At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead design and delivery of innovative water infrastructure projects.
- Company: Top-tier contractor shaping the UK water industry.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career development, and a supportive work culture.
- Other info: Join a collaborative team with opportunities for innovation and growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on essential water projects while mentoring future engineers.
- Qualifications: Degree in Civil Engineering and experience in water sector required.
The predicted salary is between 51750 - 63250 £ per year.
We have a Principal Design Engineer opportunity with a leading Tier 1 contractor delivering major infrastructure and non-infrastructure projects across the UK water sector. The role focuses on the design and delivery of water and wastewater schemes, including pipelines, pumping stations, treatment facilities, and associated civil engineering assets.
You will:
- Provide technical leadership across multidisciplinary water and wastewater projects.
- Deliver high-quality engineering solutions alongside Design Managers, Discipline Managers, Design Leads, and Principal Engineers.
- Act as a technical authority, resolving complex engineering challenges and driving technical excellence.
- Ensure designs meet relevant standards, regulations, client requirements, and project objectives.
- Provide governance and technical assurance across your discipline.
- Coordinate with other engineering disciplines to support integrated project delivery.
- Support procurement, construction, commissioning, and site teams with technical expertise.
- Drive innovation, continuous improvement, and engineering best practice.
- Mentor and develop engineers and designers.
- Provide technical oversight and line management where required.
- Build strong relationships with clients, suppliers, stakeholders, and project teams.
About You
- Degree qualified in Civil Engineering or a related discipline, or equivalent qualification.
- Significant experience within the municipal water and wastewater sector.
- Chartered Engineer (CEng) or working towards chartership.
- Experience within a contractor, consultancy, or design-and-build environment.
- Strong knowledge of water and wastewater assets, including buried and above-ground systems, treatment processes, inlet works, settlement tanks, final effluent systems, chambers, and associated civil structures.
- Strong understanding of health and safety legislation, British Standards, and industry regulations.
- Experience working within quality assurance and health and safety management systems.
- Ability to review and approve engineering calculations, reports, specifications, and design documentation.
- Experience undertaking hydraulic calculations and assessments.
- Knowledge of structural design for water-retaining structures and reinforced concrete detailing.
- Experience leading technical discussions with clients and developing engineering solutions.
- Experience leading design reviews, progress meetings, and site meetings.
- Working knowledge of NEC contracts.
- Understanding of quality, environmental, and health and safety management systems.
- Strong communication and technical report-writing skills.
- Proven ability to lead teams and deliver projects to programme and budget.
- Experience coordinating suppliers, subcontractors, construction teams, and internal stakeholders.
- Understanding of design planning, resource allocation, and programme management.
- Experience working within multidisciplinary teams.
- A passion for mentoring and developing engineers.
This is an excellent opportunity to join a leading Tier 1 contractor at the forefront of the UK water industry. You will play a key role in delivering critical water infrastructure projects while helping shape engineering standards, innovation, and future talent within a collaborative and supportive environment.
Principal Design Engineer in Edinburgh employer: Alexander Associates
Join a leading Tier 1 contractor in Edinburgh, where you will be at the forefront of delivering vital water infrastructure projects. Our collaborative and supportive work culture fosters innovation and continuous improvement, providing ample opportunities for professional growth and mentorship. With a focus on technical excellence and strong relationships with clients and stakeholders, this role offers a meaningful and rewarding career path in the municipal water and wastewater sector.
