Principal Civil Engineer

• Proficiency level English (C1 level).

Mott Mac Donald Bentley are recruiting for a Project Design Manager to join our office in Madrid, Barcelona or Seville and support our work with the @one Alliance as part of a remote design and build team.

As part of Anglian Water’s @one Alliance, we are on a mission to create a sustainable and resilient future for water. With an ambitious £2.3 billion capital investment in AMP8, we are revolutionising infrastructure, sustainability, and digital transformation to protect the environment and support growing communities.

As a Project Design Manager, you’ll take technical ownership of major infrastructure projects from initial feasibility through to detailed design and handover. You’ll coordinate design delivery across multi-disciplinary teams, ensuring designs are practical, sustainable, and aligned with cost, time, and quality expectations. These projects make a real difference to the community.

You’ll act as a key point of contact across the project lifecycle, working closely with project leaders, engineers, construction teams, and external stakeholders to ensure seamless delivery. It’s a hands‑on, highly collaborative role that puts you at the centre of some of the most important infrastructure work happening in the region.

• Leading the design process on major capital projects, from early concept through to detailed technical development and design assurance.
• Ensuring design outputs are fully integrated, meeting the operational, commercial, and environmental objectives of the wider project.
• Acting as Principal Designer under CDM regulations, managing design risk and ensuring that safety is considered at every stage.
• Driving digital design excellence, supporting the use of BIM and 3D modelling to improve coordination, data integration, and project outcomes.
• Challenging and improving technical standards, encouraging innovation and the use of repeatable, low-carbon, and cost-effective solutions.
• Liaising with project leaders and delivery teams to plan and allocate design resources effectively, ensuring all technical aspects remain on track.
• Building strong working relationships with internal and external stakeholders, ensuring that designs reflect the needs of operators, contractors, regulators, and the community.
• Championing best practice across quality, health and safety, and performance – both within your own team and the wider Alliance.
• Mentoring junior engineers and designers, creating a positive learning culture and helping others grow their skills and confidence.
• Driving collaboration across disciplines, promoting a one-team mindset and helping to unlock value at every stage of the design process.

• A degree in civil engineering or a related discipline.
• Proven experience in a design or engineering leadership role within complex infrastructure or water-related projects, ideally experience of the UK water sector.
• A working knowledge of CDM 2015 regulations, with prior experience acting as Principal Designer or managing design risk.
• A strong understanding of project delivery in a multi-disciplinary environment.
• Experience with digital design tools, BIM workflows, and integrated design processes.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills – able to influence, lead, and work collaboratively at all levels.
• A proactive, solution-focused mindset with a commitment to quality and continuous improvement.
• Proficiency level English (C1 level).
• Available to work periodically in UK as required.

We are actively recruiting a diverse workforce that is reflective of the communities we serve. We recognise that differences in ability, skills and experience are a strength and encourage…