Coastal Geotechnical Lead — Principal Engineer

Placements24; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 1,000,000 - 1,600,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical aid

Retirement fund

Career advancement opportunities

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Principal Geotechnical Engineer in Cape Town to lead a specialist team on high-value coastal development projects. The role demands extensive coastal/marine geotechnical experience, strong leadership, and the ability to guide projects from inception to completion.

You will oversee investigations, design, modeling, and reporting while mentoring engineers and supporting business development efforts with clients and proposals.

Qualifications

• Must hold MSc or PhD in Geotechnical Engineering.
• Pr Eng registration with ECSA is mandatory.
• Minimum 12 years of progressive geotechnical experience, coastal/marine.
• Proficient in geotechnical software (Plaxis, GeoStudio) and strong analytical skills.
• Thorough understanding of South African geotechnical codes and guidelines.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage geotechnical investigations for coastal and marine projects.
• Develop detailed geotechnical designs for foundations, earthworks, and retaining structures.
• Provide expert geotechnical advice to clients, project managers, and design teams.
• Conduct advanced numerical modeling and analysis of soil-structure interaction.
• Oversee the preparation of comprehensive geotechnical reports and design documents.
• Mentor and develop a team of geotechnical engineers and technicians.
• Contribute to business development efforts, including proposal preparation and client relationship management.
• Review and approve geotechnical designs and calculations performed by team members.

Skills

Geotechnical leadership

Foundation design

Numerical modeling

Client communication

Team mentorship

Education

MSc/PhD in Geotechnical Engineering

Tools

Plaxis

GeoStudio

Job description

Placements24 is seeking a Principal Geotechnical Engineer in Cape Town to lead a specialist team on high-value coastal development projects. The role demands extensive coastal/marine geotechnical experience, strong leadership, and the ability to guide projects from inception to completion.

You will oversee investigations, design, modeling, and reporting while mentoring engineers and supporting business development efforts with clients and proposals.