Principal Engineer – Water Design and Build

Overview

In this role you will lead water and wastewater detailed design and Design & Build delivery, shaping major UK frameworks. You’ll guide multidisciplinary teams, set technical direction, and mentor future leaders. You will champion safety, sustainability, and digital delivery to create buildable, low‑carbon infrastructure. This leadership role sits at the heart of transforming UK water assets and collaborating with clients, regulators, and delivery partners. You will have a concrete impact on long‑lasting water infrastructure and asset performance.

Pay / Benefits

• hybrid working
• flexible working arrangements
• well-being benefits
• volunteering program
• global giving
• focus on inclusion and belonging

Responsibilities

• Lead integrated, multi‑disciplinary teams across civils, process, MEICA and construction
• Own technical governance — design reviews, change control, BIM/CDE delivery and design freeze
• Act as senior technical interface with clients, regulators, contractors and the supply chain
• Guide projects from concept through to construction and handover
• Champion Safety in Design, HAZID/HAZOP and risk‑based engineering
• Mentor and develop engineers, shaping standards and future leaders

Key requirements

• Extensive experience delivering water and wastewater infrastructure (treatment works, pumping stations, pipelines, MEICA)
• Strong understanding of AMP delivery, water company governance and regulated utilities
• Proven leadership of multi‑disciplinary teams through design, construction and handover
• Safety‑led, risk‑based engineering mindset with strong asset lifecycle knowledge
• Experience using BIM, digital tools and Common Data Environments
• A degree in Civil Engineering (or similar) and CEng status (or working towards)

• Leadership and mentoring
• Stakeholder engagement and communication
• Collaborative problem solving
• BIM
• Common Data Environments (CDE)
• Design governance and reviews

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