Principal Geotechnical Engineer

Derby, England, United Kingdom

1/7/2025

About the role

Balfour Beatty is currently seeking a Principal Geotechnical Engineer to join their Power T&D team.

Role purpose is to take responsibility for the design delivery and design suitability for works across Power T&D construction projects with particular focus on Overhead Line (OHL) foundations and geotechnical delivery.

To work with project teams, designers, and subcontractors through the design phase to deliver safe and suitable scope of works in line with the project objectives.  

Provide advice on the constructability and sequencing of civil design and temporary works designs for Power T&D business.

Provide geotechnical support across the range of PT&D workstreams.

Engage in bid development, tendering, innovation projects alongside the Team Lead and Design Delivery Manager.

Balfour Beatty welcomes applications from both full-time and part-time candidates, including those interested in job-sharing arrangements. Additionally, the company offers a flexible working policy to support a healthy work-life balance.

What you'll be doing



Key Accountabilities:
• Lead and fulfil management responsibilities of a section of the Geotechnical and OHL foundation design team.
• Undertake the design and co-ordination of foundation and geotechnical designs required on OHL, Cabling and Substation projects, from the initial feasibility assessment through to detail design, installation, and where required, support the in-house temporary works design team in preparing temporary works design.
• Ensure the timely delivery and quality of OHL foundations and geotechnical designs. Prepare reports, calculations and drawings to a high technical level which are compliant with the required Client and national technical standards (BS/Eurocodes/ENA etc).
• Understand and be able to capture Client requirements, including those not explicitly stated within the contract. Able to contribute to the generation of robust pricing and design delivery solutions.
Key Responsibilities:
To assess and identify design and temporary works requirements on each project. Including:
• Drive a Safety by Design approach at all times.
• Lead various civil project designs including reinforced concrete design and detailing, ground risk assessments, tower capacity assessment, site design and enablement, slope stability assessments and specification / management of geotechnical works.
• Maintain compliance of CDM regulations and all other legal and regulatory requirements associated with the nature of designs output by the team.
• Undertake technical quality assurance reviews and provide design approval as required / permitted by the Chief Engineer.
• Work closely with other elements of the design team to ensure effective collaboration on multi-disciplinary projects.
• Assist in the management of the tender process, understand, and interpret scope of works, provide advice and opinion.
• Support in the advancement of the engineering design delivery for the team with particular focus on upskilling and use of software. Contribute to the development and updating of the design aids and computer programmes and assist in the analysis of new design concepts.
• Support colleagues in managing the output and delivery of suitable design drawings.
• Assist in determining team objectives, strategy, and requirements.



Who we're looking for

Skills Required:
• Management
• Degree level education or equivalent with formal training in civil engineering and/or geotechnical engineering.
• Chartered Engineer preferred with either the ICE or IStruct.
• Strong, proven post-graduate experience in the civil engineering industry.
• Experience of the supervision of sub-consultants or subcontractors.
• Proven experience of the design of civil engineering works.
• Strong, proven experience of the management of design of civil or geotechnical engineering works.
• IT Literate (Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, CAD)
• Extensive experience of geotechnical design.
• Expertise in the use of Tekla Tedds.
• Good knowledge and understanding of Eurocode and British standards.

Why work for us

Day in, day out, our teams deliver some of the UK’s most ambitious, exciting and meaningful projects; developing, building and maintaining the vital infrastructure that supports national economies and strengthens communities.

As if contributing to and supporting work that makes life better for millions wasn’t rewarding enough, we offer a full range of benefits too. You’ll have the freedom to shape the package that’s right for you and your life. Here are some of our key benefits:

• Smart working, giving you more flexibility such as staggered start and finish times, with up to 40% remote working, where roles allow.
• 25 days paid annual leave (pro rata)
• Family friendly policies which include 28 weeks full pay for maternity/adoption leave and four weeks full pay for paternity/partners leave
• Pension, share incentive plan, volunteering leave, recognition schemes and much more…

About us

Balfour Beatty’s Power Transmission & Distribution teams work with regional, national and international electricity network owners and operators to provide technical engineering solutions across the full spectrum of the electricity grid, including overhead lines, cabling, substations and distribution networks.

From scoping and feasibility, to design, construction and on-going maintenance, our in-house experts, flexible resources and industry-leading innovations support customers in the development of some of the UK’s most ambitious power transmission and distribution projects.

Diversity and inclusion

At Balfour Beatty we believe that diversity and inclusion are essential components of any successful, happy workplace. Through our Value Everyone Diversity and Inclusion Strategy and Action Plan, we are growing our diverse workforce and developing our inclusive culture where everyone is able to thrive and reach their full potential, regardless of their identity or background. To find out how we are making this a reality, visit www.balfourbeatty.com/diversityandinclusion

We are a Gold Award holder in the Ministry of Defence 'Employer Recognition Scheme' and actively encourage applications from Armed Forces personnel, veterans and reservists.

As a Disability Confident Employer, we are committed to working with people who have disabilities and long-term health conditions to remove barriers for them in obtaining employment. We are also committed to offering applicants with a disability an interview if they meet the minimum requirements for the role. For more info, visit: https://disabilityconfident.campaign.gov.uk/.