Senior Geotechnical Engineer

Description

Lead a team of engineers and help shape the company's ground engineering work.

The company's ground engineering group covers the whole discipline for energy, water, defence, highway and railway clients across the UK, Ireland and abroad. Its services run from feasibility and desk studies through ground investigation, interpretation and detailed design to contract administration, technical advice and construction supervision for geotechnical works.

The company is a global, publicly traded infrastructure consultancy with over 50,000 staff and fiscal 2025 Professional Services revenue of $16.1 billion. It delivers multiyear, multimillion-dollar projects for major rail and transit agencies.

The Belfast office has a senior opening for a Geotechnical Engineer or Engineering Geologist, full time or part time. You will join an established team of ground engineers in the Scotland and Ireland region and work closely with colleagues across the UK and Ireland.

Belfast's ground engineering team currently provides geotechnical input on Coolree Reservoir, N21 Adare Bypass, Royal Victoria Hospital, Santry Wastewater Treatment Plant and Poolbeg West Wastewater Treatment Plant. The team also works on UK and international projects and holds commissions on several frameworks: Department for Infrastructure (DfI), Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), Northern Ireland Water and Uisce Éireann.

You will run day-to-day delivery, keeping technical quality, budget and programme on track. You will lead geotechnical input from desk study or feasibility through ground investigation and interpretation to final design, working largely on your own judgement and supporting junior colleagues.

Responsibilities

• Prepare, check and review geotechnical documents such as desk studies, interpretative reports, specifications, construction drawings and design reports.
• Contribute to team and client technical review meetings, take ownership of your decisions and put forward alternative ideas and concepts.
• Prepare bids and proposals for internal and external clients.
• Mentor junior staff on the job and manage your own personal and professional development.

Requirements

• A BEng or MEng in Civil Engineering, a BSc or MSc in Geology, Engineering Geology or Earth Science, or an MSc in Geotechnical Engineering or Engineering Geology is desirable.
• Chartered Engineer (IEng or CEng) or Geologist (CGeol) status is preferred, or achievable within the next year. The team will support you to get there.
• Strong knowledge of UK and Irish ground conditions and ground investigation practice.
• Understanding of how ground conditions are interpreted, how parameters are estimated and which correlation methods suit common geotechnical design problems.
• Familiarity with data management software such as OpenGround is advantageous.
• Broad geotechnical design experience, for example in earthworks, foundations, retaining structures and slope stabilisation, with strong analytical skills and confidence using design software such as Slope/W and Wallap.
• Ability to produce geotechnical analysis and design packages, including drawings, risk assessments, specifications and design reports.
• Good knowledge of relevant Eurocodes, British Standards and Irish Standards is required.
• Experience applying CDM Regulations and safety in design in design and ground investigation work.
• Experience with standards and processes in specialised fields such as highways or railways is desirable.
• Understanding of the consultancy and design markets, including client relationships, work planning and commercial management.
• Clear written communication for technical reports and documents, and confident presentations in person or remotely using collaboration software.
• A clean driving licence.
• Willingness to travel throughout Ireland and occasionally within the UK.

Conditions

Full time or part time, based in the Belfast office with flexible hybrid working, whether you work from an office, remotely or at a client site.

Attendance at an in-person Day 1 onboarding at a company office is a condition of employment.

The company is an Equal Opportunity Employer and a Disability Confident Employer, offering interviews to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria.

Benefits

• Core and personalised benefits supporting your future and well-being, tailored to your lifestyle.
• Career development opportunities.
• Technical practice networks and access to the company's university training.
• Volunteering days.
• A broad range of compensation, benefits and well-being programmes.