Principal Civil Engineer

Location/s: Madrid or Seville; ES
Recruiter contact: Maria Cervantes

Mott Mac Donald is a global engineering, management, and development consultancy with over 20,000 employees across more than 50 countries and 140+ offices.

We work across incredible global industries, delivering exciting work that is defining our future and making an important societal impact in the communities we serve. Our people power our performance – we succeed when they do. With countless opportunities to collaborate, learn, and grow, the possibilities for excellence are as varied as every individual.

Whether you want to grow as a subject matter expert or broaden your experience with roles across our international community, you’re surrounded by global specialists who want to combine their expertise and champion you to be your best. As a proudly employee‑owned business, we benefit our clients, our communities, and each other, investing in creating the right space for everyone to feel empowered, included, and valued.

Whatever your ambition, Mott Mac Donald is where people come to be brilliant.

Our Water Utility Division and Water Consultancy Division both have ambitious growth plans aligned with the significant investment needs of AMP8 (2025–2030) and the broader water sector, particularly in the development of Strategic Resource Options to address future water supply challenges. We are proud of our strong reputation in the industry, which is allowing us to expand our business across both divisions.

Together, we cover all phases of the project lifecycle—from feasibility studies through detailed design, construction support, and commissioning to handover—and provide specialist technical support to colleagues across our global business. This offers fantastic opportunities to get involved in diverse and technically complex work.

We have an exciting opportunity for a talented Civil Engineer to join our team in Spain to support the delivery of our UK clients’ water and wastewater programmes.

Key responsibilities and duties include:

• Undertaking studies, concept, preliminary and detailed design
• Leading multi-disciplinary design teams in project delivery
• Project management duties, including programme and financial management for small to medium sized projects
• Review of design submissions to ensure compliance with contract requirements
  
  Conduct discipline checker role on standard outputs
• Interfacing and liaising with clients and other stakeholders
• Mentoring and contributing to the development of junior staff
• Working with resource leads to coordinate project resources and to grow and develop our capability through recruitment and training
• Business development including providing specialist support to our Account Leaders and Practices and leading on proposals and tenders in the water and wastewater fields
• Challenge of the client’s technical standards and the acceptance of waivers and deviations, relevant to their discipline

At Mott Mac Donald you will have control of your own career path and great prospects for career progression as the business continues to grow. We can offer development in technical, management or client‑facing directions. We are looking for a driven individual, keen to make a difference in the sector, take wide responsibilities and progress professionally.

• Civil Engineering or other relevant degree
• Experience of leading engineering design and/or multi-disciplinary design teams on water or wastewater projects
• Solid knowledge of water or wastewater specifications and standards
• Strong communication skills to interact with other disciplines and clients, and to develop and promote the team
• A team leader capable of managing and motivating individuals to consistently deliver
• Willingness to contribute to and develop technical knowledge networks
• A drive to be abreast of professional development and knowledge of current and emerging technical solutions
• Proactive approach, with an ability to adapt to changing scenarios
• Chartered Status (CEng) with a recognised Professional Institution
• Experience with NEC PS contracts
• Good understanding of designers’ responsibilities under CDM
• Strong digital…