Principal Engineer / Associate Director

Principal Engineer / Associate Director
Tamworth or London (hybrid)

Key Responsibilities

Take ownership of design delivery across a portfolio of water and wastewater projects, ensuring outputs are delivered safely, to programme, and within agreed budgets.
Lead multidisciplinary teams and coordinate civil, mechanical, electrical and process engineering inputs throughout the project lifecycle.
Develop and manage design programmes, making sure key deliverables align with wider project schedules and delivery milestones.
Provide technical oversight and assurance, reviewing design outputs and ensuring compliance with relevant standards, specifications and project requirements.
Act as the main point of contact for design matters with clients and stakeholders, attending design reviews, workshops and progress meetings as required.
Ensure engineering solutions are practical, buildable and cost-effective while maintaining compliance with industry and regulatory requirements.
Coordinate activities across internal teams, supply chain partners and specialist consultants to ensure a consistent and integrated approach to design delivery.
Support project teams with design budgets, resource planning and risk management activities.
Promote quality and health and safety throughout the design process, incorporating lessons learned and continuous improvement initiatives where possible.
Provide guidance and mentoring to engineers and discipline leads, supporting both technical and professional development.
Contribute to bid submissions, proposals and wider business development activities when required.
Keep up to date with developments across the UK water sector and apply emerging best practice and innovation to project delivery.
Foster a collaborative working environment that encourages knowledge sharing, accountability and continuous improvement.
About You

Degree qualified in Civil Engineering or a related engineering discipline.
Chartered Engineer status with a recognised professional institution or actively working towards chartership with clear evidence of progress.
Significant experience delivering projects within the UK water sector, with a strong understanding of both infrastructure and non-infrastructure schemes.
Previous experience managing design delivery across multiple projects or programmes within a regulated utility or similar environment.
Strong leadership skills with experience managing multidisciplinary teams and supporting the development of engineers at different stages of their careers.
Demonstrable experience of programme management, technical governance and resource coordination across complex project portfolios.
Sound technical knowledge of civil engineering design, including structures, pipelines, hydraulics and construction methodologies relevant to water and wastewater assets.
Good understanding of UK design standards and legislation, including CDM requirements and relevant industry specifications.
Experience working closely with mechanical, electrical and process teams to deliver coordinated engineering solutions.
Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to engage confidently with clients, contractors and regulators.
Commercial awareness and an understanding of bid processes, framework delivery models and project controls.
Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel to project locations and offices when required