Principal Geotechnical Engineer

The Principal Geotechnical Engineer is tasked with solving unique and complex problems that have a broad impact on the business. They must proactively identify and solve the most complex problems that impact the management and direction of the business. They are considered a specialist in the field of Geotechnical and they offer a broad base of knowledge about the Engineering function. They impact the direction and resource allocation of programs and projects in their discipline and work within general functional policies and industry guidelines. The Principal Geotechnical Engineer role requires conceptual and innovative thinking to develop creative solutions to Geotechnical challenges.

Key Tasks and Responsibilities:

• Perform conceptual, FEED, and detailed analyses and design as per design basis, project specifications, design codes, and standards
• Apply in-depth skills and broad knowledge of the business to address complex problems and nonstandard situations
• Prepare clear and accurate detailed design calculations and analyses including design reports and procedures
• Manage own time to meet objectives, and (as Geotechnical Group Lead) forecast and plan resource requirements
• Communicate and explain difficult concepts and persuade others to adopt a point of view
• When acting as Geotechnical Group Lead, in addition:
• Lead a Geotechnical project team to complete assigned work within the planned schedule and budget, in accordance with standards, MDR, and project-specific procedures and to a high professional standard
• Plan, organize, and direct all aspects of the Geotechnical team on the assigned project including scope, deliverables, schedule, and all manpower resources – agree allocations with the Discipline Manager
• Ensure interfaces and deliverables are clearly identified
• Maintain responsibility for progress and productivity, identifying any required corrective action
• Act as project representative for the Geotechnical discipline during meetings with the Project Team, Customer discipline lead, and relevant agencies such as certifying authorities, auditors, third parties, etc.
• Report to the Civil Department Manager, the Principal Geotechnical Engineer will work in collaboration with the foundation, structural engineers, and other design disciplines to provide technical inputs to a multi-disciplinary project team; this may involve working on multiple projects as the need arises
• Geotechnical and foundation work handled by the CSA Discipline includes the design of deep and shallow foundations for onshore facilities, but knowledge of offshore foundation design would also be beneficial
• Prepare the scope of work of geotechnical and geophysical site investigations, laboratory test assignments for pipelines and LNG/petrochemical plants
• Geotechnical calculation and preparation of technical reports, specifications, and contract documents
• Interpret ground investigation data from site investigation
• Derive parameters for the foundation design of LNG & petrochemical plants
• Calculation of pile capacity, pile group response, pile drivability, pile group efficiency, soil-pile-structure interaction analysis
• Calculation of gravity base and shallow foundations bearing pressure, settlement, sliding resistance, retaining walls, horizontal-vertical-moment interaction
• Earthwork design, specification, and implementation
• Seismic and dynamic soil structure interaction including machine foundations, seismic slope stability, and seismic hazard analysis
• Geohazard assessment and recommendations for risk mitigation, ground improvement, liquefaction, and scour
• Novel foundation concepts
• Reports to:
  • Project: Lead Engineer,
  • Project Engineering Manager or Project Manager  Functional: CSA Department Manager
  • Liaise With: All Engineering disciplines, Fabrication Groups, Safety Dept, Project Management Team, Document Control, Project Planner, Project Cost Controller, QC, and Certification Groups, Procurement Group, Subcontractors and Vendors, and Customers
  • Supervises: Senior Engineers and Engineers

Essential Qualifications and Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree or Master’s Degree in Engineering
• 15-20 years of experience in oil and gas with major contractors or consultants predominantly performing detail design
• Detailed knowledge of design techniques and analysis methods, and detailed knowledge of the theory, content, and application of standards, codes, and guidelines as applicable
• Knowledgeable in project coordination and execution skills
• Preferably Registered Chartered Engineer of the Institute of Civil Engineers or a similar professional engineering society
• Produce accurate work and possess the required geotechnical skills to demonstrate a high level of knowledge and experience
• Capable of providing technical input, services, and leadership to projects including geotechnical calculations, reports, drawings, and other project documentation as well as being familiar with national standards and codes of practice e.g., Eurocode 7, etc.
• Team Player and able to work independently with minimum supervision and possess good verbal and written communication skills
• Able to make competent contributions to the resolution of geotechnical issues
• Provide leadership, mentoring, and guidance to others and, where relevant, share the experience with the wider department
• Demonstrate knowledge and experience of ground investigation methods (sample boreholes, cone penetration tests, pressure meter, etc.)  with the preparation of laboratory testing programs for foundation design
• Knowledge of offshore foundation design methods would be beneficial
• Experience in numerical modelling and geotechnical software including FE analysis, SLOPE, and ABAQUS is preferred but not essential
• Full familiarity with MS Word, Excel, etc.