Principal Geotechnical Engineer

BALFOUR BEATTY; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading UK infrastructure firm is seeking an experienced Principal Geotechnical Engineer to join their team. In this role, you'll lead and deliver complex geotechnical projects for rail infrastructure, ensuring compliance with industry standards. The ideal candidate will have a Chartered Engineer status and extensive experience in geotechnical engineering. You'll also provide mentorship to junior engineers and engage with clients and stakeholders to ensure project success. This position offers flexibility and a range of benefits, including smart working options.

Benefits

Flexible working hours

25 days paid annual leave

Family-friendly policies

Pension and share incentive plan

Qualifications

• Chartered Engineer (CEng) or Chartered Geologist (CGeol) status required.
• Extensive experience in geotechnical engineering within rail sector preferred.
• Strong understanding of UK railway geotechnical standards.

Responsibilities

• Lead geotechnical design and assessment projects for rail infrastructure.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to junior engineers.
• Specify and supervise geotechnical site investigations and assessments.

Skills

Geotechnical engineering

Project leadership

Technical mentoring

Problem-solving

Client engagement

Education

Chartered Engineer (CEng) or Chartered Geologist (CGeol)

Tools

PLAXIS

WALLAP

SLOPE/W

GEO5

Job description

About the role

We are seeking a highly skilled Principal Geotechnical Engineer who ideally possesses with extensive experience in rail infrastructure to join our dynamic team. This is an exciting opportunity to lead and deliver complex geotechnical projects, providing technical excellence and innovation within the rail sector.

What you'll be doing

• Lead geotechnical design and assessment projects for rail infrastructure, ensuring compliance with industry standards and best practices.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to junior engineers, guiding them through design and analysis challenges.
• Specify and supervise geotechnical site investigations, ground modelling, foundation design, and slope stability assessments.
• Develop and review geotechnical design reports, risk assessments, and design documentation.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, including civil and structural engineers, to integrate geotechnical solutions within rail projects.
• Ensure compliance with Network Rail standards, Eurocodes, and other relevant UK geotechnical regulations.
• Participate in tender preparation, project planning, and budgeting to support business development initiatives.
• Engage with clients, stakeholders, and regulatory bodies to ensure project success and alignment with strategic objectives.
• Apply innovative approaches and emerging technologies in geotechnical engineering to enhance project outcomes.

Who we're looking for

• Chartered Engineer (CEng) or Chartered Geologist (CGeol) status with a relevant institution (ICE, GeolSoc, or equivalent).
• Extensive experience in geotechnical engineering, preferably within the rail infrastructure sector.
• Ideally strong understanding of UK railway geotechnical standards, including Network Rail guidelines.
• Previous CRE-D experience on UK Rail project preferable.
• Proven track record of leading and managing geotechnical projects from feasibility through to construction.
• Proficiency in geotechnical software such as PLAXIS, WALLAP, SLOPE/W, GEO5 or similar.
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to make sound engineering judgments.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to present complex concepts to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Experience in business development, client engagement, and tendering processes is desirable.

Why work for us

Day in, day out, our teams deliver some of the UK’s most ambitious, exciting and meaningful projects; developing, building and maintaining the vital infrastructure that supports national economies and strengthens communities. Why join us? As if contributing to and supporting work that makes life better for millions wasn’t rewarding enough, we offer a full range of benefits too. You’ll have the freedom to shape the package that’s right for you and your life. Here are some of our key benefits:

• Smart working, giving you more flexibility such as staggered start and finish times, with up to 40% remote working, where roles allow.
• 25 days paid annual leave (pro rata).
• Family friendly policies which include 28 weeks full pay for maternity/adoption leave and four weeks full pay for paternity/partners leave.
• Pension, share incentive plan, volunteering leave, recognition schemes and much more…

About us

Balfour Beatty works at the heart of the UK’s rail networks – designing, enhancing and maintaining thousands of miles of the railways that connect communities and underpin growth. From feasibility studies, planning and design through to implementation and asset management, we provide multi-disciplinary rail infrastructure services across the lifecycle of rail assets. Our expertise covers electrification, track, power, civils, specialist rail plant, railway systems and technologies. Diversity and inclusion At Balfour Beatty we believe that diversity and inclusion are essential components of any successful, happy workplace. Through our Value Everyone Diversity and Inclusion Strategy and Action Plan, we are growing our diverse workforce and developing our inclusive culture where everyone is able to thrive and reach their full potential, regardless of their identity or background.

To find out how we are making this a reality, visit www.balfourbeatty.com/diversityandinclusion To help and support us with our desired commitment to create an inclusive culture we are members of WISE, enei, Business Disability Forum and the Association for Black and Minority Ethnic Engineers (AFBE).

In 2020, we signed the Audeliss and Involve Open Letter to demonstrate our commitment to taking key long term and sustainable actions on Black Inclusion. Balfour Beatty is also a Gold Award holder in the Ministry of Defence 'Employer Recognition Scheme' and actively encourage applications from Armed Forces personnel, veterans and reservists. As a Disability Confident Employer, we are committed to working with people who have disabilities and long-term health conditions to remove barriers for them in obtaining employment. We are also committed to offering applicants with a disability an interview if they meet the minimum requirements for the role.

For more info, visit: https://disabilityconfident.campaign.gov.uk/ We are looking to continually improve our resourcing process and ensure that it is fair and inclusive for all. If you have any feedback on the process, please share this with us at: [e-mail]