Principal Civil Design Engineer - UK Wide

MWH Treatment Limited; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

MWH Treatment Limited is seeking a Principal Civil Design Engineer to lead and deliver complex civil designs for major UK water and wastewater projects. The role offers technical leadership, design governance, and the opportunity to shape project strategy while mentoring engineers across the business.

You will oversee concept through delivery, ensuring designs are safe, compliant and commercially sound, with strong stakeholder engagement and bid support.

Qualifications

• Degree in Civil Engineering (BEng, MEng or equivalent).
• Significant experience in the UK water and wastewater industry.
• Strong understanding of water and sewage treatment principles.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary engineering design projects.
• Ability to develop practical, efficient and economic engineering solutions.
• Chartered Engineer status desirable or working towards Chartered status.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate the delivery of complex civil engineering designs within the water and wastewater sector.
• Provide technical leadership and guidance across multidisciplinary project teams.
• Develop innovative, practical and risk-balanced engineering solutions.
• Ensure all designs are safe, sustainable, compliant, buildable and cost-effective.
• Produce, review and approve design documentation, calculations, specifications and drawings.
• Support major project bids and contribute to successful project outcomes.
• Act as a technical reviewer and maintain robust engineering governance and quality standards.
• Manage technical delivery from broad project briefs, balancing programme, cost, quality and resource requirements.
• Identify and address technical risks early, ensuring timely resolution.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, stakeholders, contractors and supply chain partners.
• Mentor, coach and develop engineers, helping to strengthen technical capability across the business.
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement, customer focus and engineering excellence.

Education

Degree qualified in Civil Engineering (BEng, MEng or equivalent)

Job description

We arelooking to strengthen our engineering team with a Principal Civil Design Engineer based at a suitable location within the UK, with flexible working available.

Shape the Future of Water Infrastructure

At MWH Treatment, we're looking for a talented Principal Civil Design Engineer to provide technical leadership on some of the UK's most significant water and wastewater infrastructure projects.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced engineering professional to take ownership of complex design solutions, influence project strategy, mentor engineering teams, and help deliver innovative, sustainable and cost-effective outcomes for our clients.

As a recognised technical expert, you will lead the development and assurance of civil engineering designs, support major project bids, and play a key role in maintaining engineering excellence across the business.

The Role

As a Principal Civil Design Engineer, you will provide authoritative technical leadership across a portfolio of projects, ensuring designs are safe, compliant, buildable and commercially sound.

Working closely with Discipline Leads, Chief Engineers, Project Managers, clients, suppliers and construction teams, you will guide projects from initial concept through to delivery while driving quality, innovation and best practice throughout the design process.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Lead and coordinate the delivery of complex civil engineering designs within the water and wastewater sector.
• Provide technical leadership and guidance across multidisciplinary project teams.
• Develop innovative, practical and risk-balanced engineering solutions.
• Ensure all designs are safe, sustainable, compliant, buildable and cost-effective.
• Produce, review and approve design documentation, calculations, specifications and drawings.
• Support major project bids and contribute to successful project outcomes.
• Act as a technical reviewer and maintain robust engineering governance and quality standards.
• Manage technical delivery from broad project briefs, balancing programme, cost, quality and resource requirements.
• Identify and address technical risks early, ensuring timely resolution.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, stakeholders, contractors and supply chain partners.
• Mentor, coach and develop engineers, helping to strengthen technical capability across the business.
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement, customer focus and engineering excellence.

You’ll be an experienced civil engineer with strong technical expertise and a proven track record of leading the design and delivery of complex water sector projects.

Essential

Degree qualified in Civil Engineering (BEng, MEng or equivalent).

Significant experience within the UK water and wastewater industry.

Strong understanding of water and sewage treatment principles and associated civil infrastructure.

Demonstrable experience leading multidisciplinary engineering design projects.

Ability to develop practical, efficient and economic engineering solutions and plant layouts.

Broad understanding of related engineering disciplines including mechanical, electrical, process engineering and project management.

Excellent technical judgement and problem-solving skills.

Strong communication and stakeholder management abilities with confidence presenting technical solutions to clients and project teams.

Proven ability to coordinate multiple workstreams and deliver quality outcomes to programme.

DesirableChartered Engineer (CEng) status.

Experience acting as a design reviewer, approver or technical signatory.

Established network within the UK water sector.

Experience managing or mentoring engineering teams.

Knowledge of relevant UK water industry standards, specifications and regulations.

Why Join MWH Treatment?

• Work on high-profile water and wastewater infrastructure projects across the UK.
• Influence major engineering decisions and technical standards.
• Lead and develop talented engineering teams.
• Be part of a collaborative business committed to innovation, sustainability and engineering excellence.
• Enjoy genuine opportunities for professional growth and career progression.

If you're an experienced Civil Design Engineer looking to step into a key technical leadership role and make a lasting impact on critical UK infrastructure, we'd love to hear from you