Principal River Engineer

Job Description Overview

Shape the Future of our cities and environments.

Are you a River Engineer who is passionate about making the world a better place? Are you ready to take up a vital role in some of the UK's most exciting and innovative projects?

Join Atkins

Réalis and take a leading role in shaping the future of our cities and environments.

We are looking for an energetic and experienced Principal River Engineer to join our team within the Design & Advanced Technology (D&AT) Practice of Atkins

Réalis. You will be part of a talented, multi-disciplinary team delivering cutting‑edge, iconic projects to our Water market clients – Thames Water, Anglian Water, South East Water, Southern Water and other regional water authorities.

As a key member of our team, you will play a vital role in delivering transformational programmes for critical UK infrastructure, with opportunities to work on landmark engineering projects both domestically and internationally. We are committed to providing industry‑leading solutions throughout the project lifecycle, adding value through client‑side and construction‑phase support.

We foster a diverse and inclusive environment where world‑class talent thrives without boundaries. Collaboration is not a buzzword; it is how we work together to tackle our clients' toughest challenges.

Hybrid working: 3 days per week office/site based. Position based in our Epsom or Peterborough offices.

The role offers a challenging and rewarding opportunity to apply knowledge, experience and problem‑solving skills while providing good opportunities for career development.

• Coordinate or manage a team of engineers and scientists for the delivery of technical design work on complex multi‑disciplinary projects following relevant national and project‑specific design codes and standards, and to high‑quality levels in areas such as flood defences, culverts and hydraulic structures.
• Produce and review technical deliverables such as design reports, drawings, calculations and scopes of work with a defined scope.
• Provide technical input into project design deliverables for river engineering and flood defence aspects of complex multi‑disciplinary projects and work with the project management team to successfully manage time and budgets to key project milestones and programmes.
• Collaborate with client, operational, project or service activities within your immediate team and other related Atkins
  
  Réalis teams.
• Provide mentorship to less experienced colleagues and help grow the River Engineering capabilities within the local team.
• Work independently with minimal technical guidance. Exercise personal judgement to solve difficult problems where appropriate and provide guidance to junior team members.
• Provide technical support for bid proposals.
• Work closely with a multi‑disciplinary team in the UK and overseas to deliver integrated design solutions.
• Adhere to quality assurance standards in design, including checking and reviewing own work as well as others.

• A degree in Civil Engineering or equivalent.
• Chartered or Incorporated Civil Engineer.
• Proven experience in coordinating or managing an engineering design delivery team for a design consultancy within a multi‑disciplinary environment.
• Broad perspective to identify innovative solutions to design problems.
• Strong knowledge and practical experience in design such as flood walls and embankments, weirs, hydraulic structures, culverts, scour protection, access and accessibility and construction logistics.
• Proficiency in delivering both traditional engineering and environmentally focused solutions using nature‑based strategies.
• Practical knowledge of current design codes and standards as well as industry best practices.
• Ability to work independently with minimal technical guidance.
• Experience in the Water market is essential; experience in wider markets such as Aviation, Defence, Highways or Energy is desirable.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to convey technical concepts clearly and effectively within diverse multi‑disciplinary teams.
• A proactive, highly motivated mindset with a collaborative approach to drive teamwork and shared…