Principal Civil Design Engineer – Flooding & Drainage
Principal Civil Design Engineer – Flooding & Drainage

Principal Civil Design Engineer – Flooding & Drainage

Reading Full-Time 61000 - 80000 £ / year (est.) No home office possible
Go Premium
Thames Water Utilities Limited

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead a team of engineers in innovative flooding and drainage solutions.
  • Company: Join Thames Water, the UK's largest water and wastewater company.
  • Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, generous leave, private healthcare, and wellness perks.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact on communities and the environment while advancing your career.
  • Qualifications: Degree in Civil Engineering with significant experience in drainage and water utility design.
  • Other info: Flexible working arrangements and a commitment to diversity and inclusion.

The predicted salary is between 61000 - 80000 £ per year.

Job title Principal Civil Design Engineer – Flooding & Drainage Ref 41499 Division Asset Operations & Capital Delivery Location Hybrid – Clearwater Court – RG1 8DB Contract type Permanent Full/Part-time Full-time Salary Competitive salary from £61,000 to £80,000 per annum depending on experience. Job grade C Closing date 24/07/2025

The Principal Civil Engineer is a key member of the team that creates the intelligent client Thames Water needs to achieve its AMP8 ambitions and beyond. You’ll be responsible for building, leading, managing, coaching and developing a team of circa 10 engineers ranging from graduates to senior engineers.

As a Principal in the Wastewater Infrastructure Civil Engineering team, you will take a leading role in developing and delivering innovative SuDS and Nature Based Solutions from the early feasibility, optioneering phase through to briefing for delivery and provision of technical oversight during detailed design and delivery.

What you’ll be doing as a Principal Civil Design Engineer – Flooding & Drainage

You will provide leadership and expertise in flooding and drainage engineering needed to:

  • Get the right solutions and definition in Project Briefs.
  • Input and continuously improve Technical Asset Standards, updating and developing standards for SuDs and Nature Based solutions from a Civils perspective.
  • Provide Design sign-off of deliverables.
  • Provide technical oversight during the delivery, commissioning, and handover of Assets.
  • Ensure and deliver the Engineering Regulatory compliance on relevant assets in the Civil Engineering area.
  • Provide expertise in Surface Water Management, including SuDS design and surface water management policy and guidance.
  • Scope retrofitting of SuDs and Catchment separation as part of our Storm Overflows reduction programme.
  • Represent engineering on the TW Flooding Resilience Steering Committee and the Surface Water Management Steering Committee.
  • Review flood risk assessments and mitigation solutions provided by our supply chain.
  • Undertake road pavement and drainage design for our operational sites.
  • Interface with our DWMP team and provide engineering support as and when needed.
  • Represent TW on Industry bodies related to flooding and drainage.

Working hours: 36 hours per week

What you should bring to the role

  • Significant knowledge and experience in UK drainage and water utility civil infrastructure design and construction.
  • Understanding of the regulatory environment we work in to achieve compliance with our engineering regulatory requirements.
  • Excellent stakeholder engagement and management to drive results through influence
  • Experience in management, leadership, and the development of people in a culture of accountability and achievement.
  • Be educated to degree level or equivalent in Civil Engineering with professional chartership
  • Possess the credibility to influence at a senior level and authority to challenge to ensure that we are making the right decisions.
  • A passion for sustainability and the environment, as well as for continuous professional development.

What’s in it for you?

  • Competitive salary from £61,000 to £80,000 per annum, depending on experience.
  • Annual Leave -26 days holiday per year, increasing to 30 with the length of service. (plus bank holidays)
  • Annual Bonus.
  • Generous Pension Scheme through AON.
  • Private Medical Health Care.
  • Access to lots of benefits to help you take care of you and your family’s health and wellbeing, and your finances – from annual health MOTs and access to physiotherapy and counselling, to Cycle to Work schemes, shopping vouchers and life assurance.

We’re the UK’s largest water and wastewater company, with more than 16 million customers relying on us every day to supply water for their taps and toilets. We want to build a better future for all, helping our customers, communities, people, and the planet to thrive. It’s a big job and we’ve got a long way to go, so we need help from passionate and skilled people, committed to making a difference and getting us to where we want to be in the years and decades to come.

Thames Water is a unique, rewarding, and diverse place to work, where every day you can make a difference, yet no day is the same. As part of our family, you’ll enjoy fast-tracked career opportunities, flexible working arrangements and excellent benefits.

Whether you’re interested in a role in one of our call centres or science labs, we’re looking for people like you with real passion and a burning desire to make things better.

So, if you’re looking for a sustainable and successful career where you can make a daily difference to millions of people’s lives while helping to protect the world\’s water for future generations, we’ll be here to support you every step of the way. Together, we can build a better future for our customers, our region and our planet.

