When building any kind of construction above or below ground, one of the key considerations is the way that the structure interacts with the ground on which it is built. Deciding on the best way to manage this issue is the role of a geotechnical engineer.
Geotechnical engineers must be highly-trained and highly skilled, educated to at least degree standard in engineering. It goes without saying that attention to detail is a key aspect of this position. They must make sense of complex data from construction projects and communicate with other engineers and project staff through designs, drawings, models and reports. A geotechnical engineer should also possess good analytical skills, excellent written and oral presentation ability and be familiar with specialist computer software. In some cases, the control of budgets and resources also falls to the geotechnical engineer so sound financial judgement is also beneficial.
As a demanding, high pressure role requiring a specific skill set, geotechnical engineers can rely on an excellent rate of pay. Salaries for junior members of staff begin at £25,000, rising to £57,500 when moving into more senior managerial roles. In the UK, the number of geotechnical engineers is relatively low, while the demand is high and so employment prospects are good for candidates applying through recruitment agencies. The highest paying region of the country is the London and the South East where many global engineering firms are based. Working for one of these larger organisations also regularly presents the opportunity to work on projects not just within the UK but elsewhere in the world.