PDP Highway Design Engineer

PDP Highway Design Engineer

Trainee 39344 £ / year Home office (partial)
Surrey County Council

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Design and deliver innovative highway infrastructure projects while developing your skills.
  • Company: Join Surrey County Council, a forward-thinking local government organisation.
  • Benefits: Enjoy 26-31 days of holiday, flexible working, and a supportive work environment.
  • Other info: Be part of a dynamic team shaping the future of local government.
  • Why this job: Make a real difference in your community while advancing your career in civil engineering.
  • Qualifications: HNC in Civil Engineering or eligibility for HNC course; AutoCAD and project management skills required.

The starting salary range for this role is £33,552 to £41,585 per annum (subject to annual pay award negotiations), based on a 36-hour working week. This role sits within our Professional Development programme and spans three linked grades within our pay grade structure. The role is intended to develop successful candidates with training and experience provided to ensure progress. You will be required to participate in a formal training development plan to develop your skills and experience and to gain an appropriate technical or professional qualification. Your starting salary would depend on your existing level of expertise. Salary progression is linked to progress through the formal training development plan.

The role is part of our high performing Design Office, based in Guildford, with the opportunity of working out of other SCC offices. It is a hybrid role, offering a flexible mix of home, office, and site-based working, tailored to the needs of the projects you'll be supporting. You can expect to be in the office or on site approximately at least two days per week.

Our Offer to You

  • 26 days' holiday, rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 31 days after 5 years' service
  • Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
  • A generous local government salary related pension
  • Up to 5 days of carer's leave and 2 paid volunteering days per year
  • Paternity, adoption and dependents leave
  • An Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
  • Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources
  • Wellbeing and lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, and shopping
  • A chance to make a real difference to the lives of our residents

About the Role

Place is a large and complex directorate with responsibilities including facilitating safe and reliable journeys, shaping places for our customers, achieving sustainability and climate changes targets and always putting the customer first while providing excellent value for taxpayer money. Reporting directly to one of our Design Leads, you will be a technical professional looking to grow in your skills and experience. You will be part of a team designing and delivering infrastructure projects ranging from minor speed limit changes all the way up to £multi-million corridor improvement schemes. Active Travel is a major theme in our programmes - we are particularly interested in candidates with experience designing schemes to LTN 1-20 standard. We work in close partnership with a number of internal teams and also with our term contractors Ringway and M Group.

You will need to demonstrate your experience of design, construction supervision and project / contract management, and will have the opportunity to develop this experience if successful. You should have some experience of the relevant principles, practices and procedures in highway design, specification and standards, bills of quantities and item coverage, engineering construction, contract and project management. As part of the selection process you will be asked about the projects you have been involved with, and your contribution to ensure that projects are delivered to time, quality and contract requirements, and that best practice standards were met.

Shortlisting Criteria

In order to be considered for shortlisting, your application will clearly evidence the following skills and align with our behaviours:

  • Your design engineering expertise, including evidence of your AutoCAD ability, along with relevant highway design packages.
  • The range and type of highway infrastructure schemes you have successfully designed and implemented, or that you have assisted in the design and implementation.
  • Your knowledge of engineering design related legislation, practices and procedures.
  • Your relevant industry qualifications plus any Membership of any professional bodies.
  • To be considered for this role you must be eligible to be accepted onto an HNC Civil Engineering course or will already have achieved HNC or above qualification in Civil Engineering.
  • Competency in the use of MS Office tools including Word and Excel.
  • Excellent communication and organisational skills.
  • Full clean driving license and access to a vehicle.

The job advert closes at 23:59 on Sunday 24th May with interviews to follow.

Local Government Reorganisation (LGR)

Surrey County Council is undergoing Local Government Reorganisation, moving from a two-tier system to two new unitary councils in April 2027. If you are employed by Surrey on 1st April 2027, your role will transfer with current terms and conditions to one of the new organisations, supporting local devolution and greater powers for our communities.

Join our dynamic team and shape the future of local government. Make a lasting impact with innovative solutions and improved services for our community. Help us build a brighter future for our residents!

Our Commitment

We are a disability confident employer which means if you have shared a disability on your application form and have evidenced you meet the minimum criteria, we guarantee you an interview. Your skills and experience truly matter to us. From application to your first day, we're committed to supporting you with any adjustments you need, we value inclusion and warmly welcome you to join and help build a workplace where everyone belongs.

PDP Highway Design Engineer employer: Surrey County Council

Surrey County Council is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and inclusive work culture that prioritises employee development through its Professional Development programme. With a generous benefits package including up to 31 days of annual leave, a local government pension, and opportunities for flexible working, employees can thrive both personally and professionally while making a meaningful impact on the community in Guildford and beyond.
Surrey County Council

Contact Detail:

Surrey County Council Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land PDP Highway Design Engineer

✨Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect with professionals on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can refer you directly.

✨Tip Number 2

Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its projects. Understand their values and recent developments, especially in highway design. This will help you tailor your answers and show you're genuinely interested.

✨Tip Number 3

Practice your technical skills! Brush up on AutoCAD and other relevant software. Being able to demonstrate your expertise during practical assessments can set you apart from other candidates.

✨Tip Number 4

Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team and contributing to exciting infrastructure projects.

We think you need these skills to ace PDP Highway Design Engineer

Highway Design
AutoCAD
Project Management
Construction Supervision
Engineering Design Legislation
MS Office (Word and Excel)
Communication Skills
Organisational Skills
Knowledge of Highway Standards
Contract Management
HNC in Civil Engineering or equivalent
Experience with LTN 1-20 standard
Driving License
Team Collaboration

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show Off Your Skills: Make sure to highlight your design engineering expertise, especially your AutoCAD skills and any relevant highway design packages. We want to see the range of projects you've worked on, so don't hold back!

Tailor Your Application: Read through the job description carefully and align your experience with the skills and behaviours we're looking for. This shows us that you understand what we need and how you fit into our team.

Be Clear and Concise: When detailing your experience, keep it straightforward and to the point. Use bullet points if it helps, and make sure your application is easy to read. We appreciate clarity!

Apply Through Our Website: Don't forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way to ensure it gets to us directly. Plus, you'll find all the info you need about the role there too.

How to prepare for a job interview at Surrey County Council

✨Know Your Design Stuff

Make sure you brush up on your highway design principles and practices. Be ready to discuss specific projects you've worked on, especially those that align with LTN 1-20 standards. This will show your technical expertise and how you can contribute to the team.

✨Show Off Your Software Skills

Since AutoCAD and other highway design packages are crucial for this role, be prepared to talk about your experience with them. Bring examples of your work or even a portfolio if possible. This will demonstrate your hands-on skills and familiarity with the tools they'll expect you to use.

✨Communicate Clearly

Excellent communication is key in this role, so practice articulating your thoughts clearly. Think about how you can explain complex engineering concepts in simple terms. This will not only help during the interview but also show that you can effectively collaborate with different teams.

✨Be Ready for Scenario Questions

Expect questions about how you've managed projects or dealt with challenges in past roles. Prepare some STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) examples that highlight your problem-solving skills and ability to deliver projects on time and within budget.

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