Lead Engineer – Geotechnical

Role: Lead Engineer – Geotechnical

Locations: Hybrid working with your primary office location being which ever is closest to you: Derby, Warrington or Manchester

Our mission

Our mission is to deliver clean, affordable energy for all. Our Small Modular Reactor (SMR) provides a British solution to a global energy crisis. We are in pole position to become a world leader in SMRs and the UK’s premier green export technology.

The team

The Ground Engineering team plays a critical role in enabling safe, efficient, and site-specific deployment of our SMR technology. Operating at the intersection of civil design, geoscience, and nuclear safety, the team delivers innovative geotechnical solutions that underpin some of the most complex infrastructure challenges in the programme.

The role

In this context, we are looking for a Lead Engineer – Geotechnical to join our growing Ground Engineering team, leading technical delivery across major site-specific design programmes including GBE-N and ČEZ. Managing a team of engineers and specialists, this is a pivotal role shaping design assurance, technical direction, and the successful integration of complex geotechnical solutions across our flagship projects.

Key Responsibilities

Responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

• Providing technical leadership and governance for geotechnical deliverables supporting site‑specific design, ensuring alignment with programme objectives.
• Leading geotechnical design across multiple site areas, including the Reactor Island, Cooling Water Island, and Balance of Plant (BoP). This includes overseeing the geotechnical design for shallow and deep foundations, earthworks, tunnelling, retaining walls, seismic, coastal and offshore infrastructure.
• Managing the scope, specification, supervision, and interpretation of ground investigations.
• Characterising and interpreting site data to develop robust ground models and design parameters.
• Leading the delivery of geotechnical analyses, design outputs, reporting, and supporting the associated safety justification.
• Managing programme resourcing and cost control to support successful project delivery.

The role will also include managing defined packages of work, assuring the robustness and validity of technical solutions developed under their direction, mentoring junior engineers, and coordinating closely with interfacing disciplines to ensure integrated design delivery.

The successful candidate will demonstrate strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to liaise effectively with a range of stakeholders and multidisciplinary design teams, and to build and maintain effective professional working relationships.

What You’ll Bring

As you can see, this is a high-impact leadership role requiring technical authority and influence, and you’ll bring a solutions-focused mindset, confidence in decision-making, and the ability to shape direction within complex, regulated environments, alongside:

Skills & Experience

• Chartered Engineer (CEng) or equivalent, supported by a relevant degree or demonstrable industry experience
• We’ll ask you about your experience leading geotechnical design on large-scale infrastructure projects, including resolving complex engineering challenges and delivering to programme
• Strong expertise in geotechnical analysis, foundation design, earthworks, retaining structures, and applicable codes and standards
• Experience engaging stakeholders, leading technical governance processes, and contributing to safety case or regulated design environments (nuclear desirable but not essential)

Location

This role offers flexible working; however, regular attendance at a UK office will be required to support programme delivery, governance, and stakeholder engagement.

What’s In It For You

• We anticipate paying a salary of between £60,000-£78,750
• Bonus - Performance related target opportunity 7%
• Benefits Allowance – £2,200 per annum, enabling you to create a bespoke package
• Pension - 12% employer and 6% employee contributions.
• Holidays - 28 days holiday (+ public holidays) and the ability to buy or sell up to 4 days.
• Private Medical Insurance - BUPA single cover health care
• Life Assurance - 6x pensionable pay
• £250 - One-off payment for new starters for home office purchases

Selection process

We aim to update applicants within 1–2 weeks of application. The process will include an initial conversation followed by two interview stages.

Due to the nature of our work, successful candidates will be required to complete BPSS clearance, DBS checks, and financial probity screening.

Our commitment

We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all backgrounds. Inclusivity is fundamental to our culture, and we are committed to fair and accessible recruitment practices.

We are a Disability Confident organisation and will make reasonable adjustments where needed.

Confidence can sometimes hold us back — but there’s no such thing as a perfect candidate. If you feel you meet around 75% of the requirements, we’d love to hear from you.

Pay Range

£60,000.00

£78,750.00

Why Join Us?

You’ll be joining a forward-thinking organisation that values transparency, fairness, and innovation. We offer:

• A flexible, inclusive, and supportive working environment.
• Opportunities for career growth in a rapidly scaling business.
• A culture that values diversity, innovation, and continuous learning.

We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all backgrounds. Inclusivity is important to us, and as a Disability Confident organisation, we are committed to fair, supportive, and continually improving recruitment practices that ensure everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

Confidence can sometimes hold us back from applying for a job. But we'll let you in on a secret: there's no such thing as a 'perfect' candidate. If you feel you meet 75% of the requirements for this role, we would love to hear from you.

Also, if you are considering a career move or a sector-jump, please get in touch – we welcome applications from people with transferable skills.

Our Application Process

Due to the safety regulations within the nuclear industry, applicants will be required to participate in additional screening. These are:

• Obtaining Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) clearance
• Satisfactory completion of a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check
• Satisfactory completion of a basic financial probity check