Principal / Lead Geotechnical Engineer NEW

Job description

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee geotechnical input across a broad portfolio of projects, including site characterisation, foundation design, earthworks, ground improvement, retaining structures, settlement assessments, and geotechnical risk management.
• Provide strong technical leadership—reviewing, guiding, and challenging geotechnical analyses and design outputs to ensure robust engineering solutions.
• Deliver geotechnical design support throughout all project stages: due diligence, planning and permitting, detailed design,andon-site construction.
• Collaborate closely with Civil and Structural Engineering teams to ensure seamless integration of geotechnical design within overall project delivery.
• Offer expert guidance during construction, resolving ground related issues efficiently and supporting contractors with practical, buildable solutions.
• Maintain a proactive focus onsafety, quality, and environmental best practice, ensuring designs meet the highest technical standards.
• Produce clear, concise, and technically rigorous reports, assessments, and design documentation.
• Manage, mentor, and support design personnel, encouraging growth, capability development, and technical excellence within the team.
• Build strong working relationships with clients, contractors, and multidisciplinary design teams to ensure aligned project objectives.
• Demonstrate agility in responding to changing ground conditions, project requirements, and site driven challenges.
• Apply deep knowledge of geotechnical analysis and design tools, including software used for slope stability, settlement modelling, foundation design, and soil-structure interaction.
• Ensure delivery to challenging deadlines while maintaining high technical quality.
• Apply advanced understanding ofEurocode 7, relevant international standards, and industry best practice.
• Provide geotechnical support to projects across Ireland and wider European regions, adapting to varied geological and regulatory environments.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Geotechnical Engineering, Engineering Geology, or related discipline.
• Chartered status with Engineers Ireland or equivalent.
• Minimum 15 years’ post‑graduate experience within engineering or geotechnical consultancy environments.
• Deep expertise in geology, ground investigation design, geotechnical interpretation, earthworks, and associated engineering principles.

Key Requirements:

• Extensive experience delivering geotechnical design on large industrial projects; experience in Pharmaceutical, Semiconductor, Food, Energy, or Data Centre developments is strongly advantageous.
• Thorough understanding of ground investigation scoping, supervision, interpretation, and the development of geotechnical models.
• Strong analytical skills, with proven experience in advanced geotechnical design and numerical modelling.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to guide multidisciplinary teams and engage effectively with project stakeholders.