Principal Geotechnical Engineer

About the job

National Highways is offering an exciting opportunity for a Principal Engineering Geologist or Geotechnical Engineer to join our South West Operations Geotechnical team.

Youll work alongside the Geotechnical Engineering Team Manager to lead inspire and support a skilled team of engineers. Together youll tackle the complex challenges of managing geotechnical risks setting priorities and developing innovative early solutions for a wide range of geotechnical schemes. From earthworks and rock slopes to their interaction with drainage structures and other highway assets youll provide the specialist expertise and technical authority that underpins safe resilient and future-proof infrastructure.

Youll also influence how we advance geotechnical asset management ensuring schemes meet the highest standards while driving continual improvement across the sector.

This is a hybrid position and can be based out of our Bristol or Exeter offices.

You will be required to drive as part of your role and you will need to have a full driving license with no more than 3 points to be considered for this position and during employment

Responsibilities

Known internally as a Principal Geotechnical Engineer you will:

• Provide specialist technical expertise to identify risks and shape early solutions for renewals and improvement schemes in line with agreed methodologies considering new techniques materials buildability and costs
• Develop asset-specific management plans that support with making decisions that align with policy and standards while delivering value for money and supporting business goals.
• Identify prioritise and manage geotechnical asset needs in line with governance requirements (e.g. DMRB: CS641 and CD622) and to achieve business objectives.
• Commission and oversee survey works to support asset improvements and renewals reviewing and approving technical briefs reports specifications drawings and supporting information.
• Champion the use of high-quality asset data by monitoring performance driving innovation in data management and guiding regional colleagues to maintain standards and integrity.

About you

• Degree and or Masters in relevant discipline Higher National Diploma / Higher National Certificate with relevant experience or equivalent experience.
• Extensive relevant and demonstrable experience in ground engineering and infrastructure works. You should hold Chartered or Incorporated Membership of the Geological Society ICE (or an equivalent professional body) or be able to demonstrate extensive equivalent experience to this level.
• Demonstrable knowledge across relevant geotechnical standards asset policies and strategies and risk management.
• Proven asset management experience and decision-making ability including asset condition assessment; experience of degradation modelling would be beneficial but not essential.
• Proven ability to work within and develop scheme budgets

About us

Here at National Highways we manage and improve Englands motorways and major A roads helping our customers have safer smoother and more reliable journeys. Our priorities are safety customers and delivery and at the core of this are our values of passion integrity safety teamwork and ownership.

Operations is at the heart of keeping the strategic road network moving and ensuring our customers get the best possible experience when using our roads.

We address over 39000 customer enquiries every month plan and deliver all maintenance activities on the network drive efficiencies and improvements across our systems and roads and respond to incidents across 4500 miles of motorways and major A-roads that we manage. All to make sure National Highways customers have safer smoother and more reliable journeys.

We are committed to creating a diverse environment and welcome applicants from all backgrounds.