Real purpose, real support, real opportunities. Come and join the Thames Water family. Why choose us? Learn more.

Our overarching aim is to ensure that Thames Water is a great, diverse, and inclusive place to work. We welcome applications from everyone and offer extra support for those who need it throughout the recruitment process . Our aim is to remove any real or perceived barriers to success, so if you need assistance, we’re here to help and support .

When a crisis happens, we all rally around to support our customers. As part of Team Thames, you’ll have the opportunity to sign up to support our customers on the frontline as an ambassador. Full training will be given for what is undoubtedly an incredibly rewarding experience. It’s also a great opportunity to learn more about our business and meet colleagues.

Disclaimer: Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we may close the advert earlier than the advertised date, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

#J-18808-Ljbffr

Principal Civil Design Engineer – Flooding & Drainage employer: Thames Water Utilities Limited

Thames Water is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic and inclusive work environment where you can truly make a difference in the lives of millions. With competitive salaries, generous benefits including a robust pension scheme and private healthcare, and a strong commitment to employee development, you'll find ample opportunities for growth and advancement. Located in the heart of the UK, our hybrid working model promotes flexibility, allowing you to balance your professional and personal life while contributing to sustainable water solutions for future generations.
Thames Water Utilities Limited

Contact Detail:

Thames Water Utilities Limited Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Principal Civil Design Engineer – Flooding & Drainage

✨Tip Number 1

Network with professionals in the civil engineering field, especially those who have experience in flooding and drainage. Attend industry events or join relevant online forums to connect with potential colleagues and learn about the latest trends and challenges in the sector.

✨Tip Number 2

Familiarise yourself with Thames Water's projects and initiatives related to SuDS and Nature Based Solutions. Understanding their current strategies will help you demonstrate your alignment with their goals during interviews.

✨Tip Number 3

Prepare to discuss your leadership style and experiences in managing teams. Highlight specific examples where you've successfully developed junior engineers or led projects that required stakeholder engagement and compliance with regulatory standards.

✨Tip Number 4

Showcase your passion for sustainability and continuous professional development. Be ready to share how you've kept up with industry changes and how you plan to contribute to Thames Water's mission of building a better future for the environment.

We think you need these skills to ace Principal Civil Design Engineer – Flooding & Drainage

Civil Engineering Design
Flood Risk Assessment
Surface Water Management
SuDS Design
Regulatory Compliance
Project Management
Stakeholder Engagement
Team Leadership
Technical Oversight
Problem-Solving Skills
Communication Skills
Construction Knowledge
Environmental Sustainability
Catchment Management

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in civil engineering, particularly in flooding and drainage. Emphasise your leadership skills and any experience managing teams, as this role requires overseeing a group of engineers.

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for sustainability and the environment. Discuss how your background aligns with Thames Water's goals and mention specific projects or experiences that demonstrate your expertise in SuDS and Nature Based Solutions.

Highlight Regulatory Knowledge: Since the role involves ensuring compliance with engineering regulatory requirements, be sure to mention your understanding of the UK drainage and water utility regulations. This will show that you are well-prepared for the responsibilities of the position.

Showcase Stakeholder Engagement Skills: Provide examples of how you've successfully engaged with stakeholders in previous roles. This is crucial for driving results through influence, which is a key aspect of the Principal Civil Design Engineer position.

How to prepare for a job interview at Thames Water Utilities Limited

✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills

As a Principal Civil Design Engineer, you'll be leading a team. Be prepared to discuss your leadership style and provide examples of how you've successfully managed and developed teams in the past.

✨Demonstrate Technical Expertise

Make sure you can talk confidently about your experience with flooding and drainage engineering, particularly in relation to SuDS and Nature Based Solutions. Prepare to discuss specific projects where you've applied your knowledge.

✨Understand Regulatory Compliance

Familiarise yourself with the regulatory environment relevant to the role. Be ready to explain how you've ensured compliance in previous projects and how you would approach this at Thames Water.

✨Engage with Stakeholders

Stakeholder engagement is crucial for this role. Think of examples where you've successfully influenced stakeholders or navigated complex relationships to achieve project goals, and be ready to share these during your interview.

Principal Civil Design Engineer – Flooding & Drainage
Thames Water Utilities Limited
Location: Reading
Go Premium

Land your dream job quicker with Premium

You’re marked as a top applicant with our partner companies
Individual CV and cover letter feedback including tailoring to specific job roles
Be among the first applications for new jobs with our AI application
1:1 support and career advice from our career coaches
Go Premium

Money-back if you don't land a job in 6-months

>