Technical Principal - Geotechnical Engineering

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 incredible global industries, delivering exciting work that is defining our future and making an important societal impact in the communities we serve.

About the business unit

Our Energy Unit leads WIN and DO work in all Energy Market and Nuclear Defence market projects working at the forefront of the energy transition challenge to ensure safe, stable, sustainable energy is available for future generations. Our multi-disciplinary teams provide a variety of services throughout the full project life cycle, from advisory services and feasibility studies, through outline and detailed design, to construction support and site supervision working across electrical transition (transmission, HVDC, solar, battery storage, onshore wind, tidal), nuclear (generation, disposal, other civil), nuclear defence, hydropower, offshore wind and thermal transmission (gas, liquids, hydrogen, thermal generation) projects across the UK and Europe.

Overview of the role

As a Technical Principal Geotechnical Engineer in our growing Energy Unit geotechnical team, you will have the opportunity to expand your experience and work with a range of public and private sector clients on some key and major projects across what is a varied and diverse energy market in the UK, Europe and beyond. You will lead the production of cost-effective and buildable design solutions in line with current Eurocodes, reports, specifications and drawings covering a range of project requirements within energy sector geotechnics.

Your responsibilities will include the following:

• Contributing to the setting of long-term strategy for our Energy Unit geotechnics development and driving forward plans
• Lead design foundations and substructures associated with energy projects such as earthworks, slope stability, foundations, retaining walls with experience of feasibility study design 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
• Undertake technical oversight of geotechnical design for projects such as deep large cuts, retaining walls, earthworks and 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 when necessary for project delivery and client liaison meetings
• Manage disciplinary design teams or act as discipline lead as part of a larger team on major projects

Candidate specification

As a Technical Principal in the Energy Unit ground engineering team, you are able to direct and deliver multiple concurrent projects on time and within budget. You have designed various geotechnical and foundation elements using current standards and Eurocodes and have previously worked on large projects. You will have strong interpersonal skills and are able to liaise with clients and build professional relationships internally and externally.

Essential:

• Masters degree in Civil Engineering with emphasis on geotechnics or engineering geology or Masters in a related subject
• Relevant and appropriate geotechnical experience
• Chartered Engineer with the ICE or equivalent
• Experience of managing small teams of engineers
• Prepared to travel nationally and internationally as needed for any project
• Experience in the energy market and ideally in one or more of the following sub-markets: Transmission and Distribution (T&D) networks, Energy Generation (Renewables, Hydro, Thermal, Gas, Liquids), Nuclear (generation, disposal, other civil) and Nuclear defence
• Experience guiding and nurturing a team of engineers in their technical development
• Has mentored early career professionals as a DE or SCE or similar

Desirable:

• PhD degree in Civil Engineering with emphasis on geotechnics or engineering geology or Masters in a related subject
• Offshore capability and experience beneficial

Agile working

At Mott MacDonald, we believe it makes business sense for you and your manager to choose how you can work most effectively to meet your client, team, and personal commitments. We offer a hybrid working policy that embraces your well-being, flexibility, and trust.

Equality, diversity, and inclusion

We put equality, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of our business, seeking to promote fair employment procedures and practices to ensure equal opportunities for all. We encourage individual expression in our workplace and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels they can contribute.

Accessibility

We want you to perform your best at every stage in the recruitment process. If you are disabled or need any support to enable you to apply or attend an interview, please contact us at reasonable.adjustments@mottmac.com and we will talk to you about how we can support you.

We offer some fantastic benefits including:

• Financial wellbeing: We match employee pension contributions between 4.5% and 7%. Life assurance equal up to 4 x your basic salary, with an option to increase the level of cover to 6 x your salary.
• Employee Ownership: Our employee ownership model means no external investors, just us, creating a culture of shared success.
• Health and wellbeing: Private medical insurance for all UK colleagues. Health cash plan to support you with everyday health costs and treatments.
• Lifestyle: A minimum of 33-35 days holiday each year, inclusive of public holidays and dependent on level, with the ability to buy or sell leave through our flexible benefits programme.
• Enhanced family and carers leave: Enhanced family leave policies, including 26 weeks paid maternity and adoption leave, and two weeks paid paternity/partner leave.
• Learning and development: Primary annual professional institution subscription. A broad range of opportunities to enhance both technical and soft skills through mentoring, formal training, and self-development options.