Principal Civil / Structural Engineer

Mott MacDonald; Egremont; Hybrid; GBP 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private medical insurance

Pension contributions match

Employee ownership

Flexible benefits

Job summary

Mott MacDonald in Whitehaven is seeking a Principal Civil/Structural Engineer to join our Nuclear, Defence and Civil team. You will lead and deliver complex civil engineering solutions across energy, defence and infrastructure sectors, coordinating with multidisciplinary teams across the UK and Europe.

This role offers leadership opportunities, a collaborative environment, and a pathway to senior responsibility within a growing pipeline, with site and client visits, plus the chance to mentor

Qualifications

• Chartered Engineer with experience in energy, nuclear or defence sectors.
• Experience delivering engineering solutions to a high standard.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills with multidisciplinary teams.
• Proactive approach to solving problems in fast-moving projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead and contribute to projects from feasibility to commissioning.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and external clients to develop cost-effective solutions.
• Oversee civil design and checks for energy, defence, and infrastructure projects.
• Prepare technical documentation and minimum functional requirements for civil aspects.
• Conduct civil inspections and produce detailed reports with recommendations.
• Mentor and develop junior staff and maintain strong client relationships.

Skills

Chartered Engineer

Energy sector experience

Regulated environments

Technical leadership

Communication skills

Problem-solving

Job description

Mott MacDonald is a global engineering, management, and development consultancy with over 20,000 employees across more than 50 countries and 140+ offices.

We work across incredible global industries, delivering exciting work that is defining our future and making an important societal impact in the communities we serve. Our people power our performance – we succeed when they do. With countless opportunities to collaborate, learn, and grow, the possibilities for excellence are as varied as every individual.

Whether you want to grow as a subject matter expert or broaden your experience with roles across our international community, you’re surrounded by global specialists who want to combine their expertise and champion you to be your best. As a proudly employee-owned business, we benefit our clients, our communities, and each other, investing in creating the right space for everyone to feel empowered, included, and valued. Whatever your ambition, Mott MacDonald is where people come to be brilliant.

About the business unit

The Energy unit delivers services to clients globally across several sectors including hydropower, nuclear, waste, renewable generation and transmission & distribution networks. Together we provide integrated engineering and project management services across the project lifecycle – from concept and design to construction and operations, to decommissioning or repowering and life extension. Together with our clients, we’re helping to deliver the energy transition globally.

Overview of the role

Our Nuclear, Defence and Civil team in Whitehaven is continuing to grow, and we are looking for a Principal Civil / Structural Engineer to join us. This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a collaborative and expanding team, delivering some of the UK's most complex and impactful projects across the nuclear, defence, energy and wider infrastructure sectors.

Working alongside multidisciplinary teams, you will play a key role in delivering innovative and sustainable solutions for our clients, while supporting major programmes both locally and across the UK and Europe. With a strong and growing pipeline of work, this role offers excellent opportunities to develop your career, take on leadership responsibilities, and make a meaningful contribution to projects that shape communities and support critical national infrastructure.

Key responsibilities and duties include:

• Lead and contribute to projects at all stages, from feasibility and concept design to detailed engineering, planning support, construction, and commissioning
• Collaborate on multi-disciplinary projects, working closely with colleagues across Mott MacDonald and engaging with external clients and stakeholders to develop cost-effective infrastructure solutions
• Oversee and/or undertake civil engineering design and checks for a wide range of energy, defence, and infrastructure projects
• Prepare high-quality technical documentation, specifications, and minimum functional requirements for civil engineering aspects of projects
• Conduct civil inspections of infrastructure assets across the UK to support asset maintenance and life extension, producing detailed reports and recommendations
• Provide strategic and technical advice to clients, ensuring solutions align with their project needs and objectives
• Undertake site and client office visits, as required by project demands
• Maintain strong client relationships, ensuring satisfaction while identifying and promoting opportunities for future collaboration
• Develop, monitor, and manage project schedules and costs, ensuring deliverables are met
• Support project management, control, and administration, in line with your experience level
• Play a key role in mentoring and developing junior staff, helping to foster a strong and inclusive team culture

