Principal Design Engineer

Overview

As Principal Design Engineer, you will lead technical design and assurance across major capital projects for critical water assets. You will guide feasibility through detailed design, acting as the technical authority and coordinating multi‑discipline teams to deliver safe, sustainable solutions. You’ll influence project delivery, governance, and value through whole‑life thinking and collaboration with stakeholders. This is a chance to shape standards and drive innovation in a high‑impact infrastructure environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and technical assurance of engineering designs across major capital projects
• Provide engineering leadership through feasibility, concept, outline, and detailed design stages
• Act as principal technical authority for complex engineering solutions and investment schemes
• Coordinate multidisciplinary design teams (electrical, mechanical, civil, ICA, process)
• Review and approve design deliverables for compliance with standards
• Identify opportunities for innovation, standardisation, and whole‑life cost optimisation
• Support Design Risk Assessments, HAZOPs, design reviews, and governance processes
• Ensure designs are buildable, operable, maintainable and aligned with asset management
• Support procurement, construction, commissioning, and handover activities
• Mentor engineers and graduates; provide technical development support
• Manage engineering risks with stakeholders; resolve technical challenges
• Contribute to engineering standards, best practice, and continuous improvement
• Support business planning and investment through technical options and business cases

Key requirements

• Significant experience in engineering design within water, wastewater, utilities, energy, process, or infrastructure sectors
• Strong technical expertise in Electrical Engineering, Process Engineering, or related discipline
• Proven experience leading multidisciplinary engineering teams and complex design projects
• Understanding of engineering governance, technical assurance, and design management principles
• Experience applying standards, legislation, and industry best practices in regulated environments
• Ability to challenge designs constructively and identify performance improvements and value creation
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication at all levels
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills with a practical risk management approach
• Degree in Electrical Engineering, Process Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or related field
• Chartered Engineer (CEng) status or working towards professional registration with IET, IChemE, ICE, or CIWEM

• Stakeholder management
• Communication at all levels
• Analytical thinking
• Electrical Engineering
• Process Engineering
• Design governance

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