Technical Director (Numerical Modelling)

Do you want to be a part of our senior Ground Engineering discipline? Can you lead on projects across a diverse team? Are you experienced in numerical modelling in geotechnical design? Then, this could be the next adventure in your career.

Create Solutions that will enable a better tomorrow. To further strengthen the discipline, we are looking for a Technical Director to join our Ground Engineering team. Working in the Geotechnical space on various infrastructure projects, you’ll be responsible for leading numerical modelling within our ground engineering projects.

Your key responsibilities will be:

• Coordinate the development, execution, and review of advanced numerical models for complex soil/rock–structure interaction problems using industry standard tools (primarily but not limited to PLAXIS 2D/3D).
• Design, validate, and optimise geotechnical FE models, ensuring that modelling assumptions, boundary conditions, constitutive soil models, and FE predictions are aligned with industry best practice guidance.
• Provide specialist technical oversight for soil/rock structure interaction assessment on major infrastructure projects (tunnels, deep excavations, foundations, retaining systems, offshore structures, etc).
• Integrate numerical modelling outputs into wider design processes, collaborating closely with civil and ground engineering teams.
• Prepare high‑quality technical reports that clearly communicate modelling approaches, assumptions, sensitivity analyses, and engineering implications to clients and stakeholders.
• Coordinating the delivery of your projects to time and budget, ensuring a high standard of technical quality and compliance with our internal management systems.
• Maintaining and enhancing client relationships through your project work, including identifying and realising any potential business opportunities.
• Assisting with the preparation of bids and tenders and supporting the Directors in pursuing business development opportunities if required.
• Production of engineering design, assessment or checking work including preparation or checking of calculations, written reports, drawings, models and other contract deliverables.
• Support and guide junior engineers in numerical modelling techniques, good modelling practice, verification/validation processes, interpretation of complex outputs supporting the growth of technical excellence within the team.
• Contribute to innovation within the Ground Engineering discipline, including development of automation workflows, parametric modelling, scripting, and advanced visualisation of soil structure interaction behaviour.
• Act as the technical point of contact for numerical modelling in client and internal meetings, providing advice on modelling‑led design decisions.

Your skills. Our team. Together we design the future.

• Hold Chartered Civil engineer status (MICE or equivalent).
• Experience working in the Geotechnical space of projects.
• The ability to lead project teams and oversee the delivery of projects, either as client's or contractor's designer.
• Accomplished team leader skills with the ability to support, mentor and develop less experienced engineers.
• The interpersonal skills and aptitude to work collaboratively in a diverse multi-disciplinary team.
• A technical background, able to demonstrate a deep understanding and enthusiasm for geotechnical engineering.
• Solid grasp of geotechnical engineering design principles and their integration with numerical modelling outputs, demonstrating the ability to translate complex analyses into clear engineering recommendations.
• Good interpersonal and communication skills, enabling effective collaboration in a diverse, multidisciplinary environment.
• A collaborative approach to problem‑solving, with a commitment to quality, rigour, and best‑practice modelling governance.

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 all UK bank and public holidays.
• Formalised development plans and yearly promotion opportunities.
• Private health care, for you and a contribution from you for 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.
• Maternity Leave: 1-20 weeks full pay, 21-26 weeks half pay, 27-39 Statutory (SMP) 40-52 weeks unpaid (eligibility criteria will apply).
• Paternity Leave: 12 weeks full pay (eligibility criteria will apply).
• Optional benefits include: Electric vehicle lease, Annual Rail card (available for under 30s).

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.