Highways Principal Engineer Wide

Your impact

This isn’t just another engineering role—it’s your chance to shape how the UK moves.

As a Principal Highways Engineer, you’ll lead the design and delivery of major transport projects that connect communities, boost economies, and improve everyday journeys. You’ll drive smarter, safer, more efficient design solutions—while mentoring the next generation of engineers and influencing how we deliver projects at scale.

From national programmes to local schemes that make a real difference, your expertise will directly elevate performance, innovation, and outcomes across our highways capability.

We know great people want more than just a job—so here’s what you can expect:

Real influence – Lead high‑profile projects and shape technical decisions that matter

Variety & impact – Work on everything from local authority schemes to global mega‑projects

Career growth – Opportunities to step into leadership, grow your team, and expand your impact

Flexibility – Balance your work and life in a way that works for you

Innovate & improve – Champion new approaches, automation, and better ways of working

Supportive culture – Collaborate with talented, passionate people across the UK and beyond

Jacobs is a market leader in transport, working with clients like National Highways, Transport Scotland, and the Welsh Government, alongside global contractors. From world‑scale projects like NEOM and King Khalid International Airport to local schemes with councils and transport authorities across the UK, we deliver work that truly makes an impact. Across the North, Midlands, and South‑West, you’ll be part of projects for organisations such as Manchester Airport Group, Birmingham City Council, and the West of England Combined Authority—combining national scale with meaningful local delivery.

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• Attained a relevant professional qualification, for example a degree in engineering /CEng/ IEng or equivalent qualifications
• Technical experience of delivering local and/or major highways projects or the land side alignment elements in adjacent markets such as Water or Aviation.
• Ability to lead small project teams effectively and support their technical development.
• Thorough understanding of commonly used design standards such as Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (DMRB) or international equivalents.
• Sound knowledge of UK Health & Safety legislation and a passion for fostering safety and wellbeing.
• Experience of the financial management and control of projects.

#UK Transportation #LI-DC1

Joining Jacobs not only connects you locally but globally. Our values stand on a foundation of safety, integrity, inclusion and belonging. We put people at the heart of our business, and we truly believe that by supporting one another through our culture of caring, we all succeed. We value positive mental health and a sense of belonging for all employees.

With safety and flexibility always top of mind, we’ve gone beyond traditional ways of working so you have the support, means and space to maximize your potential. You’ll uncover flexible working arrangements, benefits, and opportunities, from well‑being benefits to our global giving and volunteering program, to exploring new and inventive ways to help our clients make the world a better place.

No matter what drives you, you’ll discover how you can cultivate, nurture, and achieve your goals – all at a single global company. Find out more about life at Jacobs .

We aim to embed inclusion and belonging in everything we do. We know that if we are inclusive, we’re more connected and creative. We accept people for who they are, and we champion the richness of different perspectives, lived experiences and backgrounds in the workplace, as a source of learning and innovation. We are committed to building vibrant communities within Jacobs, including through our Jacobs Employee Networks, Communities of Practice and our Find Your Community initiatives, allowing every employee to find connection, purpose, and belonging.

Find out more about our Jacobs Employee Networks here .

Jacobs partners with VERCIDA to help us attract and retain talent from a…