Principal Engineer

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Company Name:
Kier

We're looking for a Principal Engineer to join our Design team based in Waterbeach. Our 100-strong Construction Engineering capability brings together a team of talented civil, structural, and geotechnical engineers from a range of backgrounds, combining complex analysis, spatial design, and an eye for the practical to deliver buildable solutions on site. Kier Design is a top‑25 engineering consultancy, delivering a wide range of services across all sectors of the built environment, including construction-focused, innovative, and sustainable solutions.

We have preferential access to Kier’s £11bn+ project pipeline, including mega projects like High Speed 2 and Hinkley Point C, frameworks with national and local government, and a range of other projects across the sector.

Location:

Waterbeach, South Cambridgeshire

Hours:

40 hours per week – some flexibility on hours available if desired.

Your day‑to‑day responsibilities include:

• Agreeing on the technical requirements of the client remit, ensuring it is fully understood.
• Questioning and challenging where necessary.
• Leading the development of fee proposals for review in accordance with delegated authority policy.
• Organising and leading the day‑to‑day workload of engineers and technical staff within the design team.
• Ensuring technical compliance of the design to the remit and compliance with applicable legal requirements and company policies / procedures, including CDM Regulations, the Kier SHE Management System (SHEMS), and the design Quality Management System (QMS).
• Overseeing and contributing to the production of design deliverables, including calculations, drawings, reports and design risk assessments.
• Identifying and assessing technical opportunities for value engineering and implementing them with suitable approval.
• Developing and building a positive relationship with client, design, and site teams to support fulfilment of contractual obligations and exceed Kier Design and client expectations.
• Leading the team at project and progress meetings with clients, from remit development through to lessons learned.
• Managing the financial and commercial aspects of the project with support from the Engineering Manager and Commercial Manager, monitoring progress against programme and budget commitments.
• Providing leadership to direct and indirect reports, supporting the Engineering Manager and Head of Construction Engineering, and conducting staff inductions and performance reviews.
• Managing team workload, maximising personal utilisation and project efficiency, ensuring timely completion and submission of timesheets, reviewing timesheets, and approving time‑off for direct reports.
• Recognising, promoting, encouraging, and contributing to best practice within Kier Design.
• Developing a culture of excellence and acting as an ambassador for Kier Design at all times.
• Applying the social, cultural, global, and environmental responsibilities of the professional engineer, ensuring sustainable development, staying abreast of health & safety, innovation, sustainability, diversity developments, and implementing them as appropriate.
• Maintaining continuing professional development, improving skills in management and/or a design/technical/speciality area, and maintaining membership of a professional body.
• Developing digital competency in line with the Kier Design Digital Competency Framework, identifying current level and actively seeking to reach the next level.
• Encouraging and assisting in the development of all staff within Kier Design, maintaining relationships with peers, and promoting the engineering profession.
• Taking on a supervisory Civil Engineer or equivalent role, developing and reviewing engineering methods and software, including design or assessment spreadsheets or calculation templates for use within Kier Design to increase overall quality and efficiency.
• Marketing Kier Design competencies to generate new or repeat business whenever possible.

• Chartered…