Senior Geotechnical Engineer

First Recruitment Group; West Burton; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

First Recruitment Group is seeking a Lead Geotechnical Engineer to provide technical leadership on a major UK infrastructure programme, based on site at West Burton. The role requires delivering geotechnical design basis, risk management, and governance across design and construction phases.

The successful candidate will oversee soil and rock mechanics, foundation engineering, and ground improvement strategies while coordinating with civil, structural and safety teams.

Qualifications

• Degree qualified in Civil Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering or related discipline.
• Extensive geotechnical experience in highly regulated industries.
• Strong knowledge of soil mechanics, rock mechanics and foundation engineering.
• Experience leading complex infrastructure or major capital projects.
• Proven ability to provide technical governance and engineering assurance.
• Experience managing geotechnical risks across design and construction phases.
• Excellent stakeholder management and multidisciplinary coordination.

Responsibilities

• Define and maintain geotechnical design basis and parameters.
• Lead the assessment and management of geotechnical risks (settlement, bearing capacity, slope stability, liquefaction).
• Provide technical assurance of ground investigation data, geotechnical models and designs from external partners.
• Develop and review foundation, excavation, earthworks and ground improvement strategies.
• Provide input into seismic, dynamic and extreme loading assessments.
• Support safety case development with robust technical arguments and evidence.
• Ensure geotechnical work integrates with civil, structural, construction and safety disciplines.
• Support design reviews, governance, assurance and regulatory engagement.
• Identify and mitigate geotechnical risks affecting programme delivery and cost.
• Contribute to digital engineering environments ensuring traceability of geotechnical data.

Skills

Geotechnical engineering

Soil mechanics

Rock mechanics

Foundation engineering

Regulated industry experience

Technical governance

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelors in Civil/Geotechnical Engineering

Chartered Engineer (CEng) status (Desirable)

Tools

BIM

Geotechnical modeling software

Job description

Lead Ground Risk & Foundation Strategy on a Major UK Infrastructure Programme

Our Client has a requirement for a Lead Geotechnical Engineer, who will be required to work on a contract basis in West Burton.

Role Purpose:

• Provide technical leadership and assurance across a major, highly regulated infrastructure programme.
• Define, integrate and maintain the geotechnical design basis for complex engineering facilities.
• Ensure ground-related risks are effectively identified, assessed and managed throughout the project lifecycle.
• Act as the senior geotechnical authority, providing specialist guidance on foundations, ground behaviour and geotechnical risk management.
• Support the safe, efficient and compliant delivery of major infrastructure works.

Job Role Responsibilities:

• Define and maintain the geotechnical design basis and associated design parameters.
• Lead the assessment and management of geotechnical risks including settlement, bearing capacity, slope stability and liquefaction.
• Provide technical assurance of ground investigation data, geotechnical models and design solutions produced by external partners and contractors.
• Develop and review foundation, excavation, earthworks and ground improvement strategies.
• Provide specialist input into seismic, dynamic and extreme loading assessments.
• Support safety case development through robust technical arguments, assumptions and evidence.
• Ensure geotechnical considerations are fully integrated with civil, structural, construction and safety disciplines.
• Support design reviews, governance activities, assurance processes and regulatory engagement.
• Identify and mitigate geotechnical risks affecting programme delivery, safety and cost.
• Contribute to digital engineering environments, ensuring geotechnical data and assumptions remain traceable and controlled throughout the project lifecycle.

Experience / Skills / Knowledge / Qualifications:

Essential

• Degree qualified in Civil Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering or a related discipline.
• Extensive experience in geotechnical engineering within highly regulated industries.
• Strong knowledge of soil mechanics, rock mechanics and foundation engineering.
• Demonstrable experience leading complex infrastructure or major capital projects.
• Proven ability to provide technical assurance and engineering governance.
• Experience managing geotechnical risks across both design and construction phases.
• Excellent stakeholder management and multidisciplinary coordination skills.

Desirable

• Chartered Engineer (CEng) status or equivalent professional accreditation.
• Experience within nuclear, defence, energy or other highly regulated sectors.
• Knowledge of seismic design principles and extreme hazard assessment.
• Experience working within a Design Authority, Intelligent Client or Owner's Engineer environment.
• Familiarity with BIM, digital engineering and digital twin environments.
• Experience supporting safety cases, regulatory submissions or major consenting processes.
• Technical Expertise
• Ground investigations and geotechnical interpretation.
• Development and maintenance of ground models.
• Foundations and retaining structures.
• Earthworks, embankments and excavations.
• Ground improvement techniques.
• Soil-structure interaction.
• Seismic and dynamic loading.
• Long-term ground performance assessment and monitoring.
• Construction methodologies and temporary works