Principal Civil Structural Engineer

AtkinsRéalis UK Limited; West of England; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Training & development

Flexible holiday

Job summary

AtkinsRéalis UK Limited seeks a Principal Civil Structural Engineer to lead nuclear-related structural design and assessments from Bristol. You will guide multidisciplinary teams, strengthen client partnerships, and drive growth in major UK programmes while balancing technical depth with leadership responsibilities.

The role emphasizes mentoring, collaboration with safety case specialists, and bid development, with hybrid working across office and client sites (minimum 3 days on site per week).

Qualifications

• Chartered Engineer status (IStructE/ICE or equivalent) with strong civil/structural foundation.
• Proven ability to lead, mentor and develop others within multidisciplinary teams.
• Extensive experience in nuclear sector structural design, assessment and safety-related engineering.

Responsibilities

• Lead multidisciplinary engineering projects and ensure high-quality delivery to schedule and client expectations.
• Mentor and develop engineers, providing technical oversight in a collaborative environment.
• Build and maintain strong client relationships and support bid development and growth initiatives.

Skills

Leadership

Nuclear design

Mentoring

Client relationships

Education

Chartered Engineer

Job description

Job Description Overview

Are you an experienced Principal Civil Structural Engineer who enjoys combining technical expertise with leadership and mentoring? Do you feel energised by guiding teams, building meaningful client relationships, and contributing to the growth of complex projects within the nuclear industry? We are looking for Principal Civil Structural Engineers to join our growing team in Bristol. In this role, you’ll play a key part in delivering major new-build nuclear programmes such as Hinkley Point C, Sizewell C, Small Modular Reactor (SMR) initiatives, and future fusion technologies. You’ll contribute as both a technical and people leader overseeing multidisciplinary delivery, strengthening client partnerships, supporting team development, and contributing to the continued growth of our Power New Build business. This is an opportunity to make a lasting impact while working on projects that shape a more sustainable, low-carbon future.

Your role

In this role, you will have the opportunity to:

• Apply your expertise in the analysis and design of nuclear safety-related structures, or in the assessment of existing nuclear facilities.
• Collaborate with safety case, internal hazard, and external hazard specialists to support the development and substantiation of safety functional requirements.
• Lead multidisciplinary engineering projects, ensuring high-quality delivery aligned with timelines and client expectations.
• Guide and mentor teams, supporting the development of engineers while providing technical oversight in a collaborative and inclusive environment.
• Build and maintain strong client and stakeholder relationships, understanding their needs and delivering thoughtful, effective engineering solutions.
• Contribute to the strategic growth of the business, including bid development, securing new work, and expanding client partnerships.
• Balance technical depth with leadership responsibilities, helping shape both project delivery and team capability.
• Work flexibly across office and client environments (minimum 3 days per week), engaging with a variety of impactful programmes.

About you

We take a strengths-based approach, recognising that experienced professionals bring a unique combination of expertise, leadership style, and perspective. You may find that many of the following resonate with you:

• You are a Chartered Engineer (IStructE, ICE, or equivalent), with a strong foundation in civil or structural engineering.
• You enjoy leading and developing others, creating an environment where teams feel supported, motivated, and able to deliver their best work.
• You bring deep technical experience within the nuclear sector, particularly in structural design, assessment, and safety-related engineering.
• You feel confident working collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams, including safety case and hazard specialists, to deliver integrated solutions.
• You have a strategic mindset and enjoy contributing to business growth through client engagement, bid development, and identifying new opportunities.
• You approach complex challenges with a thoughtful and innovative mindset, simplifying them into practical and effective engineering solutions.
• You value building strong, trusted relationships with clients and stakeholders, contributing to long‑term partnerships.
• You are motivated by the opportunity to shape the future of the UK’s nuclear energy sector and contribute to a more sustainable future.

Rewards & benefits

Explore the rewards and benefits that help you thrive – at every stage of your life and your career.

• Enjoy competitive salaries, employee rewards and a brilliant range of benefits you can tailor to suit your own health, wellbeing, financial and lifestyle choices.
• Make the most of a myriad of opportunities for training and professional development to grow your skills and expertise.
• And combine our hybrid working culture and flexible holiday allowances to balance a great job and fulfilling personal life.

Rewards and benefits – Careers at AtkinsRéalis

About AtkinsRéalis

We’re AtkinsRéalis, a world‑class engineering services and nuclear organization. We connect people, data and technology to transform the world’s infrastructure and energy systems. Together, with our industry partners and clients, and our global team of consultants, designers, engineers and project managers, we can change the world. We’re committed to leading our clients across our various end markets to engineer a better future for our planet and its people. Find out more.

Additional information

Security clearance This role may require security clearance and offers of employment will be dependent on obtaining the relevant level of clearance. If this is necessary, it will be discussed with you at interview. The vetting process is delivered by United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) and may require candidates to provide proof of residency in the UK of 5 years or longer. If applying to this role please do not make reference to (in conversation) or include in your application or CV, details of any current or previously held security clearance.

We are committed to creating a culture where everyone feels that they belong - a place where we can all be ourselves, thrive and develop to be the best we can be. So, we offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements and employee resource groups to support all employees.

As an Equal Opportunities Employer, we value applications from all backgrounds, cultures and ability. As a Disability Confident Leader, we are committed to offering an interview to all applicants who have a disability and meet the essential criteria. If you would like to be considered under this commitment, please let us know at the application stage. #LI-Energy #NPCivilsJobs

Worker Type Employee Job Type Regular

At AtkinsRéalis, we seek to hire individuals with diverse characteristics, backgrounds and perspectives. We strongly believe that world‑class talent makes no distinctions based on gender, ethnic or national origin, sexual identity and orientation, age, religion or disability, but enriches itself through these differences.

Created by the integration of long‑standing organizations dating back to 1911, AtkinsRéalis is a world‑class engineering services and nuclear company dedicated to engineering a better future for our planet and its people. We create sustainable solutions that connect people, data and technology to transform the world’s infrastructure and energy systems. We deploy global capabilities locally to our clients and deliver unique end‑to‑end services across the whole life cycle of an asset including consulting, advisory & environmental services, intelligent networks & cybersecurity, design & engineering, procurement, project & construction management, operations & maintenance, decommissioning and capital. The breadth and depth of our capabilities are delivered to clients in strategic sectors such as Engineering Services, Nuclear and Capital.

News and information are available at Atkinsrealis or follow us on LinkedIn.