Principal Civil Engineer

Job Title:

Principal Engineer – Civil

Salary: £50,000 to £65,000 (dependent on experience)

Location:

Essex & Suffolk region

Type:
Permanent | Hybrid working

Our client is strengthening its engineering capability within the Essex & Suffolk region and is seeking an experienced Principal Civil Engineer to play a key role in delivering major water and wastewater infrastructure programmes. You will work across a diverse portfolio of projects valued at circa £280m, supporting long‑term frameworks in the water sector. Reporting to the Regional Discipline Lead or Senior Design Manager, you'll take technical ownership of civil designs while mentoring engineers and helping embed best practice across the team.

The role is predominantly region‑based, with some initial travel to other UK regions to support onboarding and integration into the wider business.

Our client is a leading integrated design‑and‑build provider operating exclusively in the UK water sector. With a strong regional presence and a track record of delivering complex, regulated infrastructure projects, they focus on practical, sustainable engineering solutions. They place genuine emphasis on people development, diversity, wellbeing, and long‑term career progression – not just delivery metrics.

• Produce cost‑effective, buildable civil design layouts that meet specification and commissioning requirements
• Consider whole‑life and out‑turn costs, including design, materials, construction, and interdisciplinary impacts
• Apply standard practices wherever possible to maintain efficiency and competitiveness
• Support bid and proposal development with estimates and technical input
• Ensure designs are fully coordinated with all internal and external disciplines
• Develop, review, and maintain engineering procedures and processes
• Maintain accurate design records and documentation throughout project life cycles
• Champion customer satisfaction across all stakeholders
• Supervise, mentor, and develop junior and mid‑level engineers
• Ensure all designs fully comply with environmental, health, and safety requirements
• Promote safe working practices and continuous improvement across the team

• Strong technical grounding across civil engineering disciplines including structures, geotechnics, hydraulics, and environmental engineering
• Solid knowledge of CDM 2015 roles and responsibilities
• Working knowledge of UK water industry standards and legislation
• Proven experience delivering water and wastewater treatment infrastructure
• Experience managing and developing engineering teams
• Chartered or working towards chartership with a recognised professional institution
• Relevant civil or related engineering degree
• Ability to rationalise designs and develop efficient plant layouts
• Confident communicator able to present technical proposals clearly
• Strong IT skills and a full UK driving licence
• Flexible, analytical mindset with the ability to manage complex data sets

• Competitive salary package
• Hybrid working (role‑dependent)
• Car or car allowance (role‑dependent)
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Option to buy up to 5 additional days' holiday
• Pension contribution scheme
• Life assurance
• Health and private medical insurance
• Additional benefits including cycle‑to‑work scheme, discount platforms, and family perks

Applicants must have the right to work in the UK and be willing to travel regionally as required.

This is a senior, visible role within a growing regional programme, offering long‑term career progression, leadership responsibility, and the chance to shape engineering standards across major UK water frameworks.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity in our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.