Senior Geotechnical Engineer
Location
GDG Edinburgh
Department
Infrastructure UK
About Venterra:
Venterra is a global wind energy services company, engineering, building and supporting major wind and renewables projects around the world. Our clear purpose: accelerate the global energy transition by becoming the go-to services provider and strategic partner for the rapidly expanding wind industry.
Our diverse team of experts is dedicated to making net zero a reality. We offer specialised services across the entire project lifecycle, including:
- Geoscience consultancy
- Environmental expertise
- Design services
- Project advisory
- Survey capabilities
- Construction support & back-deck mission equipment
By acquiring and bringing together leading offshore engineering and marine science companies like Gavin & Doherty Geosolutions, CAPE Holland, INSPIRE Environmental, Partrac and Ordtek, we provide the most comprehensive services and expertise in the market. And we’re not done growing yet, which means there are plenty of exciting career opportunities on offer for our team.
At Venterra, sustainability, safety, and quality are prioritised in everything we do, reducing project risk, time, and cost for our clients.
Why join Venterra?
- Shape the future of energy: Dive into groundbreaking renewables projects that are literally changing the world.
- Master the renewables landscape: Gain unique, full-spectrum experience from initial surveys to final construction.
- Go global, make waves: Our worldwide projects aren’t just pins on a map – they’re tickets to diverse experiences, cultures and challenges, with plenty of international travel opportunities on offer.
- Accelerate your career: We don’t just talk about growth – we fuel it. Access cutting-edge training, mentorship from industry leaders, and a clear development path with opportunities to sharpen your skills in the renewables space.
- Be a force for good: Join a team where your values align with your work. We’re committed to cultivating a culture of equality, diversity, and positive impact through our work.
By joining us, you’ll play a direct role in growing the renewables sector while building a career in an exciting, global industry.
Our Design Team:
Venterra’s Design team is a multi-disciplinary group combining offshore and onshore civil and geotechnical engineering expertise, operating in the offshore wind, marine development and onshore energy transition sectors. We combine our diverse skill sets to provide tailored solutions to suit client challenges and development plans. This incorporates the planning and design of a wide range of onshore renewable energy transition assets – including Onshore Wind and Solar Farms, Battery Storage facilities and offshore wind farm cable route and substation infrastructure.
The Onshore team are an integral part of the wider Design Service Line offering in the Planning and Design of Offshore Wind Farms, Port and Marine infrastructure development. Our multinational team operate on an agile basis to service clients globally. We pride ourselves in our investment in research and development with collaborative relationships with industry organisations providing thought leadership to the partners and clients we work with, whilst providing stimulating career and learning opportunities for our staff.
Role Description:
An experienced geotechnical engineer is required to take a leading role within the Onshore geotechnical engineering team operating between the GDG offices, and work with an established department of engineers on a range of geotechnical design projects across the UK & Ireland.
Varying degrees of experience will be considered; however, candidates would typically have a masters degree in a relevant subject and possess approximately ten years’ relevant experience in geotechnical design. Candidates should hold a full UK or Ireland driving license, have excellent skills communicating with colleagues and clients (both written and verbal), and have some experience as a line manager.
Candidates should be a chartered engineer/geologist or working towards chartership, and also be well-practiced with routine geotechnical assessments (e.g. advising on and overseeing suitable foundation solutions, earthworks methods, slope stability and settlement modelling). Candidates should have solid understanding of coal mining instability assessments and the specification and validation of remedial works.
The role will be mainly office based, but can include a mixture of client meetings, site supervision and networking. The role will include tendering fee proposals for projects and frameworks, and working with the senior management team to continue the planned growth of the business. It is also expected that you will support and mentor the career development of junior engineers
Additionally would be desirable if candidates who have worked extensively on pile design & ground improvement projects, with particular benefit given to those who have experience working with a Contractor and able to demonstrate working knowledge of piling/deep foundation construction methodology.
Key Responsibilities:
- Technical Report Writing
- Mining instability Assessments
- Site inspections of foundation, earthworks and ground improvement works
- General Geotechnical and Geo-Structural analysis work that also includes reinforced soil slopes, mass gravity walls and shallow foundation design (ground movement assessments and settlement analysis).
- Developing ground models and determining geotechnical parameters.
- Line Managing and Mentoring junior engineers
- Scoping and producing specifications for ground investigations associated with the above.
- Coordinating or leading Site Supervision of geotechnical investigations and earthworks.
- Client liaison and project management
- Assisting Sector Heads and Sales Director in Business Development
Key Skills/Experience/Competencies:
- Excellent communication and presentation skills;
- Desire to line manage and mentor junior staff
- Technical report writing (including Desk Studies and Ground Investigation Reports)
- Experience of soil logging UK and/or Irish soils/rock to BS: EN 5930:2015 is desirable;
- Excellent knowledge of relevant aspects of Eurocode 7 and UK/Ireland National Annex design codes.
- Expertise with geotechnical design software used for deep foundations such as Oasys Suite/Wallap/Plaxis etc is desirable
- Previous experience with a piling contractor will be desirable
- A full clean driver’s licence
Education/Qualifications:
- Hold a University Degree in Geotechnical/Geology related discipline
- Chartered or approaching chartership with ICE or IEI
- CSCS card (or equivalent in different jurisdictions)
Additional Requirements:
Candidates should be highly organised and motivated individuals with effective communication skills, a good work ethic. Candidates require a commitment to their career progression through Continued Professional Development, GDG in turn are committed to supporting your professional growth and providing a structured path to Chartership.
Right to Work:
At this time, we are only able to consider applicants who are authorized to work in Europe or UK without visa sponsorship.
At Venterra:
At Venterra, we are committed to inclusion and diversity in everything we do. We take inclusion and diversity seriously. We know that getting this right is critical for us to live our organisation’s values. We are always trying to improve our way of working to be more inclusive and equal. We are an equal opportunity employer. Our vision is for Venterra to be a place where people of all ethnicities feel welcomed to work.