Principal Civil Engineer

Principal Civil Engineer Powering the UK's Energy Transition

As the UK's energy transition accelerates, we're growing our Civil Engineering team in Scotland to support a strong pipeline of renewable energy and critical infrastructure projects.

At Tetra Tech, you'll have the opportunity to work on major schemes including substations, transmission & distribution reinforcement, onshore wind farms, highways, access infrastructure, and wider energy projects that connect renewable energy to homes, businesses, and communities across the UK.

Following several significant project wins and continued investment in our Scottish business, we currently have an opportunity for a Principal Civil Engineer to join our team in Edinburgh or Glasgow.

This is your chance to lead and shape projects that are critical to delivering the UK's net‑zero ambitions. If you are passionate about civil engineering design, sustainability, and developing infrastructure that supports renewable energy generation and transmission, this role offers the opportunity to make a significant impact while advancing your career within a collaborative and forward‑thinking environment.

As a Principal Civil Engineer, you will take responsibility for leading the delivery of complex civil engineering projects from concept through to construction design across the renewable energy, power, and infrastructure sectors.

You will provide technical leadership and strategic input across a range of projects including onshore wind farms, substations, battery energy storage developments, transmission and distribution infrastructure, highways, access tracks, bridges, retaining structures, drainage systems, earthworks, and associated civil engineering works. You will ensure designs are practical, buildable, sustainable, and aligned with both client objectives and industry best practice.

You will oversee the development of concept designs for planning and third‑party consents and approvals, preparation of sustainable drainage proposals, and liaison with statutory consultees such as Local Authorities, SEPA, and EA. Acting as the client's primary point of contact, you will manage design packages, lead multi‑disciplinary coordination, and ensure timely delivery to programme and budget. You will also mentor and guide senior and junior engineers, ensuring technical excellence and adherence to quality assurance processes.

From design concept to construction stage, you will actively manage health, safety, environmental, and sustainability risks, communicate residual risks effectively, and ensure compliance with statutory requirements and guidance. You will play a key role in implementing project management frameworks and supporting work‑winning activities to drive business growth within the renewable energy and infrastructure sectors.

You will be instrumental in delivering the infrastructure required to support the UK's transition to a low‑carbon future.

Success in this role is measured through technical leadership, strategic thinking, and proactive collaboration. In the short term, you will focus on delivering high‑quality civil engineering solutions for renewable energy and infrastructure projects while supporting multidisciplinary project teams. Over time, you will take on greater responsibility for client engagement, business development, and helping shape Tetra Tech's growing presence within Scotland's renewable energy, power, and infrastructure markets.

Through your work, you will directly contribute to projects that strengthen the electricity network, improve connectivity, support sustainable development, and enable renewable energy to reach homes, businesses, and communities across the UK.

At Tetra Tech, we recruit using core capabilities—the essential skills, experience, and responsibilities required to perform the role effectively. But here's the secret: there's no such thing as the perfect candidate. If you feel you meet around 75% of the requirements, we'd love to hear from you.

You will bring extensive experience in…