Principal Engineer (Geotechnical/Rail) 1 United Kingdom York Application Deadline 27 January 2026

Do you want to design Geotechnical projects? Can you have an impact in our green transition? Do you have experience in either Rail or Energy projects? Then, this could be the next adventure in your career.

Create Solutions that will enable a better tomorrow. We’re expanding our Ground Engineering team and looking for a talented Principal Engineer to join our geotechnical specialists in York. In this role, you’ll take the lead on a diverse portfolio of infrastructure projects across the rail and energy sectors—both in the UK and internationally. This is a fantastic opportunity to shape the future of ground engineering while guiding a skilled and dedicated team.

Your key responsibilities will be:

• Production of ground engineering designs, assessment and checking work including preparation and checking of calculations, written reports, drawings, specifications and other contract deliverables.
• Supervising, mentoring and developing less experienced engineers and technicians within your project teams, working with line managers to maximise training opportunities.
• Ensuring that design, assessments and checking of designs are in accordance with the current Standards, Codes of Practice and Best Practice.
• Assisting with the preparation of bids and tenders and supporting the pursuit of business development opportunities as required.
• Overseeing the delivery of your projects to time and budget, ensuring a high standard of sustainability, technical quality and compliance with our internal management systems.
• Developing and maintaining Client relationships through your project work, including identifying and realising any potential business opportunities.

Your skills. Our team. Together we design the future. Like us, you believe that leadership success comes from setting a clear and meaningful direction for your team and supporting them in taking ownership of their work. You always delegate responsibility and ensure an open and safe dialogue, and you coach your people to achieve their aspirations through constructive, fact-based feedback. Attracting and nurturing a diverse group of high-potential team members is at the top of your agenda, as is creating an inclusive, caring and trusting culture in your team.

On top of that, you’ll have:

• An MSc in either Civil engineering, Engineering Geology or Geotechnical Engineering.
• Achieved Chartered status either as an engineer or engineering geologist (CEng, CGeol, or equivalent).
• A high level of technical skills in Geotechnical Engineering discipline or Engineering Geology.
• Significant experience in a design environment working on rail, tunnelling, infrastructure or energy projects in the UK or internationally.
• Experience working in multidisciplinary project teams and overseeing the delivery of projects, either as client's or contractor's designer.
• Thorough understanding of Eurocode 7 and UK annex design codes.
• Sound understanding of CDM Regulations, specifically the Designer's requirements and the risk assessment process.
• Excellent teamwork and communication skills with the ability to support, mentor and develop less experienced engineers.
• Previous experience as a CRE (Contractor's Responsible Engineer) in a rail environment is highly desirable.
• Full UK driving licence.

A place to work and so much more. At COWI, we work together with our customers to shape a sustainable and liveable world. We do it by applying our knowledge and curiosity – and sometimes even our courage – to create the solutions the world needs today to enable a better tomorrow. We support our customers’ transition towards increased sustainability. We strive to lead by example by embedding environmental management, social responsibility and good governance into our business practices and the options we provide to our customers. We value differences and development and cultivate an environment of belonging and having fun. Because that is what brings out the best in you, at work and at home.

With offices primarily located in Scandinavia, the UK, North America, and India, we are currently 7,300 people who bring their expertise in engineering, architecture, energy, and environment into play.

What we also offer: To us, a fair reward is more than a competitive salary. We want to take care of our people professionally and personally as well. Some of our benefits include:

• 28 days' holiday (plus bank and public holidays).
• Formalised development plans and yearly promotion opportunities.
• Private health care, for you and your immediate dependents.
• Flexible and hybrid working conditions.
• Annual subscription fees paid for your membership of two Professional Institutions.
• Group personal pension scheme – salary exchange.
• Life assurance.

If you have any unanswered questions about the role or what we have to offer, please reach out to Ciaran Gilfedder at CIGI@COWI.COM.

Get to know us even better at our website, www.cowi.com, where you can learn more about our projects, our strategy, what we want to achieve and what life is like at COWI.

Equal opportunity employer. COWI provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to ethnicity, colour, religion, gender, national origin, age or disability. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.