Principal Structural Engineer - Seismic in Manchester

BakerHicks is looking for a Principal Structural Engineer to play a key role in delivering highly regulated, technically complex projects within the Nuclear and Defence sectors. This role suits someone who has moved beyond pure design into leading multidisciplinary teams, managing delivery strategy, and driving technically robust solutions in environments where safety, assurance, and compliance are critical.

What you’ll be doing:

• Leading structural design and analysis on nuclear and defence-related facilities and infrastructure
• Managing multidisciplinary teams across engineering, architecture, geotechnical and specialist disciplines
• Driving programme, cost and technical delivery on high-assurance projects
• Supporting design governance, technical assurance, and client decision-making processes
• Developing reference designs, concept solutions, and engineering inputs to early-stage project definition
• Leading delivery across both new-build and complex refurbishment or upgrade of existing assets
• Providing technical oversight on reinforced concrete, steel and hybrid structural systems in safety-critical environments
• Coordinating closely with clients, contractors and stakeholders to ensure quality, compliance and constructability

Project exposure:

• You will be involved in complex, technically demanding programmes, including:
• Nuclear facilities and associated infrastructure, including upgrades, lifecycle extensions and new build schemes
• Defence sector developments requiring secure, robust and highly resilient design solutions
• Large-scale infrastructure and strategic projects requiring early-stage feasibility, option development and technical definition
• Retrofit and modification of existing assets, including structural strengthening and integration of new systems

Technical Capability:

• Strong structural design background across reinforced concrete, steel, masonry and refurbishment projects
• Experience delivering projects through multiple design stages, from concept through to construction
• Proven experience leading multidisciplinary project teams and coordinating complex design interfaces
• Familiarity with digital engineering tools and structural analysis software such as STAAD Pro or similar
• Experience working within highly regulated environments with a focus on quality and compliance
• Seismic experience
• Experience in seismic analysis and design, ideally within infrastructure, defence or international project environments
• Ability to incorporate seismic considerations into concept and detailed design
• Understanding of relevant codes and standards relating to seismic performance and resilience
• Experience contributing to projects where structural robustness and resilience are critical design drivers

What we’re looking for:

• Chartered Engineer (CEng) with ICE or IStructE or similar UK chartership
• Experience operating at Senior or Principal level within a consultancy environment
• Strong technical capability combined with leadership and delivery experience
• Comfortable working within nuclear, defence or other highly regulated sectors
• Confident communicator, able to engage with clients and technical stakeholders
• Must already have or be eligible to obtain Security Clearance, preference being DV level but SC minimum

Why BakerHicks:

BakerHicks delivers complex engineering solutions in some of the most highly regulated environments, particularly across nuclear and defence. You’ll be working on projects where technical quality, safety and compliance genuinely matter, not just in theory but in day-to-day delivery. The structure here gives you the chance to stay close to the engineering while still leading teams and influencing key decisions. There’s a strong focus on collaboration across disciplines, and you’re trusted to take ownership of delivery rather than being boxed into a narrow role. Projects are varied, often long-term, and technically challenging, which means you build real depth in the sector rather than moving between short, disconnected pieces of work.

Many of the positions within our company are subject to security clearance or security assurance levels. The successful candidate must be able to obtain and maintain the appropriate level of security clearance or assurance level for this role, in line with client and sector requirements. In some cases, additional nationality or residency criteria may also apply due to specific client or national security obligations.

About BakerHicks:

We’ve been innovating in design, engineering and project delivery since 1957 and operate from 14 locations for a truly European reach. For more about our company story, see: About | BakerHicks. BakerHicks. A Morgan Sindall Group company.

Benefits:

Whatever your discipline, you’ll be alongside some of the most talented people in the industry. Our network of offices are appealing, friendly and comfortable spaces, easily accessible by car or public transport. And our salary and benefits packages are some of the best in the industry. What you get will depend on what you do, with individual performance-related rewards also on offer in addition to:

• Company car or cash allowance
• Up to 6% matched contributory pension plan
• Life assurance scheme
• 25 days annual leave plus ability to buy additional leave
• Discount scheme (including gym membership, mobile phones etc)
• Flexible/hybrid working
• Family friendly policies
• Employee assistance
• Professional development

BakerHicks is an equal opportunity employer. We care about creating an inclusive atmosphere and are committed to promoting diversity and inclusion throughout. BakerHicks is an inclusive organisation welcoming talent from all backgrounds. Applicants are assessed on the basis of personal merit and qualifications.