Candidate specification

Essential:

• Chartered Engineer with experience in the energy sector or similar regulated industries
• Experience in regulated environments, such as nuclear or defence
• Strong technical expertise and a track record of delivering engineering solutions to a high standard
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to engage confidently with clients and multidisciplinary teams
• A proactive approach to problem-solving and the ability to adapt to new challenges within a fast-moving project environment

If you are looking for a role where you can make an impact while growing your career in an innovative and supportive environment, we would love to hear from you

Please be advised that offers for this role are conditional upon obtaining the appropriate level of Security Clearance.

UK Immigration

Mott MacDonald Ltd. are not currently offering sponsorship to candidates under the Skilled Worker visa route in the UK. This decision is as a consequence of the changes made to the Skilled Worker route by the UK Government in April 2024. We continue to welcome applications from candidates who are eligible for alternative immigration routes in the UK, that do not require sponsorship as a Skilled Worker now or in future.

Agile working

At Mott MacDonald, we believe it makes business sense for you and your manager to choose how you can work most effectively to meet your client, team, and personal commitments. We offer a hybrid working policy that embraces your well-being, flexibility, and trust.

Equality, diversity, and inclusion

We put equality, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of our business, seeking to promote fair employment procedures and practices to ensure equal opportunities for all. We encourage individual expression in our workplace and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels they can contribute.

Accessibility

We want you to perform your best at every stage in the recruitment process. If you are disabled or need any support to enable you to apply or attend an interview, please contact us at [e-mail] and we will talk to you about how we can support you.

We offer some fantastic benefits including:

Financial wellbeing

Financial wellbeing

• We match employee pension contributions between 4.5% and 7%.
• Life assurance equal up to 4 x your basic salary, with an option to increase the level of cover to 6 x your salary.
• Our income protection scheme provides a financial benefit, as well as absence and return to work support due to long-term illness or injury.
• Flexible benefits, including increased life assurance cover, critical illness insurance, payroll saving and will writing.
• As an independently owned business we share the financial success of the business with all our colleagues in various ways including annual bonus schemes.

Employee Ownership

• Our employee ownership model means no external investors, just us, creating a culture of shared success.
• Our employees have a stake and a voice in our business, giving them a direct connection to our success through our personal and group performance bonuses.
• As your career grows, so does your stake, recognising your long-term impact and contribution.
• Your voice matters, with the opportunity to connect directly with senior leadership through formal channels to help shape our future.
• For our senior roles you will have a direct pathway towards ownership from day one.

Health and wellbeing

• Private medical insurance for all UK colleagues.
• Health cash plan to support you with every day health costs and treatments.
• Access to Peppy, providing free support from menopause experts for all UK colleagues.
• A variety of wellbeing support is available through our comprehensive wellbeing program, including access for you and your family.
• Ability to flex your salary to opt into a wide range of health benefits, many of which can be extended to your family too.

Lifestyle

• A minimum of 33-35 days holiday each year, inclusive of public holidays and dependent on level, with the ability to buy or sell leave through our flexible benefits programme.
• Holiday entitlement increased to a minimum of 35 days after 5 years’ service.
• Variety of employee saving schemes and discounts from high-street retailers.

Enhanced family and carers leave

• Enhanced family leave policies, including 26 weeks paid maternity and adoption leave, and two weeks paid paternity/partner leave.
• Our shared parental leave matches maternity leave meaning we pay up to 24 weeks at full pay.
• Up to five additional days leave are provided for those with significant caring responsibilities, two of which are paid.

Learning and development

• Primary annual professional institution subscription.
• A broad range of opportunities to enhance both technical and soft skills through mentoring, formal training, and self-development options.

Networks, communities, and social outcomes

• Join a wide range of groups including our Advanced Employee Networks which support our LGBTQ+, gender, race and ethnicity, disability, and parents/carers communities.
• Make a difference within our communities through our social outcomes.