At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead structural design and governance for overhead line and substation structures.
- Company: Join United Infrastructure, a rapidly expanding business in critical infrastructure projects.
- Benefits: Enjoy a senior-level salary, hybrid working, and 25 days annual leave.
- Other info: Structured mentoring and career growth opportunities await you.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on innovative infrastructure solutions while developing your engineering skills.
- Qualifications: Chartered Engineer with 10+ years in structural engineering and leadership experience.
The predicted salary is between 40500 - 49500 £ per year.
United Infrastructure is a dynamic and rapidly expanding business, focused on delivering critical infrastructure projects across the utility and social infrastructure sectors. Our team of highly skilled and hardworking specialists deliver innovative solutions to the complex challenges our clients face.
Our company is split into two business areas:
- Utility Infrastructure – Our team of Utility Infrastructure specialists design, build and maintain critical water, energy (gas), power and telecoms infrastructure for the UK’s largest network owners and operators.
- Social Infrastructure - Our team of Social Infrastructure specialists revitalise homes and communities by carrying out a wide range of work, from retrofit to refurbishment, and maintenance.
Equal Opportunities Statement - At United Infrastructure, we are committed to making every interaction a positive and inclusive experience. If there is anything we can do to support you, remove barriers, or make the process more accessible, please let us know — we want this to be the best possible experience for you.
Role Overview: UIPTD is seeking a Principal Structural Engineer to lead structural design and technical governance across our overhead line and substation structures portfolio, supporting EPC delivery for SSE, SPEN, NGED, and National Grid. The successful candidate will work closely alongside the incumbent team during a structured handover period to absorb corporate knowledge and technical authority.
Key Responsibilities:
- Technical Leadership & Governance
- Act as the senior structural design authority for OHL lattice tower, wood pole, and steel pole structures across UIPTD's EPC portfolio.
- Provide structural design authority for substation equipment support structures — gantries, busbar supports, plant support steelwork, cable sealing end structures.
- Lead complex or non-standard structural assessments, including heritage/legacy tower types, uprating studies, and load reassessment for line refurbishment or reconductoring schemes.
- Review and approve structural calculations and reports produced by senior and intermediate engineers within the team.
- Set and maintain UIPTD's structural design standards, procedures, and calculation templates for OHL and substation structures.
- Provide technical sign-off on structural elements of tender and PQQ submissions for OHL and substation framework contracts.
- Represent UIPTD at client technical governance meetings on structural matters (SSE, SPEN, NGED, National Grid).
- OHL Structural Design
- Structural analysis and design of lattice towers, wood pole (single, H-pole, trident) and steel pole structures.
- Tower/pole capacity studies for reconductoring, uprating, and line diversion schemes — assessing existing structures against revised loading.
- Review of PLS-CADD / PLS-POLE structural outputs and integration with the wider OHL design process.
- Structural input to feasibility studies and options assessments for new-build and refurbishment OHL schemes.
- Substation Structures
- Structural design of substation gantries, busbar support structures, plant support steelwork, and cable sealing end structures.
- Structural assessment of existing substation structures for plant replacement or uprating schemes.
- Coordination with electrical and civil disciplines on substation structural interfaces.
- Mentoring, Succession & Team Development
- Work directly alongside incumbent senior structural engineers during a structured handover period, to capture corporate knowledge, historic design precedent, and client-specific practice.
- Mentor and technically supervise Senior and Intermediate Structural Engineers within the team.
- Support recruitment, onboarding, and development of the wider structural engineering function.
- Champion structural engineering competency development across the OHL and substation design team.
- Quality, Safety & CDM
- Ensure all structural design outputs comply with technical specifications and client-specific standards.
- Author and review Designers Risk Assessments and structural design intent documentation under CDM 2015.
- Contribute to Temporary Works design and checking where structural expertise is required (tower propping, guying, temporary support systems).
- Champion safe-by-design principles across all structural outputs.
Requirements:
- Essential: Degree in Structural, Civil, or Mechanical Engineering (or equivalent); Chartered Engineer (CEng) with IStructE, ICE, or equivalent professional body.
- Minimum 10 years structural engineering experience, with demonstrable experience of slender, guyed, or dynamically-loaded structures (lattice towers, masts, poles, or similar).
