Principal Highway Design Engineer

Overview

In this role you lead the highways design effort within a Birmingham office, guiding the end-to-end design process for a mix of public and private sector schemes. You will manage resources, budgets, and client relationships to deliver high-quality designs on time and within cost. You’ll mentor staff, promote innovation, and help grow the Birmingham office as part of a collaborative, growth-focused team. This position offers active involvement in challenging projects and a clear pathway for career progression.

Pay / Benefits

• Competitive salary
• Profit share bonus
• Healthcare cash plan
• Flexible working initiatives
• Salary sacrifice car scheme
• Company pension

Responsibilities

• Deliver designs on time and within budget
• Manage resource allocations across priorities
• Prepare and track project budgets and expenditures
• Act as primary liaison for clients and project partners
• Ensure designs comply with MCHW, DMRB and local guidance
• Review design information and provide actionable feedback
• Collaborate with senior management on cross-office projects
• Foster innovation, maintain sound judgment, and drive continuous improvement
• Ensure CDM compliance and proactive risk management
• Contribute to growing the Birmingham office

Key requirements

• Pro-active team management for a growing workload
• Strong resource management to staff projects effectively
• Robust technical experience in highway design environments
• Proven highway project management delivering to programme and budget
• Independent judgment in technical issues
• Experience mentoring and supervising Highway Design staff
• Solid knowledge of Highways Technical documents (DMRB)
• Experience developing contract documents for Highway contracts
• Ability to engage with clients on technical highway structures issues
• Working knowledge of Civils 3D CAD
• Experience in highway drainage design and MicroDrainage software

• Proactive leadership
• Stakeholder management
• Clear communication
• DMRB familiarity
• Highways design experience
• Civils 3D CAD proficiency

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