Engineer jobs in United Kingdom

Oct 13, 2025

Vacancy type Principal Geotechnical Engineer

Vacancy reference WCS-25-20

Salary scale Competitive – dependent on experience

How to apply
Kindly submit your CV and cover letter via email to careers@wcs-consult.co.uk, ensuring that the subject line includes the job title and reference.

Location Surbiton

Closing date 30th November 2025

Position type Full time, permanent 37.5 hours a week. Hybrid

Travel required N/A

Reports to Technical/Managing Director

Key Purpose of role

The key purpose of this role is to deliver geotechnical engineering expertise on all the projects the job holder is working on and to support colleagues on other projects where geotechnical expertise is needed. Design must be innovative, sustainable, and intelligent and must meet fee and client budgets whilst meeting all stakeholder expectations.

Role and Responsibilities:

Commercial and Financial Support

• Work with the team to provide specialist geotechnical knowledge and foundation design to our civil structures design teams and to provide ongoing project support as required. You will be involved in producing design solutions in line with current Eurocodes, reports, specifications and drawings covering a range of project requirements.
• Production of geotechnical investigation specifications, Geotechnical Investigation, GIR, GDR and other Design reports per Eurocodes
• Foundation, retaining wall, earthworks and pile design amongst others
• Experience of HDD and other ‘no-dig’ technology design highly desirable
• Experience of working on renewables projects would be desirable
• Deliver technical expertise to colleagues and clients
• Undertake Design Risk Assessments and actively contribute to project hazard workshop reviews
• Coordinate with design coordination/management functions and interfacing with other design disciplines
• Preparing and/or reviewing specifications for ground investigation
• Attendance on site during WCS commissioned ground investigation and specifying laboratory testing as necessary
• Working with other technical staff at WCS to develop best practice guidance,
• Input into civil engineering tendering processes by:
  • Reviewing client ITTs
  • Developing civil design strategies including producing scope of works
  • Identifying key project risks and opportunities developing potential mitigation measures
  • Engaging sub-consultants and other specialist suppliers through the procurement function
  • Coordinating the production of tender deliverables

Communication

• Liaise with clients and the design team to ensure that efficient and integrated solutions are produced on all projects which are sensitive to the design intent
• Maintain good, clear and proactive communication with all relevant members of the design team to ensure all are aware of project progress
• Attend design team, site and client meetings as required and keep accurate notes of all discussions
• Prepare and deliver as appropriate technical presentations, both in-house and externally to others, including our clients

Training

• Share expert knowledge across the team to help develop others
• Actively and continually update skills and technical knowledge through CPD
• Ensure that all professional CPD requirements are met every year

Marketing & Business Development

• Maintain excellent professional and friendly working relationships with colleagues, existing clients and other collaborators to secure flow or repeat work
• Actively and positively promote the company in all work activities. Attend suitable industry events to develop connections with new clients and to help secure new, interesting and profitable work

Person Specification

The following are essential for successful performance in the role:

• Degree level qualification in Civil Engineering and Chartered or nearly Chartered
• Extensive experience (minimum 8 years) of working on civil structure projects where geotechnical expertise was a key/integral component of the design
• Competence with appropriate software packages
• Experience within civil design environment preferably within a consultancy environment
• Experience of work winning including risk identification and mitigation
• Proven ability to coach and manage employees
• Excellent attention to detail
• Strong written and verbal skills
• An adaptable and flexible working style with the ability to develop and foster collaborative working relationships
• The ability to confidently present ideas, opinions and solutions
• Ability to represent the company on site visits/surveys (sometimes in unsociable hours) in a professional manner
• Experience of infrastructure projects, preferably rail or power sectors

You will need to have a current clean driving license and be willing to travel throughout the UK to visit sites and carry out surveys in railway possession from time‑to‑time.