Geotechnical Engineers
- Introduction — What you need to know and why
- Where are geotechnical engineering jobs located in the UK?
- Outlook for geotechnical engineers in the UK
- What types of jobs are available for geotechnical engineers?
- What are the earnings for a geotechnical engineer?
- Working as a geotechnical engineer in the UK
- Important information for your CV
Introduction — What you need to know and why
Are you a qualified geotechnical expat looking for overseas engineering positions? Have you considered gaining world-class engineering experience in the UK?
This page is designed to provide geotechnical engineers with all the information they need to successfully transfer their career to the UK.
The information below will tell you everything you need to know, including:
- Where you will be able to find work as a geotechnical engineer.
- What sorts of projects you will work on.
- How much money you can earn.
- Any technical specifications that you should be aware of.
Where are geotechnical engineering jobs located in the UK?
Geotechnical engineering jobs are available UK-wide. Generally speaking, the bigger the city the bigger the demand, with London having the greatest demand for geotechnical engineers.
Geotechnical engineering jobs may be found in such locations as:
- Central London
- Greater London (just outside the M25)
- Edinburgh
- Manchester
- Birmingham
- Portsmouth
- Southampton
- Exeter
Tip: Most agencies have specialists for different locations, however because Geotechnical engineering is so specialist the London office may deal with Midlands geotechnical engineering recruitment. If you have a preference for a particular part of the UK, make your wishes clear from the start.
Outlook for geotechnical engineers in the UK
Geotechnical engineers are not overly abundant in the UK. In London there are only around 7000 working geotechnical engineers.
There is, however, a great deal of work available in the UK and many types of jobs for engineers. The outlook for qualified and experienced geotechnical engineers is therefore extremely good.
Projects
In terms of size and diversity, the scope for UK geotechnical engineering projects is extremely impressive. The UK's two-fold need to maintain old and develop new infrastructure is fuelled by a strong and globally-influential economy; the increasing demands of an expanding population; and the need to develop for the 2012 Olympics which involves the a multi-billion pound scheme to regenerate the 73 hectare brownfield railway lands. After the Olympics the ‘legacy’ plans include the largest new urban park in Europe for over a century.
Geotechnical engineers are required for a whole range of projects involving underground construction, such as geotechnical tunnel jobs. Common roles as a geotechnical engineer in the UK:- Site investigation
- Site analysis
- Sampling and testing
- Geotechnical analysis
- Earthwork design
- Soil mechanics
- Engineering geology
- Report writing
- Project management
- Business development
Prospects
Geotechnical engineers with 1 or more years experience should not have trouble finding work in the UK.
As your level of experience increases so to will your job prospects in the UK. Geotechnical engineers with 2 - 6+ years experience will find a greater range of opportunities available to them in both contract and permanent positions.
Recruitment agencies don't normally represent graduate geotechnical engineers. Graduates wishing to move to the UK should directly apply for a graduate position with a UK-based company. (This will be a lot easier if you have a British or EU Passport)
Recruitment
Recruitment agencies play a critical role in the UK's engineering industry. A recruitment agency's business is built on its ability to provide quality candidates for employers while simultaneously facilitating the candidate's development and career progression.
WORKgateways manages a network of the best agencies providing geotechnical engineering recruitment services in the UK. Register with expert engineering recruiters to help you reach your potential!
To find your perfect geotechnical engineering job:
- Register with recruitment agencies up to 2 years before you arrive in the UK. In order to find the best job for you, recruitment agencies may wish to contact you for further discussions before submitting your CV to potential employers.
- Begin applying for jobs about three months before you arrive. If you register with an agency, your recruitment consultant will begin the process of arranging interviews around three months before your arrival.
- Don't register with more than 2 recruitment agencies. In an industry such as geotechnical engineering recruitment — where demand is so high — over spreading yourself can create a negative impression with potential employers.
- If your arrival date or travel plans or change, make sure you inform your recruitment consultant immediately.
