Principal Geotechnical Engineer

Flexible across North Wales and the North West

Full-time, permanent

Are you a technically strong, hands-on geotechnical engineer ready to own complex ground-engineering projects and develop the people around you?

Caulmert is looking to appoint a Principal Geotechnical Engineer to lead investigations, interpretation, design and reporting while remaining directly involved in technical work.

The immediate emphasis is on rail infrastructure, embankments and earthworks, foundations, retaining structures and ground engineering, with wider opportunities across infrastructure, industrial, mining, waste and development schemes.

Caulmert is a progressive multidisciplinary consultancy. You will work with our geotechnical, geoenvironmental, civil, structural and environmental teams, alongside clients, contractors, asset owners and specialist suppliers. The role offers genuine influence over project delivery, technical standards and the development of our ground-engineering capability.

• Scope and manage proportionate ground investigations, including specifications, testing, contractors, fieldwork quality and safety.
• Interpret geological, hydrogeological, mining and geotechnical information and develop clear ground models, parameters and risk-based recommendations.
• Prepare and review desk studies, GIRs, GDRs, earthworks specifications, Geotechnical Risk Registers and technical advice.
• Define appropriate investigation and assurance strategies, recording uncertainty, assumptions and residual risk clearly.

• Lead design and assessment of foundations, working platforms, retaining systems, slopes, embankments, cuttings, earthworks and ground-improvement measures.
• Develop practical remediation, material-reuse and stabilisation solutions, including lime or cement treatment where appropriate.
• Support temporary works, contractor-led design, specialist proposals, value engineering and construction-stage change using appropriate software and analytical methods.
• Review calculations, models, reports and specialist submissions, ensuring solutions are safe, practical, coordinated and proportionate to risk.

• Lead commissions and packages from feasibility through construction, managing scope, fee, programme, resources, subcontractors, risk and change.
• Prepare proposals and bid input, lead client and project meetings, and maintain clear reporting and invoicing.
• Delegate, coordinate and review work, mentor colleagues and improve technical standards, tools, QA and shared learning.
• Support effective team performance, utilisation and wellbeing by helping balance workloads, maintain clear priorities and encourage a positive, motivated and accountable working environment.
• Build trusted relationships with clients, contractors and asset owners, supporting repeat business and the development of Caulmert’s ground-engineering capability.

Candidates do not need every specialism. Particularly valuable experience includes:

• Infrastructure and rail geotechnics, including embankments, cuttings, existing assets, Access for All works and assurance processes.
• Foundations, retaining structures, temporary works, platforms, settlement and interactions with existing structures.
• Slope stability, earthworks, ground improvement, stabilisation and reuse of site-won materials.
• Mining, quarrying, ground remediation, landfill, waste or geoenvironmental work as complementary capability.

Above all, we are looking for a credible Principal-level geotechnical engineer: technically advanced, commercially aware, comfortable taking…