At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead exciting highways and drainage projects, from design to delivery.
- Company: Join Tetra Tech, a leader in innovative infrastructure solutions.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid working, competitive salary, and professional growth opportunities.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with opportunities for career advancement and skill development.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on vital infrastructure while mentoring the next generation of engineers.
- Qualifications: Experience in highways or drainage engineering and strong problem-solving skills required.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 € per year.
Tetra Tech is seeking an experienced and motivated Senior Engineer to join our Highways and Civils team, based in either Newark or Birmingham, with hybrid working available. This role offers an excellent opportunity for a technically strong highways and drainage engineer who enjoys problem solving, working collaboratively, and contributing to the delivery of complex infrastructure projects across residential, commercial, industrial, and strategic development sectors.
This position provides the chance to take ownership of significant design elements, support project leaders, mentor junior colleagues, and play an important role in progressing a wide portfolio of development‑led highways and drainage schemes.
Purpose & Scope of the Role
As a Senior Engineer, you will contribute to the technical delivery of highways and drainage projects across a broad range of infrastructure schemes. You will be involved in all stages of design, from concept layouts and feasibility studies through to detailed design and technical approvals. The role requires strong analytical skills, practical engineering judgement, and the ability to deliver high‑quality design outputs under the guidance of senior technical leaders. You will work closely with multidisciplinary teams, support the preparation of reports and design documentation, and help maintain a consistent level of technical excellence.
Alongside your design responsibilities, you will mentor junior engineers and technicians, helping to build the capability and confidence of the wider team. You will also engage with clients and design partners, supporting the coordination and communication necessary to deliver successful project outcomes.
Your Impact in this Position
You will play an active role in the delivery of highways and drainage designs for development‑led infrastructure projects, including estate roads, junction improvements, access strategies, earthworks, and drainage systems. You will support technical approval processes (S104, S278 and S38) with Water Authorities, and Local and National Highways Authorities, preparing submissions, responding to comments, and contributing to the approvals strategy.
Your role will involve producing and reviewing technical drawings, models, assessments, and calculations, while supporting colleagues across Newark, Birmingham, London, and the wider Tetra Tech RPS infrastructure team. You will be trusted to manage your own tasks independently, contributing to smaller projects and supporting the delivery of larger, more complex commissions. Your work will help ensure that technical quality, client expectations, and programme requirements are consistently achieved.
Technical Competence
A solid grounding in highways and/or drainage engineering is essential for this role. You should have experience applying recognised design standards, including DMRB and local authority guidance, and be comfortable working with industry‑standard design tools such as AutoCAD, Civil 3D or PDS, and drainage modelling software including Flow. Experience in development‑led infrastructure design is highly beneficial, particularly on residential, commercial, or industrial schemes.
What matters most is your ability to apply strong engineering principles, develop technically sound solutions, and contribute positively to design discussions and decision making.
Problem Solving & Quality Assurance
You will be expected to approach engineering challenges with clarity, initiative, and independence. The role requires strong analytical thinking and the ability to interpret constraints, assess risks, and develop practical, compliant solutions. You will support quality assurance processes, contribute to technical reviews, and help ensure that all outputs meet the required standards for accuracy, presentation, and technical robustness. Attention to detail and a commitment to delivering high‑quality work are essential.
Mentorship, Support & Technical Review
As a Senior Engineer, you will contribute to the development of junior colleagues through day‑to‑day mentorship, technical guidance, and constructive support. You will help build capability within the team by providing direction on design approaches, sharing knowledge, and offering assistance as needed to ensure high‑quality outputs. A key part of your role will be the review of technical reports, drawings, models, and design documentation. You will support the quality assurance process by checking design work for accuracy, compliance, and clarity, helping to maintain consistent technical standards across the team and ensuring that engineering decisions are robust, defensible, and aligned with project requirements.
Client Engagement & Communication
You will engage directly with clients, design partners, and approval authorities, supporting the communication and coordination necessary to deliver successful projects. This includes preparing reports, presenting technical information, participating in meetings, and helping to manage expectations and technical queries. Your ability to communicate engineering concepts clearly and professionally will be an important part of building strong working relationships and supporting repeat business.
Senior Civil Engineer – Highways & Drainage employer: RPS Group Limited
Tetra Tech is an exceptional employer that fosters a collaborative and innovative work culture, offering hybrid working options in vibrant locations like Newark and Birmingham. Employees benefit from mentorship opportunities, professional development, and the chance to contribute to impactful infrastructure projects, all while being part of a supportive team that values technical excellence and personal growth.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Civil Engineer – Highways & Drainage
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the civil engineering field, especially those who work at Tetra Tech or similar companies. Attend industry events and engage on platforms like LinkedIn to get your name out there.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your technical knowledge and problem-solving skills. Be ready to discuss specific projects you've worked on, especially those involving highways and drainage, and how you tackled challenges.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your mentorship experience! Highlight how you've supported junior engineers in the past, as this is a key part of the Senior Engineer role. Share examples of how you've contributed to team development.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you're genuinely interested in joining our team at Tetra Tech.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Civil Engineer – Highways & Drainage
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Senior Civil Engineer role. Highlight your experience in highways and drainage engineering, and don’t forget to mention any relevant projects you've worked on. We want to see how your skills align with what we’re looking for!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you’re passionate about this role and how your background makes you a perfect fit. We love seeing enthusiasm and a clear understanding of our work at Tetra Tech.
Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills:In your application, be sure to include examples of how you've tackled engineering challenges in the past. We value analytical thinking and practical solutions, so share specific instances where you’ve made a difference in your projects.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us quickly and efficiently. Plus, you’ll find all the details you need about the role and our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at RPS Group Limited
✨Know Your Technical Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your highways and drainage engineering knowledge. Familiarise yourself with design standards like DMRB and local authority guidelines, as well as industry-standard tools such as AutoCAD and Civil 3D. Being able to discuss these confidently will show that you're technically strong and ready for the role.
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills
Prepare examples of how you've tackled engineering challenges in the past. Think about specific projects where you had to assess risks and develop compliant solutions. This will demonstrate your analytical thinking and ability to deliver high-quality outputs under pressure.
✨Highlight Your Mentorship Experience
Since this role involves mentoring junior engineers, be ready to talk about your experience in guiding and supporting others. Share instances where you've helped build capability within a team, as this will show your leadership potential and commitment to developing talent.
✨Engage with Clients Effectively
Practice how you would communicate technical information to clients and design partners. Be prepared to discuss your approach to managing expectations and handling technical queries. Strong communication skills are key, so think about how you can convey complex concepts clearly and professionally.
