Senior Reservoir Engineer

Job Summary

This full-time post as a Senior Reservoir Engineer, based in Reading, offers a competitive salary of £50,000 to £65,000 per annum, dependent on skills and experience. The successful candidate joins Thames Water's Reservoir Safety Team, overseeing safety, integrity and statutory compliance across one of the UK's largest portfolios of impounding reservoirs and water storage assets. Duties include supervising risk-based investment choices, supporting long-term planning and upholding high standards of resilience.

Applicants should hold proven reservoir safety expertise, strong analytical abilities and knowledge of relevant legislation. The position provides significant influence over critical infrastructure and asset management strategy.

Are you an experienced reservoir safety professional seeking the opportunity to work across a diverse portfolio of reservoirs, influence risk-based investment decisions and help deliver the highest standards of reservoir safety and resilience? Join Thames Water's growing Reservoir Safety Team as a Senior Reservoir Engineer and take on a high-impact role focused on the safety, integrity and statutory compliance of reservoirs and associated assets across the business.

This is a rare opportunity for an experienced reservoir safety professional to play a leading role in the management of one of the UK's largest and most diverse portfolios of statutory reservoirs and water storage assets, helping to safeguard critical infrastructure, influence long-term investment decisions and shape the future of reservoir safety.

Reporting to the Reservoir Safety Manager, you'll support Thames Water in meeting its obligations under the Reservoirs Act 1975, carrying out inspections, technical assessments and engineering assurance across a diverse reservoir portfolio. You'll provide expert technical leadership, advise stakeholders across the business and support the safe operation of essential infrastructure that serves millions of customers.

• Lead inspections and condition assessments of raw water reservoirs, service reservoirs, and associated infrastructure.
• Support statutory undertaker duties, including Section 10 and Section 12 inspections and the delivery of statutory recommendations.
• Identify, assess and manage reservoir safety risks and deterioration mechanisms that could affect compliance, resilience or public safety.
• Produce clear technical reports, recommendations and engineering guidance that support operational priorities and long-term investment decisions.
• Provide technical reservoir safety advice to the Reservoir Safety Manager and stakeholders across Operations, Engineering and Asset Management.
• Review designs, drawings, technical reports and submissions, providing engineering assurance and constructive technical challenge.
• Work closely with Operations, Engineering teams, regulators, consultants and contractors to ensure reservoir safety and compliance requirements are met.
• Drive continuous improvement in reservoir safety practice, asset management and governance across Thames Water.

This is a hybrid role, with a mix of home, office and site-based working. You'll travel regularly across the Thames Water region to inspect assets, visit operational sites and collaborate with site-based teams. Your base office will be within the Thames Water catchment area. A full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle are essential, as regular travel is required for site inspections, operational visits and asset assessments.

We're looking for a technically strong, safety-focused reservoir engineering professional who can combine sound judgement with clear communication and confident stakeholder engagement.

• A degree in Civil Engineering, or an equivalent reservoir or dam-related discipline.
• Supervising Panel Engineer status under the Reservoirs Act 1975, or strong progress towards panel application.
• Proven experience in reservoir engineering, inspections, civil asset management or dam safety.
• Experience inspecting civil engineering structures and producing high-quality technical reports, recommendations and assurance outputs.
• A sound understanding of reservoir safety legislation, compliance requirements, risk management and industry best practice.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to assess technical risk and recommend practical engineering solutions.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills,…