level responsibility for strong technical leaders who contribute positively to clients, colleagues and business growth.

If you enjoy taking ownership, solving practical ground-engineering problems and helping others succeed, we would like to hear from you.

Caulmert is an equal opportunities employer and aims to provide a workplace where people are treated with dignity and respect, and where trust and empowerment are encouraged.

Appropriate Right to Work checks will form part of the recruitment process.