Principal Design Engineer

Overview

As Principal Design Engineer, you will provide technical leadership for temporary and permanent works across major infrastructure projects. You will collaborate with project teams, design colleagues, and subcontractors to deliver safe, compliant, and integrated designs. The role focuses on leading complex design packages, validating calculations, and guiding teams through site delivery. This is an opportunity to shape buildable solutions and drive continuous improvement in temporary works practices.

Responsibilities

• Lead design and engineering of temporary and permanent works packages
• Develop, review and approve engineering calculations, drawings, specs, and deliverables
• Provide technical leadership on temporary works (support systems, excavations, formwork, falsework, lifting, platforms)
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to meet programme, safety, and operational requirements
• Mentor and guide junior engineers and designers
• Conduct site visits to validate designs and resolve construction issues
• Participate in temporary works coordination meetings, risk assessments, constructability reviews, and design reviews
• Ensure designs comply with CDM, British Standards, industry guidance, and company procedures
• Identify opportunities to improve design efficiency, buildability, safety, and delivery
• Stay updated on temporary works engineering developments and best practices

Key requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil or Structural Engineering
• Master’s degree desirable
• CEng status or working towards chartership
• Significant experience in structural engineering and temporary works design
• Strong knowledge of temporary works procedures, governance and design requirements
• Experience designing temporary works solutions (excavations, retaining systems, foundations, platforms, formwork, falsework, lifting)
• Proficiency with AutoCAD, Revit, Tekla Tedds, STAAD Pro or equivalent
• Understanding of construction methods, sequencing and site constraints on major projects
• Proven technical leadership and ability to manage multiple projects
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
• Proactive approach to safety, quality, and continuous improvement

• communication
• stakeholder management
• proactive safety
• AutoCAD
• Revit
• Tekla Tedds

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