Principal Civil Engineer - Water

Position: Principal Civil Engineer - Water (Permanent)
Principal Civil Design Engineer – Water

Location:

Manchester

A leading engineering design consultancy is seeking a Principal Civil Design Engineer to take technical ownership of major water-sector design packages. The role provides the opportunity to lead the development of high-quality civil engineering solutions across complex clean water, wastewater, and infrastructure projects. Hybrid working is available with occasional site visits.

About the Role
The Principal Civil Design Engineer will oversee civil engineering design packages, ensuring deliverables meet safety, quality, integration, and programme expectations. You will manage engineers and CAD technicians, approve design outputs, and provide technical leadership across multiple projects.

Key Responsibilities

Ensure the design team produces deliverables that satisfy safety and quality requirements.

Approve DRAs, design deliverables, reports, and specifications.

Identify efficient design solutions from scopes and site visits and communicate these clearly.

Direct and develop engineers, CAD technicians, and graduates.

Guide design in compliance with technical, professional, and water company standards.

Ensure project change for design packages is fully implemented and recorded.

Oversee work undertaken within formal processes and procedures.

Estimate hours required for design packages and support programme planning.

Attend and present designs at project meetings.

Review, interpret, and brief standards, procedures, and updates.

Act as Professional Head for the discipline or Responsible Engineer where required.

Provide technical guidance for projects and tenders and support continuous improvement initiatives.

Required Qualifications & Experience

Minimum 10 years’ civil design experience in the regulated water industry at senior or principal level.

Experience delivering hydraulic calculations and profiles.

Graduate or HND in a relevant engineering discipline.

Chartered Engineer.

Good IT proficiency.

Experience across clean water, wastewater, infra, and non-infra designs.

Experience in outline and detailed design.

Awareness of construction methods and materials.

Knowledge of engineering drawing practices.

Full driving licence and access to a vehicle.

Key Skills

Strong technical capability, communication, problem solving, results focus, technical leadership, and ability to develop self and others