Principal Engineer Highways (Section 38) in Huddersfield

HD1 Hybrid (Office ideally Tuesdays) 30/03/2026 30/06/2026 £23.37 per hour

We are seeking an experienced Principal Engineer with strong Section 38 Highways adoption experience to join a busy Highways & Transportation team.

This role focuses on the negotiation, technical audit and approval of highway adoption schemes under Section 38 of the Highways Act, working closely with developers, consultants and internal teams to ensure designs meet adoptable standards.

The RoleYou Will

Technically audit Section 38 highway design submissions

Review drainage, utilities and full highway layouts

Provide structured feedback and manage iterative resubmissions

Negotiate amendments with consultants and developers

Manage live schemes from handover (retirement cover)

Ensure compliance with legislative, regulatory and council standards

Support procurement, financial and resource management where required

Contribute to delivery during periods of changing priorities and resource pressure

You must be confident challenging non-compliant designs and capable of managing complex, ongoing schemes from day one.

What We\’re Looking ForEssential

Direct experience with Section 38 Agreements

Strong highways design knowledge (adoptable standards)

Civil Engineering degree (or equivalent experience)

Experience within local authority or public sector highways

Strong technical report writing skills

Confident negotiator with consultants

Experience managing staff performance and workloads

Knowledge of CDM and Health & Safety legislation

IT competence (MS Office, GIS, AutoCAD understanding)

Desirable

Planning process experience

Experience working within politically sensitive environments

Experience managing operational response (e.g. adverse weather)

The Person

Technically strong and decisive

Honest and accountable

Comfortable working in a fast-changing environment

Capable of prioritising workload under pressure

Able to motivate and support junior staff

Flexible in approach to hybrid and occasional operational demands

Working PatternHybrid ideally office-based Tuesdays (flexible for the right candidate). Manager returning 16th March submissions to be reviewed that week.

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