Principal Civil Engineer

Calibre Search; Cambridgeshire and Peterborough; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading engineering consultancy is seeking a Principal Civil Engineer in Peterborough. The role involves leadership, project governance, and engagement with stakeholders to deliver innovative infrastructure solutions. You will mentor a team while ensuring compliance with safety standards and championing sustainable practices. Flexible working arrangements are emphasized, allowing you to balance professional and personal commitments.

Benefits

Flexible working hours

Opportunities for professional development

Qualifications

• Experience in leading multi-disciplinary teams in Civil Engineering projects.
• Strong background in governance and compliance with safety standards.
• Ability to mentor and develop junior engineers.

Responsibilities

• Lead and deliver solutions to meet environmental and infrastructure challenges.
• Oversee project lifecycle from feasibility studies to construction oversight.
• Engage stakeholders and represent projects at meetings.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Stakeholder engagement

Technical design

Education

Degree in Civil Engineering or related field

Job description

Overview

Principal Civil Engineer - Peterborough (with flexible working)

This is an opportunity to take your career to senior leadership level, guiding projects that respond to some of the biggest environmental and infrastructure challenges of our time. As a Principal Civil Engineer, you'll be trusted to shape and deliver solutions that protect communities from flood risk, safeguard vital assets and help the environment adapt to the realities of climate change.

Responsibilities

The role is about more than technical delivery—it's about leadership, influence and impact. You'll provide governance and accountability across every stage of the project life cycle, from early options appraisal and feasibility studies through to detailed design and construction oversight. You’ll take responsibility for leading multi-disciplinary teams, co-ordinating hydrologists, environmental scientists, modellers and construction specialists to achieve results that are technically robust, sustainable and practical to deliver. You’ll oversee contracts and budgets, ensure compliance with safety in design and CDM responsibilities, and set the benchmark for design quality and innovation across projects.

Your influence will extend beyond design. You’ll be a mentor and role model to engineers at every stage of their career, helping to develop skills and confidence across the team. You’ll play a central role in engaging stakeholders—working with regulators, local authorities, utilities, developers and major contractors, and representing projects with clarity and authority at client meetings and public consultations. You’ll also contribute to winning new work, bringing insight to bids, shaping proposals and helping secure the next generation of projects.

Innovation and sustainability will sit at the heart of your role. You’ll help embed new tools for digital delivery, champion data-led design, and explore how low-carbon and nature-positive solutions can be applied to create long-term resilience. Every project is an opportunity to combine technical excellence with creativity, ensuring the work makes a genuine difference to people's lives and to the environment.

People, Culture and Flexibility

Alongside the technical challenge and professional influence, you'll find an environment that values balance. There's no rigid nine-to-five, no insistence on a five-day week, and no expectation that you're always in the office. Instead, the focus is on outcomes, collaboration and trust—giving you the flexibility to shape a working pattern that fits your life while delivering at the highest level.

Next steps

This is more than a Principal role in Civil Engineering. It's a platform to lead, to inspire and to redefine how communities across the UK prepare for the future.

If this feels like the step you've been waiting for, contact Sam Smith at Calibre Search for more information, or click apply.

Equality and Inclusion

Calibre Search promote equality in the workplace and we welcome applications from all suitably skilled or qualified candidates regardless of their sex, race, disability, religion/beliefs, sexual orientation or age. We act as both an employment agency and employment business.