Principal Engineer

At Severn Trent, our people are at the heart of everything we do. We’re in the top 5% of utility companies worldwide when it comes to employee engagement and ranked as a Top 50 UK Employer on Glassdoor. Join us to make a positive impact on the environment and our communities, while being valued and supported in a truly inclusive workplace.

We are seeking someone to join our Risk Validation team as a Principal Engineer, where you will play a pivotal role in enhancing the performance and reliability of Severn Trent Water’s wastewater network. Your primary objective will be to drive continuous improvement in the understanding and compliance with our hydraulic modelling and design standards, both within the company and among our subcontractors.

You will lead the evaluation of wastewater network performance to identify new and validate existing risks, such as sewer flooding, growth, and sewage pumping station performance. By developing notional solutions, you will ensure these projects are ready for further feasibility and design by our capital delivery teams.

Additionally, you will spearhead the programme-level hydraulic modelling requirements, ensuring that our standards are met for model audits, fitness for use assessments, model build and verification, and risk validation of catchment drivers. Your role will also involve continuous enhancement of our hydraulic modelling standards and processes, ensuring we remain at the forefront of industry developments.

• Risk Validation: Lead assessments of wastewater network performance to identify and confirm risks such as sewer flooding, growth pressures, and pumping station issues.
• Hydraulic Modelling: Manage programme-wide hydraulic modelling needs, ensuring all work meets required audit, fitness-for-purpose, and risk validation standards.
• Collaboration: Work with internal teams to ensure software and hardware needs for hydraulic modelling are fully supported.
• Project Leadership: Lead hydraulic modelling across multiple projects, delivering results on time. Coordinate with Tactical Asset Planning and Capital Design & Delivery to align work with business priorities.
• Innovation & Industry Engagement: Promote innovation in wastewater modelling and keep informed of industry trends. Represent Severn Trent Water at bodies such as CIWEM to support wider technical development.
• Quality Assurance: Approve QA documents and review team outputs, ensuring high-quality, consistent work with constructive feedback.
• Stakeholder Communication: Produce and present technical reports and project updates for stakeholders including internal teams, the Environment Agency, LLFAs, and customers.

You’ll have experience in wastewater network modelling using InfoWorks ICM and associated GIS tools. Your competence in hydraulic modelling software, including 1D/2D, full 2D, and river modules, is essential. A comprehensive understanding of hydraulics, sewerage design, and flow survey scoping is crucial. Additionally, experience in pollution mechanisms, UPM manual, and WFD/water quality standards is required. You should have a proven track record of leading large portfolios of work and driving assurance and standards.

We are looking for someone with strong organizational skills and meticulous attention to detail. You should be proactive and forward-looking, with the ability to anticipate problems and manage risks effectively. Excellent communication skills are essential, as you will need to present data clearly to various audiences. Commercial awareness and the ability to work within time and budget constraints are also important. You should be able to build and manage stakeholder relationships effectively and have an innovative mindset, continuously seeking opportunities for improvement.

You’ll ideally have a degree or equivalent qualification in an engineering, geography, or environmental-related subject and being a Chartered Member of CIWEM or ICE is required.

Here are just some of our favourite perks that you’ll get being part of the Seven Trent family:

• 28 days holiday + bank holidays (and the ability to buy/ sell up to 5 days per year)
• Annual bonus scheme (of up to £2,250 per annum based on company performance)
• Leading pension scheme – we will double your contribution (up to 15% when you contribute 7.5%)
• Sharesave – the chance to buy Severn Trent Plc shares at a discounted rate
• Dedicated training and development with our ‘Academy’
• Electric vehicle scheme and retail offers
• Family friendly policies
• Two volunteering days per year

We can’t wait to hear from you. Before you apply, you’ll need an updated copy of your CV and about five minutes to spare.