Chief Engineer - (Principal Engineer)

Laing O'Rourke; Dartford; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Laing O'Rourke is seeking a Principal Engineer to provide senior technical leadership across the manufacturing engineering function for reinforcement programmes. You will set direction, ensure standards, and govern interfaces with design teams and stakeholders, shaping manufacturing strategy and capability development in a live delivery environment.

You will lead governance activities, drive process improvements, and mentor engineers while coordinating across multidisciplinary teams to deliver

Qualifications

• Substantial engineering leadership experience in senior roles (chief/lead/engineering manager or equivalent).
• Experience leading engineering functions on major civil, nuclear or infrastructure programmes.
• Expertise in reinforcement engineering: rebar detailing, modelling, assembly and preassembly processes.
• Experience managing and resolving complex technical interfaces with client and third-party design organisations.
• Ability to develop and implement engineering governance frameworks in live delivery environments.
• Leadership and people management skills to develop teams and drive high performance.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills for presenting complex technical information.

Responsibilities

• Lead engineering governance activities, including reviews, audits and assurance.
• Allocate resources and manage workload across programme packages.
• Be the primary technical contact for clients, detailers and stakeholders.
• Ensure compliance with codes, standards and client requirements.
• Develop and improve engineering processes, procedures and controls.
• Oversee rebar detailing, models and manufacturing concepts to support buildability.
• Establish document controls, design reviews and change management processes.
• Mentor engineers to build capability within the team.
• Contribute to business case development and manufacturing strategy.

Skills

Leadership

Governance

Stakeholder management

Communication

People management

Education

Chartered Engineer status

Tools

Model-based engineering tools

Job description

Principal Engineer

Location: Sherwood, other locations considered (Dartford, Worksop).

An incredible opportunity has arisen to be part of something special at Laing O'Rourke. As a leader in technology and innovation, Laing O'Rourke creates advanced manufacturing solutions for rebar being utilised on-site.

Who would this role suite?

A senior engineering professional with technical leadership experience, who is confident operating in complex programmes and leading governance across multidisciplinary teams. Being the most senior engineer for technical queries.

What does the Strategic Programmes Manufacturing team do in technology & innovation of Rebar?

The mission is clear. To industrialise civil engineering through automation, robotics and industry principles. Unlocking productivity and transforming how major infrastructure is delivered.

They own the full reinforcement ecosystem. This includes cutting, bending, pre-assembly and installation. This is done by utilising the latest digital techniques and automated manufacturing facility here in the UK.

What does a Principal Engineer do in the manufacturing team?

A Principal Engineer provides senior technical leadership across the engineering function, setting direction, maintaining standards and ensuring teams are structured for successful delivery. They act as the key technical interface with client design teams and external stakeholders, ensuring all engineering outputs meet required codes, standards and specifications. The role is central to establishing governance frameworks, improving processes and driving technical assurance across the programme, while also shaping manufacturing strategy and supporting the development of engineering capability within the team.

What Else To Expect

• Leading engineering governance, including reviews, audits and technical assurance activities
• Managing engineering resource allocation and workload across programme packages
• Acting as the primary technical point of contact for clients, detailers and stakeholders
• Ensuring compliance with all relevant codes, standards and client requirements
• Developing and improving engineering processes, procedures and controls
• Overseeing rebar detailing, models and manufacturing concepts to ensure buildability
• Establishing document control, design review cycles and change management processes
• Mentoring and developing engineers to build capability across the team
• Contributing to business case development and manufacturing strategy
• Representing engineering in senior programme and leadership forums

Essential Experience

• Substantial engineering experience as a chief engineer, lead engineer, engineering manager, principal engineer or similar engineering leadership position
• Experience of leading engineering functions on major civil engineering, nuclear or infrastructure programmes
• Expertise in reinforcement engineering, including rebar detailing, modelling, assembly and preassembly processes
• Experience managing and resolving complex technical interfaces with client and third‑party design organisations
• Demonstrable ability to develop and implement engineering governance frameworks in a live delivery environment
• Leadership and people management skills, with the ability to develop teams and drive high performance
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex technical information clearly

Desirable Experience

• Chartered Engineer status (or working towards), e.g. CEng via ICE, IStructE or equivalent
• Experience with digital engineering tools and model‑based engineering approaches
• Experience working in nuclear or safety‑critical environments, with strong understanding of quality and compliance requirements

About Laing O'Rourke

Laing O'Rourke is an international engineering and construction business known for pushing boundaries in digital engineering, modern methods of construction and sustainable delivery. With more than 150 years of heritage, we are committed to creating environments in which diverse teams can excel and thrive.

Accessibility & Inclusion

We are proud to be part of the Disability Confident scheme. If you meet the essential criteria and would like to be considered through our Offer an Interview scheme, please let us know. We're also happy to provide reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process.