How to apply for Technical Director / Associate Director: Ground Engineering

About AECOM

AECOM is a global infrastructure firm that delivers engineering, environmental, and construction services. Its Ground Engineering Practice works across energy, water, nuclear, defence, aviation, ports, data centres, highways, and rail. The UK team serves clients such as National Grid, BP, Sellafield, and Network Rail on major projects like the Great Grid Upgrade and STEP Fusion.

About the role

This technical director or associate director role leads ground engineering delivery across multiple sectors. You will oversee feasibility studies, ground investigation, detailed design, contract administration, and construction supervision. The position is remote within the UK and supports projects nationwide and overseas, including Eastlink in Sweden.

A typical day

A typical day might involve reviewing ground investigation data, leading a design team meeting, and coordinating with clients or contractors on a major infrastructure project. You could also provide technical advisory on a live construction site or mentor junior engineers. The remote setup means much of the work is done via video calls and shared platforms.

Who AECOM is looking for

• Chartered engineer with extensive experience in geotechnical design and ground engineering across sectors such as energy, water, nuclear, or transport.
• Proven track record managing multidisciplinary teams and delivering projects from feasibility through construction supervision.
• Familiarity with UK and international clients, contractors, and developers, and with standards and contracts used in ground engineering.
• Strong leadership skills to build high-performing teams and mentor staff in a remote working environment.

Tips for this application

• Highlight specific projects from your experience that match AECOM's portfolio, such as grid upgrades, nuclear decommissioning, or major road and rail schemes.
• Name the clients you have worked with if they overlap with AECOM's list, including National Grid, BP, Sellafield, Network Rail, or Transport Scotland.
• Demonstrate experience in both technical delivery and contract administration, since the role covers feasibility through construction supervision.
• Address how you lead remote teams, as the position is UK-wide and may involve managing staff across different locations.
• Reference any overseas project experience, especially in Europe, to align with AECOM's international work like Eastlink in Sweden.

What to cover in your cover letter

Emphasise your experience leading ground engineering projects across sectors such as energy, water, nuclear, or transport. Show how you have managed the full project lifecycle from ground investigation to construction supervision. Mention specific clients or project types that match AECOM's portfolio. Explain your approach to leading high-performing teams in a remote, UK-wide context.

Research before applying

• Review AECOM's Ground Engineering Practice pages and recent project announcements, especially the Great Grid Upgrade, STEP Fusion, and pumped storage hydro projects.
• Research the clients named in the job description, such as National Grid, BP, Sellafield, and Network Rail, and their current ground engineering needs.
• Look into AECOM's sustainability and environmental commitments to understand how ground engineering fits into their broader infrastructure solutions.
• Check the locations and scope of overseas projects like Eastlink in Sweden to understand the international dimension of the role.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• How would you approach leading a ground engineering team across multiple sectors and remote locations?
• Describe a project where you managed ground investigation through to construction supervision. What were the key challenges?
• How do you ensure technical quality and consistency across a diverse portfolio of projects?
• What experience do you have with clients such as National Grid, Sellafield, or Network Rail, and how would that translate to AECOM's work?
• How would you handle contract administration and technical advisory for a major infrastructure project?

Common mistakes to avoid

• Submitting a generic application that does not reference AECOM's specific sectors, clients, or projects.
• Failing to demonstrate experience across the full ground engineering lifecycle, from feasibility to construction supervision.
• Ignoring the remote and UK-wide nature of the role, or not addressing how you manage teams across locations.