Principal Civil Design Engineer – WaterLocation: Manchester
Salary: £65,000 – £80,000 per annum
Type: Permanent
The RoleWe are seeking an experienced Principal Civil Design Engineer to provide technical leadership across a portfolio of regulated water industry projects. Based in Manchester, this role carries responsibility for design quality, technical standards, and the delivery of robust civil engineering solutions across both clean water and wastewater schemes.
You will act as a senior technical authority, supporting project teams, mentoring engineers, and ensuring best practice, safety, and consistency in civil design delivery.
Key Responsibilities*Lead and oversee the production of civil design deliverables to ensure compliance with safety, quality, and regulatory requirements
*Approve design deliverables, including calculations, drawings, design risk assessments, reports, and specifications
*Identify efficient and appropriate design solutions through scope review and site visits, and communicate these to clients and project teams
*Direct, mentor, and develop engineers, CAD technicians, and graduates
*Ensure all designs comply with relevant technical, professional, and water company standards
*Manage and record design changes in line with formal processes and procedures
*Ensure all work is undertaken in accordance with established quality management systems
*Estimate design hours and support resource planning activities
*Attend and present designs at ALM, KM, and other technical review meetings
*Review, interpret, and communicate updates to standards and procedures
*Act as Professional Head for the civil discipline and undertake the role of Responsible Engineer / CRE on specific projects
*Provide high-level technical input into projects and tenders and drive continuous improvement in civil design standards
Required Qualifications & Experience*Minimum 10 years’ relevant design experience in the regulated water industry at Senior or Principal level
*Strong experience in carrying out hydraulic calculations and preparing hydraulic profiles
*Degree or HND in Civil Engineering (or equivalent experience)
*Strong IT skills and experience with industry-standard design tools
*Chartered Engineer status
Preferred Qualifications & Experience*Experience delivering both clean water and wastewater projects
*Experience across infrastructure and non-infrastructure schemes
*Proven delivery of outline and detailed design stages
*Good awareness of construction methods, materials, and buildability
*Strong knowledge of engineering drawing practices
*Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle
Key Skills & Competencies*Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills
*Results-focused with strong commercial and technical judgement
*Deep technical expertise in civil engineering
*Proven ability to develop and mentor engineers at all levels
*Strong problem-solving and decision-making capability
What’s On Offer*Competitive salary of £65,000 – £80,000
*Manchester-based senior technical leadership role
*Opportunity to shape technical standards and influence major UK water projects
*Supportive environment with scope for continued professional development
If you are a Principal Civil Engineer looking to take ownership of technical excellence and lead high-performing teams within the water sector, we’d be keen to hear from you