Principal Engineer (Highways)

SYSTRA UK & Ireland; Glasgow; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

SYSTRA UK & Ireland is seeking a Principal Engineer (Highways) to lead and deliver complex highway and development infrastructure projects from feasibility through to detailed design, ensuring safety and quality. You will manage multi-disciplinary design teams, drive client relationships, and ensure delivery on time and within budget while adhering to standards such as DMRB and MfS.

This role requires Chartered status, extensive consultancy experience, strong leadership, and excellence in

Qualifications

• Substantial experience in the Highways/Development Infrastructure sector.
• MEng, MSc or BEng in Civil Engineering.
• Chartered status (ICE or CIHT) or working toward a professional qualification.
• Experience leading project delivery and managing dynamic teams.
• Knowledge of highway design and approval processes.
• IT literacy with AutoCAD/Civil 3D proficiency.
• Experience in consultancy environment.
• Excellent written communication and mentoring ability.

Responsibilities

• Lead designs on highway and development infrastructure projects.
• Prepare technical outputs and coordinate with disciplines.
• Manage budgets, resourcing, planning and programming.
• Ensure compliance with standards such as DMRB, MfS, TSM, and local guides.
• Develop client relationships and deliver projects to time, cost, quality.
• Mentor less experienced engineers.
• Present to clients and represent the team externally.
• Liaise with construction professionals during design development.
• Attend client meetings and support business development.
• Undertake site visits and monitor progress.

Skills

Highways design

Team leadership

Client relationship management

Project management

AutoCAD/Civil 3D

Technical reporting

Health & safety/CDM

Communication skills

Mentoring

Detail design

Education

MEng / MSc / BEng Civil Engineering

Chartered status (ICE or CIHT) or working toward

Tools

AutoCAD/Civil 3D

Job description

The Principal Engineer (Highways) will utilise substantial experience to win and deliver projects safely, adhering to divisional controls for bidding, revenue, and margin delivery. The role focuses on highway and development infrastructure projects from feasibility to detailed design, including highway and drainage design and securing statutory approvals.

Responsibilities

• Manage and lead designs on small projects, while also assisting in delivery, budgets, resourcing, planning, and programming on other projects with the senior team.
• Prepare technical outputs, coordinate with other disciplines, and represent the team internally and externally.
• Control the financial, technical and project management aspects of civil engineering projects of various sizes.
• Delegate to, manage and direct Engineers and Technicians involved on projects.
• Support the development of less experienced Engineers.
• Ensure all stages of highway design comply with standards such as DMRB, MCHW, MfS, TSM, and Local Authority guides.
• Design and detail highway and drainage infrastructure.
• Liaise with project teams to ensure fully coordinated designs.
• Liaise with construction professionals during design development.
• Assist in preparing technical outputs within the team (drawings, specifications, cost estimates, contract documents, and technical reports).
• Prepare and price scope/briefs, proposals, and deliverables for new projects.
• Identify, develop and maintain client relationships, managing expectations.
• Ensure successful delivery of projects to time, cost, quality, and contractual requirements.
• Make presentations to clients, third parties and colleagues.
• Attend client meetings to support project delivery and business development.
• Undertake site visits to monitor progress against specifications and highlight issues to contractors, clients or project managers.
• Demonstrate behaviours aligned with SYSTRA’s behavioural framework, fostering a culture of excellence, collaboration, respect, and empowerment.

Qualifications

• Substantial experience in the Highways/Development Infrastructure sector.
• MEng, MSc or BEng in Civil Engineering.
• Chartered status (ICE or CIHT) or working toward a professional qualification.
• Extensive Civil Engineering experience within a consultancy environment.
• Proven ability to lead project delivery and manage dynamic teams.
• Knowledge of highway design and approval processes.
• Experience with major and minor highway technical design, and practical application of design principles.
• Familiarity with standards such as DMRB, MCHW, MfS, TSM, local authority guides.
• Understanding of health and safety and CDM requirements.
• IT literacy, strong knowledge of Auto‑CAD/CIVIL 3D and related civil engineering packages.
• Experience in project management, including financial and commercial aspects.
• Beneficial experience of drainage design.
• Ability to devise innovative, value‑adding solutions.
• Excellent written communication skills.
• Capability to mentor and supervise less experienced colleagues.
• Collaborative working across design teams and stakeholders.
• Effective communication with clients and third parties.
• Strong ability to prepare technical reports and fee proposals.
• Represent the company effectively in external engagements.
• Excellent workload management and prioritisation skills.

Desirable

• Experience working with both public and private sector projects.
• Knowledge of and engagement with the civil engineering industry.
• Adaptable, self‑motivated, enthusiastic, hardworking and a desire to progress.
• Flexibility, agility and willingness to learn new skills.
• Ability to see the bigger picture and understand the consequences of decisions.

We provide equal employment opportunities. If you require adjustments or assistance during the application or interview process, please contact us. We pledge to offer an interview to any candidates with a disability who apply for a role and meet the minimum criteria.