Principal Geotechnical Engineer/Engineering Geologist

Mott MacDonald; Glasgow; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a forward-thinking global consultancy as a Principal Geotechnical Engineer in the Energy Unit. This role offers the chance to work on diverse projects across the energy sector, focusing on innovative geotechnical solutions. You will lead design efforts, manage teams, and liaise with clients while contributing to the energy transition. With a commitment to excellence and digital innovation, this position allows you to make a significant impact in a collaborative environment. If you're passionate about engineering and eager to drive positive change, this opportunity is perfect for you.

Benefits

Pension matched up to 7%

Life insurance

Annual professional institution subscription

Continuous development opportunities

Agile/flexible working

Enhanced parental leave

Flexible benefits including buying/selling leave

Wellbeing support

Access to Advanced Employee Networks

Qualifications

• Strong interpersonal skills with experience in geotechnical projects.
• Chartered Engineer status with ICE or equivalent required.

Responsibilities

• Lead design solutions for foundations and substructures in energy projects.
• Manage small teams and oversee design work for geotechnical projects.

Skills

Geotechnical Engineering

Project Management

Client Liaison

Numerical Modelling

Foundation Design

Education

Masters or PhD in Civil Engineering

Masters in related subject

Job description

Principal Geotechnical Engineer/Engineering Geologist

Location(s): Brighton, GB; Glasgow, GB

Contract Type: Permanent

Work Pattern: Full Time

Market: Energy

Job Ref: 5550

Position location: Brighton or Glasgow
Recruiter contact: Laura Kennedy

We’re a global engineering, management, and development consultancy.
Our purpose is to improve society by considering social outcomes in everything we do, relentlessly focusing on excellence and digital innovation, transforming our clients’ businesses, our communities and employee opportunities.

A fundamental part of this is respecting each person’s differences and striving to meet their needs.

About the business unit

The Energy unit delivers services to clients globally across several sectors including hydropower, nuclear, waste, renewable generation and transmission & distribution networks. Together we provide integrated engineering and project management services across the project lifecycle – from concept and design to construction and operations, to decommissioning or repowering and life extension. Together with our clients, we’re helping to deliver the energy transition globally.

Overview of role

As a Principal Geotechnical Engineer in our growing Energy Unit geotechnical team, you will have the opportunity to broaden your experience and work with a range of public and private sector clients on some key and major projects across what is a varied and diverse Energy market in the UK, Europe and beyond.

You will be involved and lead identifying and producing cost effective and buildable design solutions in line with current Eurocodes, reports specifications and drawings covering a range of project requirements within energy sector geotechnics.

You’ll deliver various geotechnical and ground engineering projects and provide technical leadership through leading the team and managing and overseeing their design work. You’ll also support larger projects acting as client liaison and contributing to risk assessments, employing sustainability principles and undertaking budgeting and cost control.

Your responsibilities will include the following:

• Ground characterisation reviews
• Lead the design foundations and substructures associated with Energy projects such as, earthworks, slope stability, foundations, retaining walls etc with experience of feasibility study design through to detailed design and construction.
• Lead the design retaining wall systems
• Lead in 2D numerical modelling for soil/structure interaction issues
• Travel to project sites when necessary for project delivery and client liaison meetings
• Managing small single disciplinary design teams or be part of larger team on major projects.

Candidate Specification

As a Principal Geotechnical Engineer in Energy Unit ground engineering team, you are able to direct and deliver multiple concurrent projects on time and within budget.

You’ve designed various geotechnical and foundation elements using current standards and Eurocodes and have previously worked on large projects. You will have strong interpersonal skills and are able to liaise with various clients and build professional relationships internally and externally.

You are comfortable with your technical expertise in the ground engineering sector and have gained various project management skills throughout your career as well as acted in a technical lead capability. You’re an effective communicator and are able to collaborate with all levels of staff and clients. In addition to this, you are a relationship builder and understand the dynamics of working with a team as well as working autonomously.

You will also be able to demonstrate the following:

• Masters or PhD degree in Civil Engineering with emphasis on geotechnics/ engineering geology or Masters in related subject
• Relevant geotechnical experience
• Chartered Engineer with the ICE or equivalent
• Experience of managing small teams of engineers
• Prepared to travel nationally and internationally as needed for any project.
• Offshore/nearshore capability and experience beneficial but not essential.
• Experience in Energy market, and ideally in one or more of the following sectors:
  • Transmission and Distribution (T&D) networks
  • Energy Generation (Renewables, Hydro and Thermal)
  • Nuclear/ Nuclear defence
• Experience guiding and nurturing a team of Engineers in their technical development
• Has mentored early career professionals as a DE or SCE or similar

Equality, diversity, and inclusion

We put equality, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of our business, seeking to promote fair employment procedures and practices to ensure equal opportunities for all. We encourage individual expression in our workplace and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels they can contribute.

Accessibility

We want you to perform your best at every stage in the recruitment process. If you are disabled or need any support to enable you to apply or attend an interview, please contact us at [e-mail] and we will talk to you about how we can support you.

We offer some fantastic benefits including:

• Pension matched up to 7%
• Life insurance
• An annual professional institution subscription
• Continuous development opportunities – because we want you to thrive
• Agile/flexible working – because life isn’t 9-5
• Enhanced parental leave; shared parental leave policies – for parents and caregivers
• Flexible benefits that suit you, including ability to buy/sell annual leave entitlement, cycle to work & interest free season ticket loans
• Wellbeing support including access to an independent Employer Assistance Scheme, wellbeing champions and access to learning and support resources
• Access to our Advanced Employee Networks which support our LGBTQ+, gender, race and ethnicity, disability and parents/carers communities

Apply now, or for more information about our application process, click here.