Principal Engineer

North Somerset Council; Weston-super-Mare; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Flexible working arrangements

Local Government Pension

Professional development

Inclusive staff groups

Job summary

North Somerset Council is seeking a Principal Engineer to lead the Highway Structures Team in delivering capital projects and major design work in Weston-super-Mare. You will review technical documents, manage resources, and drive innovative, cost-efficient solutions compliant with Eurocodes, DMRB and MCHW.

The role requires a Civil Engineering degree, strong design/inspection experience, and mentoring skills.

Qualifications

• Educated to degree level in Civil Engineering or equivalent with significant experience.
• Practical knowledge of BS, Eurocodes, DMRB and MCHW and related practices.
• Excellent communication skills and proficiency in MS Office.
• Experience with design software MasterSeries, Tekla and AutoCAD.

Responsibilities

• Lead delivery of capital projects and structural design works.
• Review technical documents and proposals for AIP approvals.
• Conduct structural assessments of highway structures.
• Perform principal / special inspections of highway assets.
• Review drawings and calculations for accuracy and compliance.
• Develop engineering solutions and present options.
• Prepare design concepts, drawings, specs and contract documents.
• Mentor junior staff and support team development.
• Prepare technical reports (feasibility, options, assessments).
• Monitor budgets and resources for projects; ensure value for money.

Skills

Communication skills

Civil/Structural engineering

Team collaboration

Education

BEng/BSc/MEng/MSc in Civil Engineering (HNC/HND accepted with experience)

Tools

MasterSeries

Tekla

AutoCAD

Job description

About us.

North Somerset Council is committed to providing high-quality services to our community. We are committed to creating a fair, green, and more inclusive environment for all our residents. Join us and contribute to making a positive impact on our community.

The role.

We are seeking a dedicated and experienced Engineer to a Principal Engineer level to join our Highway Structures Team. The Highway Structures Team is responsible for managing around 1026 highway structures, which includes Road and Foot Bridges, Public Rights of Way (PROW) Bridges, Highway Retaining walls, and other structures. The team also responsible for delivering annual capital and revenue programme of maintenance works for highway structures (circa £1million), Statutory Annual Inspections of structures (General and Principal inspections), Administration and Approval of Technical Approval (TA) procedures, and the Management and Repair of Vehicle Restraint Systems (VRS’s).

In this role, you will Lead on the delivery of capital projects and the relevant structural design works, as well as supporting the Team Manager on the review of technical documents and the proposals as part of the AIP approval procedures for the external projects.

Key responsibilities:

• Structural Design and production of works specifications with construction drawings, in accordance with national standards such as, Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (DMRB) and The Manual of Contract Documents for Highway Works (MCHW).
• Structural assessments of highway structures and bridges.
• Conducting Principal Inspections / Special Inspections to highway structures.
• Reviewing of design drawings and calculations.
• Development of engineering solutions and presentation of engineering options.
• Preparation of design concepts, design details, drawings, specifications, contract documents and other technical documents.
• Supporting development of junior members of staff.
• Prepare technical reports (e.g. Feasibility/Options Reports, Assessment Reports, and other technical reports).
• Assist in the preparation and monitoring of the budget for projects including the planning, monitoring, and reporting of project resources.
• Ensure innovation and best practice are highlighted and adopted where practicable.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant technical standards such as Eurocodes, British Standards etc.
• Develop safe, sustainable and value for money solutions to meet technical and project requirements.
• Drive effective Health, Safety & Welfare practices within the team. Also, compliance with relevant environmental legislation, particularly the CDM regulations.

Valid driving licence and own transport, or be able to provide alternative, suitable method of travel is an essential condition for this role.

Work style.

At North Somerset Council, we offer a hybrid working environment based on four distinct work styles. Depending on the role and personal circumstances, you will fall into one of these categories. However, please note that during the induction period, it may be necessary to spend more time in the office to support your learning and development. We are flexible and open to discussions about your preferred working style, and if you wish to be in the office more frequently, this can be negotiated.

This role falls into the category of Flexible Worker which means you can expect to work in the following way:

• 2-3 days in the office.
• Works both from home and the office, depending on the task at hand.
• Training is provided to help balance work-life and manage time effectively, with an emphasis on communication for team touchpoints and planning in-office days for collaboration.

About you.

We are looking for an individual who is passionate about modern Civil/Structural Engineering design & construction methods, and who possesses the following skills and experience:

Essential criteria:

• The post holder should be educated to a degree (BEng, BSc, MEng or MSc) in Civil Engineering or minimum HNC level (NVQ level 4) or HND (NVQ level 5) with significant years of experience in Civil/Structural engineering discipline.
• Practical knowledge and experience of using all parts of relevant industry Codes and Standards for highway works such as, BS, Eurocodes, DMRB and MCHW, references, as well as procedures and practices of verification and validation applicable to civil engineering design, construction and structural assessments.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Software experience such as, MasterSeries, Tekla, AutoCAD etc.
• Proficient in Microsoft office applications.

Desirable criteria:

• Understanding and practical experience of using NEC3 or NEC4 contract principles.
• Experience in the management of highway structures/assets using electronic asset management systems such as AMX or equivalent.
• Incorporated (IEng) or working towards Chartered Engineer (CEng) professional qualifications from ICE or IStructE.

What we offer.

At North Somerset Council, we value our employees and provide a supportive and inclusive work environment.

We offer:

• Competitive salary and benefits.
• Flexible working arrangements.
• Local Government Pension.
• Opportunities for professional development.
• Inclusive Staff groups including Carers, Disabled, LGBTQ+, REACH (Race, Ethnicity, and Cultural Heritage), and Young Staff Forums.
• Opportunity to purchase up to an additional 10 days annual leave each year.
• Dedicated in house Wellbeing Team.
• Salary sacrifice Cycle to Work and Electric Vehicle schemes.

Further details of our excellent rewards package can be found in our Benefits booklet.

Contact information.

For further information about the role, please contact Chandan Bhumpelly, Highway Structures Manager at [e-mail] or 07776 170 223.

Important information.

As a Disability Confident Leader, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the job role.

Interview Date: Friday 06 November 2026.

Please note: We are currently only able to accept applications from candidates who have full permission to work in the UK and are unable to provide Sponsorship for this role.

Equal opportunities.

At North Somerset Council we want all our employees to feel valued and appreciated. We aim to ensure equality of opportunity and prevent discrimination irrespective of your sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion or belief, race, age, disability, including neurodiversity, if you are married or in a civil partnership or are pregnant or currently on maternity leave. We strive to create a workplace that reflects the communities we serve and where everyone feels empowered to bring their full, authentic selves to work.

We reserve the right to close this advertisement early or extend the closing date depending on the number of applications received.