Principal Design Engineer

ZipRecruiter; Derby; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company is seeking a Principal Design Engineer to lead innovative infrastructure and environmental projects. The role involves overseeing design processes, mentoring engineers, and ensuring compliance with industry standards. This position offers a collaborative environment focused on meaningful infrastructure change.

Benefits

28 days' holiday plus bank holidays

Annual bonus scheme

Leading pension scheme with double-matched contributions

Electric vehicle scheme

Family-friendly policies

Qualifications

• Experience delivering large infrastructure or treatment projects.
• Proven ability to lead and influence multidisciplinary teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead multidisciplinary design teams on major infrastructure projects.
• Ensure designs meet regulatory, technical, and operational requirements.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Education

Degree in Engineering

Job description

Job Description

Principal Design Engineer – Infrastructure & Environmental Projects

Location: Coventry
Salary: Competitive + Bonus + Excellent Benefits

Are you a senior engineering professional ready to lead the delivery of complex infrastructure and environmental design projects? Our client, a nationally recognised organisation with a major capital investment programme aimed at improving treatment facilities, environmental outcomes, and long-term infrastructure resilience, is looking for a Principal Design Engineer to help shape and deliver innovative, sustainable solutions across a diverse portfolio.

What You'll Be Doing

As a Principal Design Engineer, you'll lead multidisciplinary design teams and provide technical direction on major infrastructure and treatment-related projects. Whether your expertise is in civil, mechanical, electrical, or process engineering, you'll play a vital role in ensuring designs meet the highest standards for safety, performance, and sustainability.

• Leading the design process from early feasibility through to detailed design
• Ensuring designs meet regulatory, technical, and operational requirements
• Mentoring and supporting engineers across disciplines
• Championing innovation and sustainable engineering practices
• Working collaboratively with internal teams and external delivery partners
• Acting as a senior technical authority within your field of expertise

What You'll Bring

We're seeking an experienced design engineer who brings both deep technical knowledge and strong leadership capability. You'll also have:

• A degree in engineering (civil, mechanical, electrical, or process) or a related field
• Chartered status or working towards (e.g., ICE, IMechE, IET, IChemE)
• Experience delivering large infrastructure or treatment projects
• A solid understanding of industry design standards and regulatory frameworks
• Proven ability to lead and influence multidisciplinary teams
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills
• Experience within the water or utilities sectors is advantageous but not essential — your ability to lead and deliver high-quality designs is what counts.

What's In It For You?

This role offers far more than a job — it's a chance to help drive meaningful infrastructure change while progressing your career in a collaborative, forward-thinking environment.

Benefits include:

• 28 days' holiday plus bank holidays (with the option to buy/sell up to 5 days)
• Annual bonus scheme
• Leading pension scheme with double-matched contributions (up to 15%)
• Electric vehicle scheme and exclusive retail discounts
• Family-friendly policies and two paid volunteering days per year

Lead the design of a better future. Apply now and bring your expertise to projects that make a real-world difference.