Technical Principal - Geotechnical Engineering in Brighton

Mott MacDonald is a global engineering, management, and development consultancy with over 20,000 employees across more than 50 countries and 140+ offices. We work across global industries, delivering important projects that define our future and have a societal impact. Our people power our performance, and we support collaboration, learning, and growth. We are an employee-owned business that aims to empower, include, and value everyone.

About The Business Unit: Our Energy Unit leads work in Energy Market and Nuclear Defence projects, focusing on the energy transition to ensure safe, stable, sustainable energy for future generations. Our multidisciplinary teams provide services across the full project life cycle, from advisory services and feasibility studies to detailed design, construction support, and site supervision, covering electrical transition, nuclear, hydropower, offshore wind, and other energy projects across the UK and Europe. We are growing and expanding our geotechnical team to support the energy transition and broader sub-markets, offering defined technical career pathways and mentoring to develop our people.

Overview Of The Role: As a Technical Principal Geotechnical Engineer in our Energy Unit, you will work with a range of public and private sector clients on major projects across the UK, Europe, and beyond. You will lead the production of cost-effective, buildable designs in line with Eurocodes, reports, specifications, and drawings for geotechnical requirements within the energy sector. You will deliver geotechnical and ground engineering projects and provide technical leadership by leading the team and overseeing design work on complex projects. You will also support larger projects as lead client liaison, internal or external. You will help shape the technical direction and delivery of the team, oversee technical training, and support professional excellence activities. You will contribute as peer reviewer and may directly manage engineering geology design work. You will collaborate with account leads on business development activities and support bids and proposals.

Your Responsibilities Will Include:

• Contributing to the setting of long-term strategy for the Energy Unit geotechnics development and driving forward plans.
• Lead design foundations and substructures for energy projects (earthworks, slope stability, foundations, retaining walls) from feasibility through to detailed design and construction.
• Lead the design of retaining wall systems.
• Lead in 2D and 3D numerical modelling for soil and structure interaction issues.
• Oversee geotechnical design for complex projects (deep cuts, retaining walls, earthworks, slope stability).
• Conduct ground seismic assessments and perform dynamic analyses of geotechnical structures.
• Support business development activities including inputs to bids and proposals.
• Travel to project sites for project delivery and client liaison meetings.
• Manage disciplinary design teams or act as discipline lead on major projects.

Candidate specification: As a Technical Principal in the Energy Unit ground engineering team, you should be able to direct and deliver multiple concurrent projects on time and within budget. You will have designed geotechnical and foundation elements using current standards and Eurocodes and have experience on large projects. You will have strong interpersonal skills to liaise with clients and build professional relationships internally and externally, with demonstrated project management skills and experience as a technical lead. You are an effective communicator who can collaborate with all levels of staff and clients, and you are capable of working both collaboratively and autonomously.

Essential:

• Masters degree in Civil Engineering with emphasis on geotechnics or engineering geology (or related subject).
• Relevant geotechnical experience.
• Chartered Engineer with the ICE or equivalent.
• Experience of managing small teams of engineers.
• Prepared to travel nationally and internationally as needed.
• Experience in the energy market with exposure to sub-markets such as Transmission and Distribution networks; Energy Generation (Renewables, Hydro, Thermal, Gas, Liquids); Nuclear (generation, disposal, civil) and Nuclear defence.
• Experience guiding and mentoring a team of engineers in technical development.
• Mentoring early career professionals as a DE or SCE or similar.

Desirable:

• PhD in Civil Engineering with emphasis on geotechnics or engineering geology (or related subject).
• Offshore capability and experience beneficial.

Agile working: We support a hybrid working policy that enables you and your manager to work in a way that meets client, team, and personal commitments, with a focus on well-being, flexibility, and trust.

Equality, diversity, and inclusion: We embed equality, diversity, and inclusion in our business to ensure fair employment practices and equal opportunities for all. We encourage individual expression and strive for an inclusive environment where everyone feels they can contribute.

Accessibility: If you are disabled or need support to apply or attend an interview, contact reasonable.adjustments@mottmac.com to discuss how we can help.

We Offer Some Fantastic Benefits Including:

• Financial wellbeing: We match employee pension contributions between 4.5% and 7%.
• Life assurance up to 4 x basic salary, with option to increase to 6 x.
• Income protection with financial support and return-to-work assistance.
• Flexible benefits including increased life assurance, critical illness insurance, payroll savings, and will writing.

Employee Ownership: Our employee ownership model means no external investors, creating a culture of shared success. Employees have a stake and a voice in the business, with performance bonuses linked to personal and group results. Your career growth increases your stake, recognizing long-term impact and contribution. Direct channels to senior leadership to shape our future; senior roles include a pathway to ownership from day one.

Health and wellbeing: Private medical insurance for all UK colleagues. Health cash plan for everyday costs and treatments. Access to Peppy for menopause support and related wellbeing resources. Comprehensive wellbeing program with access for you and your family. Ability to flex salary to opt into a range of health benefits for you and family.

Lifestyle: 33-35 days holiday per year, include public holidays, with option to buy/sell leave. Holiday entitlement increases to 35 days after five years of service. Employee saving schemes and retailer discounts. Enhanced family and carers leave policies, including 26 weeks maternity/adoption leave and two weeks paid paternity/partner leave. Shared parental leave up to 24 weeks at full pay. Up to five additional days for significant caring responsibilities (two paid).

Learning and development: Annual professional institution subscription. Opportunities to enhance technical and soft skills through mentoring, training, and self-development options. Join groups including Advanced Employee Networks supporting LGBTQ+, gender, race and ethnicity, disability, and parents/carers communities. Contribute to social outcomes in our communities.

Location(s): Glasgow, GB; Altrincham, GB; Brighton, GB

Contract Type: Permanent

Work Pattern: Full Time

Market: Energy

Discipline: Geotechnical and tunnelling

Job Ref: 13259