Principal Engineer - Highways Projects

Blackburn with Darwen Council; Lancashire; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Blackburn with Darwen Council’s Highways and Transport service is seeking a Principal Engineer to lead complex highway design and delivery across the borough. You will manage design teams, oversee feasibility studies, options appraisals, and detailed designs, coordinating procurement and implementation while ensuring time, cost and quality targets.

You will mentor engineers, collaborate with developers, contractors and partner authorities, and drive major capital programmes, maintenance, and

Qualifications

• Significant experience in highway design, maintenance or infrastructure project delivery.
• Excellent knowledge of current highway legislation, standards and guidance.
• Strong knowledge of highway maintenance practices and network management requirements.
• Experience in project and programme management, budgeting, procurement and reporting.
• Understanding of CDM and health and safety requirements in highway projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and delivery of high-profile highway infrastructure schemes for internal and external clients.
• Prepare and oversee feasibility studies, options appraisals, outlines and detailed designs, and contract documentation.
• Develop robust cost information to support funding bids and business cases.
• Lead maintenance and development of highway schemes (Section 278/106) and manage delivery risks.
• Review external submissions and provide authoritative highway design guidance.
• Coordinate investigations and engage with statutory undertakers and utility providers.
• Manage budgets, forecasts, programmes and performance reporting.
• Provide professional advice to senior leaders and mentors to staff.
• Ensure compliance with health and safety and CDM regulations.

Skills

Highways design

Infrastructure delivery

Project management

Budget management

Stakeholder engagement

Leadership

Health and safety

Risk management

CPD

Mentoring staff

Education

Level 7 civil engineering

Tools

NEC3/NEC4 accreditation

Road Safety Audit qualification

Job description

The job requirements are detailed below. Where applicable the skills, qualifications and memberships required for this job have also been included.

Job details

Department: Growth
Terms & Conditions: Permanent, 37 hours per week
Closing date: 15th September 2026
Interview date: 28th & 29th September 2026

Are you an accomplished highways engineer who wants to turn ambitious ideas into safe, practical infrastructure that improves everyday journeys across Blackburn with Darwen?

We're looking for a Principal Engineer to join our Highways and Transport service. This is a senior technical role for someone who combines expert highway design knowledge with confident project, commercial and people leadership.

From high-profile capital schemes and highway maintenance programmes to Section 278 and Section 106 projects, you'll help shape improvements from the first idea through to construction and make a direct, visible difference across the borough.

About the role

Reporting to the Service Lead of Major Projects, you'll be a senior member of the Highways Projects team, leading the design, procurement and implementation of highway infrastructure schemes.

You'll take technical ownership of allocated projects through feasibility, options appraisal, outline and detailed design, approvals, procurement and implementation, ensuring agreed outcomes are delivered safely and within the required time, cost and quality constraints.

You'll also provide advice on complex design matters, work closely with colleagues, elected members, developers, consultants, contractors, utility providers and partner organisations, and help ensure schemes support the Council's wider growth and regeneration ambitions.

As a Principal Engineer, you'll manage and mentor highway design engineers and technicians, coordinate workloads, build capability and maintain consistently high technical and professional standards.

What you'll be doing

• Leading the design and delivery of high-profile on-highway and off-highway infrastructure, improvement and maintenance schemes for internal and external clients.
• Preparing and overseeing feasibility studies, options appraisals, outline and detailed designs, drawings, specifications, cost estimates, programmes and contract documentation.
• Developing concept designs, work packages and robust cost information to support funding bids, business cases and investment decisions.
• Leading the design of allocated highway maintenance, Local Transport Plan, Section 278 and Section 106 schemes, identifying and mitigating delivery and construction risks.
• Reviewing external technical submissions and providing authoritative highway design guidance on major projects and strategic planning applications.
• Planning and supervising preliminary investigations, including surveys, coring, trial pits, reviewing test results and early contractor involvement.
• Coordinating statutory undertakers and utility providers and working with procurement colleagues, contractors, framework providers and neighbouring authorities to secure effective delivery and value for money.
• Managing delegated budgets, income, forecasts, programmes, risks and performance information, with clear and timely reporting against agreed targets.
• Ensuring compliance with relevant legislation, technical standards, Council procedures, health and safety requirements and the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015.
• Providing clear professional advice to the Service Lead, senior officers, elected members and partners, while managing and developing staff and championing continuous improvement.

What we're looking for

You'll bring a substantial track record in highway design and infrastructure delivery, with the credibility and confidence to lead both technically and professionally.

You'll be comfortable taking ownership of complex projects, resolving difficult technical issues, managing competing priorities, budgets and risks, and explaining your recommendations clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.

You'll combine sound political and commercial awareness with professional impartiality, good judgement and a collaborative leadership style. Most importantly, you'll share our ambition to deliver safe, sustainable and high-quality infrastructure for Blackburn with Darwen.

Essential knowledge and experience

• Significant experience in highway design, maintenance or infrastructure project delivery, with evidence of delivering high-quality outcomes.
• Excellent knowledge of current highway legislation, technical standards and guidance.
• Strong knowledge of highway maintenance practices, statutory responsibilities and network management requirements.
• The ability to analyse complex technical problems and develop safe, practical and innovative solutions.
• Experience of project and programme management, budget management, cost forecasting, procurement, contracts and performance reporting.
• A thorough understanding of health and safety, risk management, business continuity and CDM requirements as they apply to highway design and construction.
• A successful track record of working with senior managers, elected members, stakeholders, contractors and partner organisations.
• Experience of managing, mentoring or professionally supporting technical staff and promoting high standards of performance.
• Strong organisation, negotiation, influencing, presentation and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively under pressure and use initiative.

The successful candidate will have:

• A relevant Level 7 qualification in civil engineering, structural engineering, transportation, transport planning or a closely related discipline.
• Significant highway design experience supported by evidence of continuing professional development.

NEC3 and/or NEC4 accreditation is desirable.

A Road Safety Audit qualification and/or substantial relevant safety-auditing experience is also desirable.

• A chance to lead highway schemes that have a direct and visible impact across Blackburn with Darwen.
• The opportunity to work across the full project lifecycle, from early feasibility and funding through to design, procurement and implementation.
• A senior technical role with genuine scope to influence how we design and deliver highway projects.
• The opportunity to lead, support and develop a skilled team of engineers and technicians.
• A varied programme spanning major projects, maintenance, active travel and development-led highway improvements.
• A supportive and collaborative working environment guided by the Council's values of Trust, Respect, Ambition, Collaboration and Kindness.

Additional information

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds who can support inclusive, respectful and anti-discriminatory practice. Reasonable adjustments are available throughout the recruitment process.

If you would like an informal discussion about the role you may contact Mark Mykolajowski directly via email at [e-mail]