Principal Construction Engineer

Kier Group; Bole; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Kier Group is seeking a Principal Construction Engineer to lead delivery for the ILIOS STEP Programme, based at West Burton / Culham with programme travel. You will define the construction approach and govern safety, compliance and delivery excellence on a pioneering fusion prototype site in the UK.

You will drive construction methodology, sequencing and offsite principles, coordinating across multi‑discipline teams and external contractors to ensure buildability and readiness for procurement

Qualifications

• Degree-level qualification in civil, structural, mechanical, nuclear or related engineering; Chartered Engineer (CEng) or equivalent.
• Significant experience leading construction engineering on nuclear, defence or regulated major infrastructure programmes.
• Strong capability in construction methodology, sequencing, logistics, lifting, temporary works, and offsite manufacture or modularisation.
• Experience with digital rehearsal, constructability planning and working in Design Authority or Engineering Authority environments.
• Excellent stakeholder influence, commercial awareness, and sound technical judgement under uncertainty in multi‑organisation settings.

Responsibilities

• Define and maintain construction delivery intent including methodology, sequencing, logistics and temporary works.
• Embed offsite manufacture, modularisation and Design for Manufacture and Assembly principles.
• Apply Front-End Loading expectations and assure construction readiness before procurement and mobilisation.
• Use digital rehearsal and 4D/5D models to validate buildability and support delivery assurance.
• Oversee contractor compliance, review methodologies and temporary works designs, provide independent technical judgement.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder influence

Commercial awareness

Decision making under uncertainty

Construction methodology

Modularisation/offsite

Digital rehearsal

Project governance

Education

Civil/Structural/Mechanical/Nuclear engineering degree

Chartered Engineer (CEng) or equivalent

Tools

4D/5D modelling

Digital rehearsal

Constructability planning

Job description

We're looking for a Principal Construction Engineer to join our ILIOS STEP Programme team based in West Burton / Culham, with programme travel.

Location: West Burton / Culham, with programme travel
Hours: Full time - some flexibility on hours available if desired, just let us know when you speak to us.

We are unable to offer certificates of sponsorship to any candidates in this role.

Join ILIOS as Principal Construction Engineer and become the authoritative construction engineering lead within the UK's pioneering STEP fusion programme. You'll define and govern the construction delivery approach for this groundbreaking prototype plant at West Burton in Nottinghamshire, working within an integrated team led by UK Fusion Energy. This is a unique opportunity to shape how cutting-edge fusion energy infrastructure is designed and built, embedding modern construction principles whilst ensuring safety, compliance and delivery excellence.

What will you be responsible for?

As a Principal Construction Engineer, you'll be working within the ILIOS STEP Programme team, supporting them in delivering safe, compliant and executable construction solutions for the UK's fusion energy future. Your day to day will include:

• Acting as the recognised construction engineering authority, defining and maintaining construction delivery intent including methodology, sequencing, logistics and temporary works
• Embedding offsite manufacture, modularisation and Design for Manufacture and Assembly principles to ensure buildable, production-led solutions
• Applying Front-End Loading expectations and assuring construction readiness before procurement and mobilisation activities progress
• Using digital rehearsal and 4D/5D models to validate buildability, identify conflicts and ensure construction simulations support delivery assurance
• Overseeing contractor compliance, reviewing methodologies and temporary works designs, and providing independent technical judgement across all construction activities

What are we looking for?

This role of Principal Construction Engineer is great for you if:

• You hold a degree-level qualification in civil, structural, mechanical, nuclear or relevant engineering discipline and are a Chartered Engineer (CEng) or hold equivalent professional status
• You have substantial experience leading construction engineering on nuclear, defence or similarly regulated major infrastructure programmes
• You can demonstrate strong capability in construction methodology, sequencing, logistics, lifting, temporary works and offsite manufacture or modularisation
• You have practical experience with digital rehearsal, constructability planning and operating within Design Authority or Engineering Authority environments
• You possess excellent stakeholder influence skills, commercial awareness, and can make sound technical judgements under uncertainty in complex, multi-organisation settings

Rewards and benefits

We're proud to be able to offer our brilliant people a wide variety of benefits that you can tailor to your needs. You can see more information of benefits here.

Diversity and inclusion

Making Kier a diverse and inclusive place to work is a huge priority for us. We're proud of the steps we've taken so far, but we know we must always do more. Our employees are key in shaping Kier's diversity and inclusion initiatives and our people have made a huge impact on how we work, by using their experiences to shape our policies. You can see our D&I action plan here.

As a Disability Confident employer, we will ensure that a fair and proportionate number of disabled applicants that meet the minimum criteria for this role will be offered an interview.

Due to the nature of this role, you will also be required to complete a BPSS Disclosure and Barring Service Check (applicants with convictions will be treated on a case-by-case basis. We do not discriminate based on an applicant's conviction history or the details of any convictions disclosed to us). Some roles may also be subject to further pre-employment checks.

We look forward to seeing your application to #joinkier.