Job Description

Application deadline

07 November 2025

Recruitment type

Full-Time, Permanent

Country

United Kingdom

Locations

Glasgow, London

Req. ID

60003

Associate (Tunnels and Underground Structures)

Glasgow or London

Permanent

Office/Home Hybrid Working

Do you want to be a part of a growing Tunnel & Underground structures discipline? Can you design a sustainable future? Are you a chartered qualified civil engineer? Then, shape a sustainable and liveable world with us.

Create Solutions that will enable a better tomorrow

To Support the drive towards innovation and the development of new sustainable solutions, we are looking for an Associate to join us. Working on Tunnels and Underground Structures, you'll act as a design lead for specific components of your projects, liaising directly with clients and the broader design team. You'll also oversee and guide more junior staff in the design of infrastructure components.


Recent projects have included: High Speed Rail 2, Second Avenue Subway (New York), Sizewell C nuclear power station, hydro storage scheme (Scotland), Network Rail rehabilitation of historic tunnels, Cross Island Link (Singapore), major road tunnels, and bids for small, medium and large tunnelling projects.


Your key responsibilities will be:


Coordinating the delivery of your projects to time and budget, ensuring a high standard of technical quality and compliance with our internal management systems Production of engineering design, assessment or checking work including preparation or checking of calculations, written reports and other contract deliverables Developing and mentoring less experienced engineers and technicians within your project teams, working with line managers to maximise training opportunities Maintaining and strengthening client relationships through your project work, including identifying and realising any potential business opportunities Assisting with the preparation of bids and tenders and supporting the Directors in pursuing business development opportunities if required

Your skills. Our team. Together we design the future.

The first step to success in this role is that you are eager to collaborate with the people around you, whether they are colleagues, partners, or customers. Developing ties with others is something you do by acting respectfully and delivering on your promises. And you never get set in your ways but keep exploring new insights and ways to improve.


On top of that, you'll:

Be a chartered civil engineer (MICE or equivalent) Have significant experience in a design environment working on tunnels, heavy civil, or other complex buried structures in the UK or internationally Demonstrate the ability to lead project teams and oversee the delivery of projects, either as client's or contractor's designer, ideally both Knowledge of soil structure interaction principles and their application in both structural analysis (Lusas, Strand7, SAP 2000) and geotechnical analysis (Plaxis software) is preferrable. A proven record in the design of bored tunnels, mined excavations, stations, basements, underground structures, temporary works Knowledge across a range of methods of tunnelling (small and large diameters) and underground structure construction methods. Be an accomplished team leader with the ability to support, mentor and develop less experienced engineers Have the interpersonal skills and aptitude to work collaboratively in a diverse multi-disciplinary team A sound understanding and experience in the application of the CDM Regulations

A place to work and so much more

At COWI, we work together with our customers to shape a sustainable and liveable world. We do it by applying our knowledge and curiosity - and sometimes even our courage - to create the solutions the world needs today to enable a better tomorrow. That is why we say no to fossil-based projects and aspire to have 100% of our revenue come from activities that move our customers towards sustainability.


We value differences and development and cultivate an environment of belonging and having fun. Because that is what brings out the best in you, at work and at home.


With offices primarily located in the Nordic region, Ireland, the UK, North America and India, we are currently more than 8,000 people who bring their expertise in engineering, architecture, energy and environment into play.

What we also offer:

To us, a fair reward is more than a competitive salary. We want to take care of our people professionally and personally as well.


Some of our benefits include:

28 days' holiday plus bank and public holidays Formalised development plans and yearly promotion opportunities Private health care Flexible and hybrid working conditions Annual subscription fees paid for your membership of two Professional Institutions Pension scheme Life assurance

Got more questions?

If you have any unanswered questions about the role or what we have to offer, please reach out to Laura Dobson at LADN@cowi.com.



Get to know us even better at our website, www.cowi.com, where you can learn more about our projects, our strategy, what we want to achieve and what life is like at COWI.

Equal opportunity employer

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COWI provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to ethnicity, colour, religion, gender, national origin, age or disability. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

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