Principal Geotechnical Engineer – Newcastle

Overview

You will act as technical lead on complex geotechnical projects, shaping ground models and delivering key analyses and designs. You’ll oversee project lifecycles, coordinate multi-disciplinary teams, and drive risk, quality, and commercial performance. You will nurture client relationships, support business development, and mentor engineers toward technical excellence. The role emphasizes innovation, sustainability, and digital delivery within a global engineering firm. This is a chance to influence major infrastructure programs and grow within a collaborative, inclusive culture.

Pay / Benefits

• Hybrid working policy
• Thrive wellbeing programme
• Gymflex scheme
• WSP My Hour
• Flexible working arrangements
• Chartership development support

Responsibilities

• Serve as technical lead on complex geotechnical and multidisciplinary projects
• Develop ground models, geotechnical assessments and design solutions
• Perform and review advanced geotechnical analysis for foundations, earthworks, slopes, and related assets
• Manage project delivery including programme, commercial performance, QA and risk
• Lead client relationships and support business development to grow accounts
• Plan and manage ground investigations and interpret data for design and construction
• Provide technical leadership, coaching and mentorship to engineers and geologists
• Support bidding with technical methodologies, resourcing and fee proposals
• Champion innovation, sustainability and digital delivery across projects
• Collaborate across disciplines and regions to deliver integrated solutions
• Provide leadership, line management, and succession planning for the team
• Work with senior leaders on strategy, workload planning, recruitment and growth of the geotechnical business

Key requirements

• Strong technical background in geotechnical engineering, engineering geology and ground risk management with experience on complex projects
• Significant experience in geotechnical design, analysis and interpretation across multiple sectors
• Proven ability to lead technical delivery, manage project risks and ensure QA for geotechnical outputs
• Strong commercial awareness with experience in project management, fee control and delivery
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management to build trusted client relationships
• Experience leading ground investigation programs and oversight during construction
• Track record in business development, winning work and contributing to growth strategies
• Experience mentoring junior team members and promoting technical excellence and collaboration
• Chartered status with ICE, Geological Society or equivalent, or progress towards chartership

• Communication
• Stakeholder management
• Leadership and mentorship
• Geotechnical design and analysis
• Ground risk management
• Engineering geology

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