- Having detailed examples of your experience can be very advantageous during the interview process. Having an example of a written report completed by you in a previous position can be an effective way of highlighting your knowledge, skills and experience.
- Learn how to get the most out of your WORKgateways UK job search in our FAQs.
What types of jobs are available for geotechnical engineers?
Geotechnical engineering jobs in the UK generally follow this hierarchy:
- Graduate geotechnical engineer
- Assistant geotechnical engineer
- Geotechnical engineer
- Senior geotechnical engineer
- Principal geotechnical engineer
Around 80% of geotechnical engineers will work in the private sector. In the UK, geotechnical engineers mainly work on either a contract or permanent basis.
What are the earnings for geotechnical engineers?
Geotechnical engineering jobs in the UK are generally well payed. As always, however, your earning power will correspond to your experience and new arrivals to the UK should not expect to earn premium rates immediately.
This engineer salary scale can be used as a general guide for all specialties that fall within the category of geotechnical engineering jobs:
| Grade | Experience (yrs) | Salary Range £/hr (Contract) | Salary range p/a (Permanent*) |
| Graduate Engineer | - | NA | £20-22K + benefits |
| Assistant Engineer | 1-3 | £17-24 | £15-25K + benefits |
| Engineer / Senior Engineer | 4-8 | £24-28 | £25-40K + benefits |
| Principal Engineer | 8+ | £26-35 | £40K plus + benefits |
*Contract positions for geotechnical engineers are often awarded on a fixed-term basis offering pro-rata salaries.
The earnings you receive as a geotechnical engineer may also be affected by a number of work factors, such as:
- The particular project experience you posses
- The size and financial strength of the company
- The level of urgency to complete a project and
- The location in which you work.
Working as a geotechnical engineer in the UK
Standards — the Eurocodes
The UK maintains a comprehensive and well-respected set of Codes for design and construction, which are published by the British Standards Institute (BSI).
For a number of years the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) — of which the UK is a member — has been developing a set of Eurocodes, which will ensure consistency of design and specifications throughout Europe.
Since 2004, the Eurocodes have been (slowly) introduced throughout the UK so they are relatively new to everyone. The general rules for Eurocode 7: Geotechnical Design were first published in the UK in 2004, though the implementation of these codes and the publication of project-specific standards is an ongoing process.
The Eurocodes will have completely replaced existing national standards by 2010. Until this time, as different sections of the code are rolled out, an interim period of co-existence will mean that both sets of standards are in use.
The introduction of the Eurocodes represents an exciting opportunity for overseas geotechnical engineers to gain valuable experience in what will fast become one of the most used standards in the world.
Kick-start your career in the UK and register with expert geotechnical engineering recruitment agencies now.
Software and applications
To work as a geotechnical engineer in the UK, you will likely have experience in the use of industry-specific software, for example:
- Finite Element Analysis (FEA) software
- Geographic Information System (GIS) software
It is not expected that you should have previous experience with UK-specific applications. Training for new software packages is usually offered for those taking on a new position.
Your qualifications in the UK
The Engineering Council UK currently holds the following agreements with overseas engineering organisations for the mutual recognition of accredited academic engineering programmes:
- Sydney Accord
- Washington Accord
- Dublin Accord
Make sure you remember to bring a copy of your degree certificate with you. Chartership or Holding a Masters of Science may also be advantageous, though this is certainly not required.
Geotechnical engineers in the UK are chartered by the Engineering Council UK. The Council also recognises the chartered status awarded by many other national engineering bodies.
Important information for your CV
Be sure your CV includes a list of the projects you have worked on, including specific details of the scope of the projects and your responsibilities on these projects.
Information such as scope, type of work and a description of the work completed will ensure that the full depth of your experience is communicated to recruitment consultants and future employers.
Be sure to list your experience in reverse-chronological order (i.e. most recent experience first). Use lists and bullet points in order to enable the reader to quickly scan and understand your experience and abilities.
Example:
| Mar 2006 — Present | Company Name, Country Geotechnical Engineer |
| Responsibilities: |
|
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