Principal Civil Engineer - Infrastructure

GHD; Newcastle upon Tyne; Hybrid; GBP 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work arrangement

Competitive salary and benefits

Job summary

GHD is seeking a Principal Civil Engineer to lead planning, design, and delivery of infrastructure projects from our Leeds or Newcastle offices with a hybrid work model requiring 3 days in the office.

You will oversee bid preparation, client relations, and project management while ensuring compliance with design standards and regulatory guidance. The role emphasizes technical excellence and leadership across challenging highway and drainage projects.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in Civil Engineering; chartered or approaching chartered status.
• 6–10 years of civil engineering experience, including supervising juniors for 7–12 months, highway/infrastructure design, and drainage design.
• Advanced expertise in design, development, testing, and compliance; experience with Highways England/DMRB, Water UK Sewerage, and local authority design guidance; strong software knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Develop innovative engineering solutions aligned with briefs and regulatory standards.
• Prepare quality bid submissions, manage client relationships, and lead project management.
• Draft and evaluate engineering standards and specifications.
• Deliver small to medium-scale projects within established plans.
• Define and improve processes, equipment, and systems to optimize cost and quality.
• Manage relationships with service providers and contract deliverables.
• Deliver solutions that meet customer needs using best-in-class approaches.
• Utilize established systems to share and apply engineering knowledge.
• Maintain professional accreditation and stay updated on industry best practices.
• Conduct inspections and recommend remedial actions for compliance.
• Identify and implement process improvements.
• Build strong relationships with clients and support senior colleagues with key accounts.
• Manage internal and external stakeholders with strong people skills.

Skills

Decision quality

Managing complexity

Accountability

Process optimisation

Effective communication

Planning & alignment

Interpersonal skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering

Chartered or approaching chartered status

Tools

Civils 3D

Infodrainage

Job description

Principal Civil Engineer - Infrastructure

Location: Leeds or Newcastle Office – Hybrid role: 3 days per week in office.

Overview: We are seeking an experienced Principal Civil Engineer to lead the planning, design, and delivery of a range of infrastructure projects. This client‑facing role involves preparing quality bids and managing client relations from outset through delivery and close‑out.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop innovative engineering solutions aligned with design briefs and regulatory standards.
• Prepare quality bid submissions, manage client relationships, and lead project management.
• Draft and evaluate engineering standards and specifications.
• Deliver small to medium‑scale projects within established plans.
• Define and improve processes, equipment, and systems to optimize cost and quality.
• Manage relationships with service providers and contract deliverables.
• Deliver solutions that meet customer needs using best‑in‑class approaches.
• Utilize established systems to share and apply engineering knowledge.
• Maintain professional accreditation and stay updated on industry best practices.
• Conduct inspections and recommend remedial actions for compliance.
• Identify and implement process improvements.
• Build strong relationships with clients and support senior colleagues with key accounts.
• Manage internal and external stakeholders with strong people skills.

What we’re looking for

• Education: Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in Civil Engineering or related discipline; chartered or approaching chartered status.
• Experience: 6–10 years of civil engineering experience, including supervision of junior engineers for at least 7–12 months, highway/infrastructure design, and highway/infrastructure drainage design.
• Technical Skills: Advanced expertise in engineering design, development, testing, and compliance; application to Highways England/DMRB, Water UK Sewerage Sector Guidance, and local authority design guidance; strong knowledge of engineering software (Civils 3D, Infodrainage); project scheduling and business requirements analysis; project management.
• Core Competencies: Decision quality, managing complexity, accountability, process optimisation, effective communication, planning & alignment.
• Personal Traits: Focused, persistent, adaptable, confident, composed under pressure; strong interpersonal skills with empathy, openness, and influence.

Why join us

• Opportunity to lead impactful infrastructure projects.
• Collaborative environment with professional growth and development.
• Competitive salary and benefits package.

Ready to take the next step in your career? Apply now and help us shape the future of infrastructure.

If your experience doesn’t fully match the listed requirements, we still encourage you to apply and we will review your details to assess how your skills and background align with this role.