- Strong working knowledge of structural steel design and structural analysis principles applicable to lattice and pole structures.
- Experience of foundation design principles for structures subject to overturning, uplift, and lateral loading.
- Demonstrated ability to lead technically complex structural assessments and provide design authority sign-off.
- Strong mentoring and team leadership capability, with experience developing less experienced engineers.
- Full UK driving licence.
Desirable:
- Direct experience of OHL lattice tower, wood pole, or steel pole structural design.
- Experience of PLS-CADD / PLS-POLE or equivalent OHL structural analysis software.
- Experience of substation structural design (gantries, plant support steelwork).
- Experience of structural design in adjacent disciplines — telecoms masts, transmission towers, bridges, or other wind/dynamically-sensitive structures — where transferable to OHL.
- Experience of tower/pole capacity assessment for reconductoring or uprating schemes.
- Experience of SSE, SPEN, NGED, or National Grid framework delivery.
- CDM 2015 Principal Designer or Designer experience.
What UIPTD Offers:
- Senior-level salary package commensurate with experience.
- Hybrid working arrangement — Horsham preferred, Glasgow or Warrington considered.
- A genuinely succession-critical role with direct handover from long-standing incumbent technical authorities.
- Structured mentoring into OHL-specific structural practice for candidates from adjacent disciplines.
- Chartership support and CPD funding.
- Company pension scheme.
- 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays.
Join us at United Infrastructure and be part of our mission to deliver innovative and sustainable solutions to the complex infrastructure needs of the UK.
Principal Structural Engineer in Horsham employer: United Infrastructure
United Infrastructure is an excellent employer, offering a supportive work culture where Smart Meter Technicians can thrive in their roles across the Northumbrian Water region. With a focus on employee growth, the company provides comprehensive benefits such as a bike to work scheme, a company pension, and private medical insurance, ensuring that team members feel valued and secure in their positions.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Structural Engineer in Horsham
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We think you need these skills to ace Principal Structural Engineer in Horsham
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Technical Expertise:When applying for an engineering role like Principal Structural Engineer, it’s essential to highlight your technical skills. Include any relevant software or tools you're proficient in on your CV—think CAD software, simulation tools, or programming languages. Don't skimp on any engineering projects you've worked on that demonstrate your ability to solve complex problems.
Focus on Results and Impact:In the engineering world, we love numbers and real-world impact. Quantify your achievements wherever possible—like reducing costs by a certain percentage, improving efficiency, or successfully completing a project ahead of schedule. This gives your future employers at United Infrastructure a clear picture of the value you can bring.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Use your cover letter to express your passion for engineering and explain why you’re drawn to United Infrastructure specifically. Share what aspects of their work excite you and how your values align with theirs. This is your chance to show a bit of personality while keeping it professional!
Include Relevant Certifications:If you have any engineering certifications, especially ones that are recognised in your field, make sure to feature them prominently on your CV. They demonstrate not just your knowledge, but also your commitment to professional development, which is something we at StudySmarter value highly.
How to prepare for a job interview at United Infrastructure
✨Brush Up on Core Engineering Principles
Before heading into the interview with United Infrastructure, make sure you're solid on the fundamental engineering principles relevant to the role. Be ready to discuss concepts such as thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, or structural analysis, depending on the specifics mentioned in the job description. Don’t skip any hands-on projects or coursework; these can be excellent talking points!
✨Show Off Your Problem-Solving Skills
Expect technical questions or case studies during your interview—after all, engineering is all about solving problems! Prepare a few examples of how you've tackled engineering challenges in the past, whether at university or in any practical experience. Practising with mock technical interviews can really help you articulate your thought process and solutions.
✨Relate Your Experience to the Role
In a full-time role, employers like United Infrastructure want to see that you can adapt and grow within their team. Be ready to discuss how your previous internships, projects, or studies relate directly to the work you'll be doing. Highlight specific experiences that showcase your collaborative skills and how you've successfully worked within a team environment.
✨Know Your Tools and Software
Most engineering roles require familiarity with specific tools and software. Prepare to talk about your proficiency with programmes like AutoCAD, MATLAB, or SolidWorks if they’re relevant to the role. Even better, have examples of projects where you’ve used these tools, as it'll demonstrate your hands-on experience and readiness for the job.
