Principal Design Engineer

Overview

In this role you will lead and sign off complex infrastructure design, bridging permanent and temporary works. You will guide a Leeds design team, ensuring robust, buildable solutions across shafts, underground structures and tunnelling interfaces. You’ll collaborate with geotechnical, construction and temporary works teams to deliver technically sound designs, while mentoring engineers and maintaining technical authority. This position offers hands-on engineering with leadership, impacting multi-disciplinary projects and BIM/ISO 19650 processes. A senior, influential role with meaningful problem solving and scope to shape outcomes.

Pay / Benefits

• hybrid working (up to 2 days from home)
• competitive salary up to £80,000
• Leeds city centre office location
• professional development potential
• collaborative, technically-led culture
• employment with Calibre Search (agency)

Responsibilities

• Review, check, approve and sign off engineering calculations and drawings
• Lead permanent and temporary works design across complex infrastructure schemes
• Develop solutions for shafts, retaining structures, slabs, foundations and reinforced concrete structures
• Coordinate structural design with geotechnical, tunnelling, temporary works and construction teams
• Lead technical and design assurance reviews
• Identify buildability improvements and value engineering opportunities
• Prepare and review specifications, design reports and assurance documentation
• Work within BIM Level 2 / ISO 19650 requirements
• Ensure designs comply with CDM 2015, Eurocodes, British Standards and internal HSEQ procedures
• Support projects delivered under NEC4, including early warnings, programme reviews and change management
• Represent the design function during client meetings, bids and technical reviews
• Mentor Engineers and help develop the technical capability of the wider Leeds team

Key requirements

• Degree-qualified Civil Engineer or Structural Engineer (10+ years)
• Strong experience in reinforced concrete and steel structures to Eurocodes
• Experience with shafts, deep excavations, retaining structures, temporary works or tunnelling
• Software experience: AutoCAD, Civil 3D; knowledge of Tekla, Revit or Robot Structural Analysis is useful
• Chartered status via ICE or IStructE preferred, but considered with suitable experience

• leadership of engineers
• constructability and collaboration
• problem-solving and value engineering orientation
• AutoCAD
• Civil 3D
• Tekla (useful)

…