Principal Geotechnical Engineer

Job Description

Brilliant people trusted to do brilliant things

Mott MacDonald is a vibrant and forward-thinking engineering, management, and development consultancy. Working together as a global team we plan, design, deliver and maintain the transport, energy, water, buildings, and wider infrastructure that is integral to people’s daily lives. We value excellence in every dimension of our business and continuously seek opportunities to improve what we do and how we do it.

We employ brilliant people who combine their diverse skills and experiences to achieve brilliant things. Whether you want to specialise or broaden your experience, you'll be supported by global specialists eager to share their expertise. With numerous opportunities to learn and grow, the possibilities are as diverse as our people. Working as a connected global team, we deliver impactful projects that shape the future.

The Opportunity

We are excited to offer a new opportunity for an Principal Geotechnical Engineer to join our growing team in Maroochydore, Sunshine Coast. This role will focus on key Queensland projects such as Borumba Pumped Hydro, Sunshine coast Metro, The Wave, and other exciting projects that are putting our newest Mott MacDonald Australian office into the spotlight nationally.

As part of our Geotechnical practice, you will have to opportunity to work on projects across Australia, while also providing internal support services globally. You will work on tunnelling, foundations, retaining structures, slopes, and civil infrastructure projects, preparing specifications and reports, conducting site inspections, and managing client interfaces on progressively larger and more complex projects.

Your Role

In this varied and impactful role, your day-to-day activities will include:

• Collaborating with internal and external clients as a member of the geotechnical team
• Assisting in scoping geotechnical aspects of projects
• Supervising drafting personnel
• Conducting site inspections and reporting
• Field monitoring and data assessment
• Advising our internal professionals in roads, tunnels, aviation, water, and structural engineering
• Contributing as a team member on geotechnical projects
• Applying your understanding of construction methods

About You

You are a degree-qualified Civil or Geotechnical Engineer with significant experience delivering a range of geotechnical projects across transport and infrastructure markets in Queensland. Your experience would include:

• Chartered or working towards CPEng / RPEQ / equivalent professional accreditation, with a recognised degree in civil or geotechnical engineering
• Proven expertise in geotechnical design and analysis, including foundations, retaining structures, slopes, soft ground improvement, excavations and ground‑structure interaction
• Strong project and commercial awareness, including managing scope, budgets, programme and risk on complex transport project
• Appreciation of engineering risk and understanding of commercial risk
• Ability to provide clear, practical geotechnical advice to multidisciplinary teams, contractors and clients throughout design and construction phases

Culture & Benefits

Mott MacDonald celebrates diversity and inclusion, offering a supportive work environment that values work-life balance, diversity, inclusion, and equity. We welcome diverse applicants, including First Nations People, people with disabilities, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and people of all genders, neurodiversity, cultural backgrounds, age groups, and those with intersectional identities.

Employee ownership

• Our employee ownership model means no external investors, just us, creating a culture of shared success.
• Our employees have a stake and a voice in our business, giving them a direct connection to our success through our personal and group performance bonuses.
• As your career grows, so does your stake, recognising your long-term impact and contribution.
• Your voice matters, with the opportunity to connect directly with senior leadership through formal channels to help shape our future.

Our benefits package is designed to enhance your experience:

• Agile working environment, supporting our people to work flexibly
• Discretionary Group and Personal Performance Bonuses for eligible employees
• Employee resource groups including the Inclusive Network for Women, Corporate Social Responsibility and more
• Annual Health Checks and ongoing professional development

You’ve got this!

We endorse a diverse and inclusive workplace, and look to provide suitable opportunities for employees including the opportunity for part time and job shared roles where possible. If you are interested in this role and looking for a part time permanent opportunity, please apply! #LI-RZ1