Principal Engineer (Drainage)

The Vacancy

The Vacancy

The Vacancy
Principal Drainage & Infrastructure Engineer – Scotland
Salary: £50,000 – £60,000 + 8% Pension Contribution
Hours: 35-hour working week
Location: Scotland (Hybrid Working Available)

Are you an experienced civil engineer with a passion for drainage, highways, and infrastructure design? Do you want to lead technically challenging projects, guide junior engineers, and make a real impact on sustainable infrastructure across Scotland and the UK? If so, this is an excellent opportunity to join our expanding Infrastructure team as a Principal Engineer.

You will take technical and managerial ownership of projects, strengthen client relationships, and play a leading role in developing our drainage capability across the region.

Why Join Us?

• High-Profile, Sustainable Projects – Deliver drainage, highways, and transport schemes that improve connectivity and build resilient, future-ready infrastructure.
• Technical Leadership – Take the lead in drainage and civils design, setting design standards, and guiding the next generation of engineers.
• Career Development – Clear pathways to Associate Director level, with structured professional development and mentoring support.
• Collaborative Culture – Join a people-focused, supportive team that values technical excellence, collaboration, and work–life balance.
• Comprehensive Package – Competitive salary, hybrid working, 8% pension, professional memberships, and flexible working options.

The Role

As a Principal Drainage & Infrastructure Engineer, you will lead and deliver infrastructure projects across Scotland, from feasibility through to detailed design and construction. You will combine deep technical expertise in drainage design with strong project management and client liaison skills.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and deliver the design, procurement, and delivery of drainage infrastructure projects.
• Take ownership of drainage and flood risk elements within multi-disciplinary design teams.
• Build and maintain trusted relationships with local authorities, developers, and contractors.
• Mentor and support junior engineers, sharing technical expertise and encouraging professional growth.
• Contribute to bid preparation, fee proposals, and business development opportunities.
• Ensure designs comply with CDM 2015, DMRB, Sewers for Scotland, and local authority standards.
• Oversee project budgets, risks, and resources to ensure successful outcomes.

What We Are Looking For

Essential:

• Chartered Engineer (CEng) or working towards chartership (ICE/CIHT).
• BEng/BSc or MEng in Civil Engineering.
• 8–10 years’ experience in drainage design, with at least 2–3 years in a senior/lead role.
• Strong technical background in drainage design (SuDS, flood risk, surface water management, and below-ground drainage systems).
• Proven experience delivering civil infrastructure projects from concept to completion.
• Excellent client-facing and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Experience mentoring and developing junior engineers.

Desirable:

• Experience with microdrainage (InfoDrainage), Civil 3D, and hydraulic modelling tools.
• Familiarity with NEC/JCT contracts and financial project management.
• Exposure to Scottish local authorities or regional infrastructure frameworks.
• Experience supporting business development and bid writing.

Work Environment & Expectations

• Location: Scotland – hybrid working with presence expected in-office 2 – 3 days per week.
• Travel: Occasional travel to client meetings and project sites across Scotland.
• Flexible Working: We support hybrid and flexible working to promote work–life balance.

If you are ready to take the next step in your career, leading the design and delivery of sustainable drainage projects that shape communities across Scotland — we would love to hear from you. Apply today.

About Us

In January 2022, we joined the RSK group: a merger that mirrors each company’s commitment to an engaging and open company culture. We highly value our people’s input, building strong and mutually beneficial relationships with our clients, and the desire to grow a strong and sustainable business. SCP will continue to serve its clients without any fundamental changes except by expanding our geographical capabilities and our team.

SCP is a specialist transportation planning, highway, and drainage infrastructure design consultancy that has been offering multi-disciplinary professional services to the private and public sectors since 1991. We have offices located strategically around the UK, including offices in Manchester, Leeds, and London. Our service grouping includes advising and supporting at the master-planning stages of development proposals, conducting detailed assessments for approvals processes and the implementation stages. The business also has long-established expert witness relationships with planning barristers across the UK.

SCP is part of the RSK Group, a leading integrated environmental, engineering, and technical services business providing dynamic, multidisciplinary services to a wide range of sectors. RSK was founded in 1989 and has grown considerably since then.

At RSK, we operate as a group of businesses that work together seamlessly, aiming for growth through diversification. Our strategy helps us build a strong and resilient business, capable of weathering external challenges, while also providing greater value to our clients and more opportunities for our employees.

Since the beginning, our philosophy has remained the same: employ, develop and reward talented individuals. People are crucial to our company, and we recognise that our success hinges on our colleagues\\\’ growth. We\\\’re committed to preserving RSK\’s people-first culture, promoting innovation, and fostering a supportive and caring environment for collaboration. At RSK, we want you to be part of our successes and help you reach your career aspirations. We take pride in offering employees fulfilling and challenging careers by promoting ongoing growth and empowering individuals to excel.

We are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace that welcomes individuals from all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. We firmly believe that embracing and celebrating the diversity in our workforce makes us a stronger and more innovative company.

By providing workplace adjustments, we make it easier for people to confidently explore and pursue our career opportunities and recognise that flexibility is key to fostering a dynamic and thriving workplace. Many of our office-based positions benefit from a flexible working arrangement, allowing our team members to achieve a balance between professional and personal commitments.

We actively encourage applications from candidates of all genders, races, ethnicities, ages, neurotypes, religions or beliefs, sexual orientations, and those with disabilities.

If you\\\’re passionate about making a difference, join us as we work together to build a brighter, more equitable, and sustainable future for all. Do you have what it takes?