Principal Drainage Engineer

Principal Drainage Engineer

Civil Engineering – Housing Developments

My client is an employee-owned civil engineering consultancy, delivering high-quality infrastructure solutions across residential and mixed-use developments. As an employee-owned business, they put every single person at the heart of everything they do — and everyone shares in the success through tax-free annual bonuses.

Due to continued growth, my client is looking to appoint an experienced Principal Drainage Engineer to lead and develop drainage design for housing developments across the UK.

The Role

As Principal Drainage Engineer, you will take technical and commercial responsibility for drainage projects, leading design teams and acting as a key technical authority within the business. You will play a vital role in shaping project delivery, mentoring engineers, and supporting client relationships.

Key Responsibilities

* Lead the design and delivery of surface water and foul drainage systems for residential and mixed-use developments

* Produce and review SuDS strategies, drainage layouts, calculations, and technical reports

* Manage and oversee drainage adoption processes, including Section 38 (highways drainage) and Section 104 (sewer adoption) agreements

* Coordinate with local authorities, water companies, LLFAs, SABs, and other approving bodies

* Oversee planning and technical approval submissions and respond to technical queries

* Provide technical leadership, mentoring, and quality assurance across project teams

* Support project management, programme delivery, and fee control

* Assist with business development and maintain strong client relationships

About You

* Degree qualified in Civil Engineering (or equivalent)

* Chartered or working towards Chartered status (ICE or similar)

* Extensive experience in drainage design for housing developments

* Strong working knowledge of SuDS, UK drainage standards, and approval processes

* Proven experience delivering S38 and S104 adoption packages

* Confident technical leader with excellent communication and stakeholder management skills

* Experience using industry-standard software such as Micro Drainage / Info Drainage (or similar)

What’s on Offer

* Competitive salary commensurate with experience

* Tax-free annual bonuses through our employee-owned structure

* Flexible and hybrid working arrangements

* Clear progression opportunities within a growing consultancy

* Support towards chartership and continued professional development

* A collaborative, people-focused culture where your contribution genuinely matters

Apply

If you are an experienced Principal Drainage Engineer looking to join an employee-owned company where you can lead, influence, and directly benefit from shared success, apply now for a confidential conversation