Principal Structural Engineer

Lead Structural Engineering on Critical National Infrastructure

At Baker Hicks, our Structural Engineers help deliver some of the UK’s most complex and critical infrastructure projects across defence, power, and life sciences sectors.

We are looking for an experienced senior Structural Engineer to lead the delivery of high-value, technically complex projects that support national resilience, energy security, and future infrastructure needs.

Reporting to the Associate Director or Associate Engineer, you will lead large structural engineering project teams, or oversee multiple smaller teams, ensuring the successful delivery of high-quality structural solutions. This role requires strong technical leadership, commercial awareness, and project management capability to deliver projects safely, on time, within budget, and to the highest quality standards.

This is an opportunity to work in highly regulated environments where technical excellence, innovation, and collaboration are essential.

• Lead project teams to deliver structural designs aligned to cost, programme, quality, and safety requirements
• Provide technical leadership and ensure teams have the capability and resources to deliver successfully
• Oversee structural design for complex buildings, foundations, and multidisciplinary engineering projects
• Ensure compliance with business quality systems, governance processes, and technical standards
• Build strong relationships with clients, stakeholders, and multidisciplinary teams
• Support continuous improvement and strategic business initiatives

• Chartered Civil / Structural Engineer (CEng MICE / MIStructE) with strong post-chartership experience
• Extensive experience leading complex structural engineering projects
• Strong technical knowledge of structural design methods, codes, and standards
• Proven ability to lead, manage, and mentor multidisciplinary engineering teams
• Significant experience in foundation design and structural engineering principles
• Strong leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills
• Good understanding of CDM regulations and health and safety requirements
• Security Clearance (SC) or eligibility to obtain clearance
• Full, clean UK driving licence
• Experience delivering projects within defence, power, public sector, highways, or complex industrial environments
• Knowledge of seismic design, ground improvement techniques, and advanced structural analysis
• Familiarity with technical assurance processes and regulatory compliance in highly regulated sectors

• Work on projects that support critical national infrastructure across defence, and power as well as other sectors
• Join a collaborative multidisciplinary team with deep technical expertise
• Access excellent professional development and clear career progression opportunities
• Competitive salary, comprehensive benefits package, and flexible hybrid working

Many of the positions within our company are subject to security clearance or security assurance levels.

The successful candidate must be able to obtain and maintain the appropriate level of security clearance or assurance level for this role, in line with client and sector requirements.

In some cases, additional nationality or residency criteria may also apply due to specific client or national security obligations.

Further information on National security clearance levels can be found on the UK Government website:
National security vetting: clearance levels -

• Company car or cash allowance
• Up to 6% matched contributory pension plan
• 25 days annual leave plus ability to buy additional leave
• Discount scheme (including gym membership, mobile phones etc)
• Family friendly policies
• Employee assistance

Baker Hicks is an equal opportunity employer. We care about creating an inclusive atmosphere and are committed to promoting diversity and inclusion throughout.

Baker Hicks is an inclusive organisation welcoming talent from all backgrounds. Applicants are assessed on the basis of personal merit and qualifications.