Highways Principal Engineer (UK Wide)

Jacobs; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Jacobs is growing its UK highways capability and is looking for experienced Highways professionals at Principal Engineer grade. You will lead the delivery of safe, practical and commercially sound highways design solutions for clients across the UK and potentially international projects.

You will guide design teams, solve technical challenges and mentor engineers, strengthening team capability and shaping the future growth of Jacobs’ highways & civils capability across the UK and beyond.

Qualifications

• Experience in managing engineering design solutions in transportation.
• Delivery of local and/or major highways projects or land side elements in adjacent markets.
• Thorough understanding of DMRB or international design standards.
• Sound knowledge of UK health & safety legislation and safety culture.
• Ability to work independently within a global multi-disciplinary team.
• Experience with project financial management and control.
• Professional qualification (e.g., engineering degree / CEng / IEng) or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Lead the delivery of safe, practical highways design solutions for clients.
• Guide design teams, solve technical challenges, and ensure quality, programme and budget commitments.
• Mentor engineers and support their development within Jacobs’ highways & civils capability.
• Collaborate with UK and international specialists to improve design processes.

Skills

Design management

Highways delivery

DMRB standards

UK health & safety

Independent work

Project finance

Professional qualification

Education

Engineering degree / CEng / IEng

Job description

At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting-edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good.

Your impact

Your technical judgement will directly influence how complex highways projects are designed, delivered and improved.

You will help project teams solve difficult design challenges, make sound decisions on safety and build solutions that work for clients, communities and road users. Your experience will also strengthen the engineers around you, giving less experienced colleagues access to credible technical leadership and practical mentoring.

This is an opportunity to shape more than an individual project. You will have the influence to improve design quality, introduce smarter and more efficient ways of working, and connect expertise from across the UK and international teams.

Whether your ambition is to become a recognised technical specialist or develop as a people leader, you will be able to build a career around your strengths.

About The Opportunity

Jacobs is growing its UK highways capability and is looking for experienced Highways professionals at Principal Engineer grade.

You will lead the delivery of safe, practical and commercially sound highways design solutions for clients including National Highways, Transport Scotland, the Welsh Government, local authorities and major contractors. Depending on your experience and location, you could contribute to major transport programmes, local infrastructure improvements or complex projects across aviation and water.

You will guide design teams, solve technical challenges and help projects meet quality, programme and budget commitments. You will also mentor engineers, support their development, improve design processes through automation and collaborate with specialists across the UK and internationally.

This is an opportunity to build your technical and leadership profile while influencing how projects are delivered, strengthening team capability and helping shape the future growth of Jacobs’ highways & civils capability.

Here's what you'll need

• Experience in managing engineering design solutions in transportation.
• Technical experience of delivering local and/or major highways projects or the land side alignment elements in adjacent markets such as Water or Aviation.
• Thorough understanding of commonly used design standards such as DMRB or international equivalents.
• Sound knowledge of UK H&S legislation and a passion for fostering safety and wellbeing.
• Ability to work independently and effectively within a global multi-disciplinary team.
• Experience of the financial management and control of projects.
• Attained a relevant professional qualification, for example a degree in engineering /CEng/ IEng or equivalent qualifications or work experience.

#UKTransportation

Joining Jacobs not only connects you locally but globally. Our values stand on a foundation of safety, integrity, inclusion and belonging. We put people at the heart of our business, and we truly believe that by supporting one another through our culture of caring, we all succeed. We value positive mental health and a sense of belonging for all employees.

With safety and flexibility always top of mind, we’ve gone beyond traditional ways of working so you have the support, means and space to maximize your potential. You’ll uncover flexible working arrangements, benefits, and opportunities, from well‑being benefits to our global giving and volunteering program, to exploring new and inventive ways to help our clients make the world a better place. No matter what drives you, you’ll discover how you can cultivate, nurture, and achieve your goals – all at a single global company. Find out more about life at Jacobs.

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As a disability confident employer, we will interview disabled candidates who best meet the criteria. We welcome applications from candidates who are seeking flexible working and from those who may not meet all the listed requirements for a role.

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