Principal Civil Engineer - Urban Development

Arcadis; Cardiff; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Arcadis in Cardiff seeks a skilled Principal Engineer to lead engineering activities in urban development. Candidates should have a strong background in civil engineering and urban project delivery.

Responsibilities include managing design deliverables and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams while promoting equality and diversity. The ideal candidate will also be experienced in project management and leading teams in a dynamic environment.

Qualifications

• Proven track record in civil engineering and urban development design and delivery.
• Strong knowledge of design standards (SuDS, SfA, DMRB, Building Regulations).
• Competent in manual calculation methods alongside software tools.

Responsibilities

• Lead engineering activities aligned with sustainable development and standards.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams for design solutions.
• Manage design deliverables: drawings, BIM models, reports and specifications.

Skills

Civil engineering expertise

Urban development experience

Leadership skills

Project management

MicroDrainage/InfoDrainage

BIM integration

AutoCAD Civil3D

Education

Degree in Civil Engineering or related field

Chartered or Incorporated status

Job description

Principal Engineer – Urban Development

We are seeking a career‑driven Principal Engineer with proven experience in civil engineering and urban development for building projects. Key expertise includes surface and foul drainage, utilities, ground and earthworks, and highway interfaces. Experience in Industrial Manufacturing, Tech or Defence projects is a plus.

Role Accountabilities

• Lead engineering activities aligned with sustainable development and Arcadis Health & Safety standards.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to ensure cohesive, high‑quality design solutions.
• Define and implement project collaboration strategies with global design teams.
• Manage design deliverables: drawings, BIM models, reports and specifications.
• Review team outputs and attend project meetings to maintain accuracy.
• Oversee engineering management aligned with Arcadis Integrated Management System.
• Own Designer Hazard Logs and communicate residual risks to Principal Designer.
• Coordinate project planning, resource allocation and team management.
• Maintain Design Decision Logs and Project Assumptions registers.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to engineers, technicians and apprentices.

Qualifications And Experience

• Degree qualified with Chartered or Incorporated status; near‑chartered candidates considered.
• Proven track record in civil engineering and urban development design and delivery, including drainage, highways and utilities.
• Proficient in MicroDrainage/InfoDrainage, AutoCAD Civil3D and BIM integration.
• Strong knowledge of design standards (SuDS, SfA, DMRB, Building Regulations).
• Experienced in project management: planning, programming, commercial and client relations.
• Skilled at leading teams and supporting professional development.
• Apply evidence‑based engineering solutions with sound theoretical knowledge.
• Competent in manual calculation methods alongside software tools.

Equality, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging

We want you to be able to bring your best self to work every day which is why we take equality and inclusion seriously and hold ourselves to account for our actions. Our ambition is to be an employer of choice and provide a great place to work for all our people.

We believe that by working together diverse people with different experiences develop the most innovative ideas. Equality, diversity and inclusion is at the heart of how we improve quality of life and we work closely with our people across six ED&I workstreams: Age, Disability, Faith, Gender, LGBT+ and Race. A diverse and skilled workforce is essential to our success.