Lead Civil / Structural Engineer

As Lead Civil & Structural Engineer, you will manage and deliver all civil and structural engineering activities across assigned projects – covering tender, concept, FEED, detailed design, and construction support. You’ll lead from the front on technical delivery, ensuring designs meet performance, safety, quality, and commercial targets. You'll act as a technical authority, mentor to junior engineers, and client-facing expert – ensuring stakeholder confidence in all deliverables.

As part of a highly experienced multi-discipline design team, you’ll work closely with process, mechanical, EC&I, and piping engineers, ensuring fully integrated solutions. Beyond the design, you’ll collaborate directly with the clients’ in-house fabrication and construction teams, giving you real visibility of how designs transition from concept to reality. This connection between engineering and execution provides invaluable feedback, rapid problem-solving, and a genuine opportunity to see your work make a tangible impact on site.

The Lead Civil/Structural Engineer shall be responsible for, but not limited to, the following:

• Own and deliver all civil and structural design activities on projects.
• Sign off engineering deliverables including calculations, risk assessments, reports, specifications, and drawings.
• Ensure alignment with British Standards, Eurocodes, CDM Regulations, and client specifications.
• Lead structural analysis, foundation design, steelwork design, RC detailing, and equipment support structures using industry tools.
• Oversee temporary works design, shoring/excavation methods, seismic design, and geotechnical interpretations.
• Define work scopes, estimate manhours, and support proposal development.
• Drive timely, on-budget delivery of engineering packages.
• Identify risks early; propose mitigation strategies.
• Ensure engineering activities comply with ISO 9001, ISO 45001, and relevant QA/QC processes.
• Champion safety by design and zero-defect engineering culture.
• Lead and coordinate design teams, including mentoring of junior engineers.
• Review and check engineering outputs – ensuring technical integrity and constructability.
• Foster a collaborative team culture focused on delivery and continuous improvement.
• Lead and support technical aspects of tenders, proposals, and work-winning activities.
• Collaborate closely with Business Development and Estimating teams to define project scopes, identify risks, and shape competitive, technically robust solutions.
• Review and evaluate subcontractor bids, providing technical assessments and recommendations that support commercial decisions.
• Manage and oversee subcontractor design activities, ensuring alignment with project requirements, adherence to standards, and delivery within schedule and quality expectations.
• Contribute to contract negotiation processes, ensuring clarity of technical scope and responsibilities across interfaces.
• Maintain ongoing performance monitoring of subcontractors and drive resolution of design or delivery issues to avoid programme impacts.
• Represent the company in technical discussions, design reviews, etc.
• Build strong working relationships with clients, third parties, and across disciplines.
• Communicate complex technical matters clearly and effective.

Education Required:

• Degree-qualified in Civil or Structural Engineering (MEng/BEng or MSc/BSc minimum).
• Chartered Engineer (CEng) or actively working toward chartership (IStructE / ICE).
• Minimum 8–10 years’ post-graduate experience within the UK, ideally in EPC / design consultancy environments.

Skills and Experience Required:

• Strong understanding of industry standards, Eurocodes, and UK building regulations.
• Proven record of leading within multi-disciplinary teams and delivering under pressure.
• Competent in project planning, resourcing, and cost control.
• UK driving licence and flexibility to travel across UK sites.
• Technically credible with a high level of personal integrity.
• Leads by example – calm under pressure, clear communicator, and strong problem-solver.
• Proactive, with a focus on quality and attention to detail.
• Promotes team spirit and knowledge sharing.
• Commercially aware and client-focused.

Technical Competencies (Essential):

• Structural steel design (BS 5950 / EC3)
• Reinforced concrete design (BS 8110 / EC2)
• Foundation design, settlement, and bearing capacity checks
• Construction sequencing
• Structural analysis and load assessments (wind, seismic, fatigue)
• Pipe/equipment supports and access steelwork
• Civil works: underground drainage, groundworks, paving, and external works
• Specification writing and review
• Software: AutoCAD, Navisworks, Tekla TEDDS, STAAD.Pro / Autodesk Robot Structural Analysis Pro., IDEA StatiCa
• Structural surveys, assessment, and reporting