Principal Road Engineer

WSP in the UK & Ireland; Bristol; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible hybrid working

Inclusivity culture

Thrive wellbeing programme

Professional development and mentoring

Job summary

WSP in the UK & Ireland is seeking a Principal Engineer in Bristol to lead the Roads team. This client-facing role involves managing highway consultancy projects, ensuring technical delivery across the project life-cycle. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in highway design, strong client management skills, and proficiency in relevant design software. Benefits include flexible hybrid working arrangements, a focus on inclusivity, and professional development support.

Qualifications

• Relevant knowledge of highway design and drainage systems.
• Experience in leading multiple design disciplines.
• Ability to prepare contract documents and admin.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills required.
• Extensive post-qualification experience in civil engineering.

Responsibilities

• Manage projects ensuring coordination across disciplines.
• Develop trusted relationships with clients.
• Lead technical delivery of highway consultancy services.
• Prepare fee proposals and manage project budgets.
• Ensure compliance with Health & Safety and quality standards.

Skills

Highway design knowledge

Traffic sign and road marking design

Client/stakeholder management

Communication skills

Design software use (e.g., Autodesk Civil 3D)

Project management

Education

Chartered Civil Engineer or Incorporated Engineer

Tools

Autodesk Civil 3D

Bentley OpenRoads Designer

InfoDrainage

PDS

Job description

Job Description

Principal Engineer to join the Roads team in Bristol. The role is client-facing and involves leading technical delivery of highway consultancy services across the entire project life-cycle.

Responsibilities

• Managing projects to ensure coordination and compatibility of multi-disciplinary inputs on projects of varying scale, complexity and value.
• Liaising with clients, developing strong trusted relationships, proactively managing their expectations and comprehensively advising them.
• Undertake project technical lead and reviewer roles.
• Using technical ability and experience to support others to maximise their personal contribution to project/team goals.
• Prepare fee proposals and manage budgets for individual projects.
• Be responsible for the development and delivery of discrete and overall project solutions.
• Lead and manage other staff members in the delivery of design drawings, standard construction details, specifications and bill of quantities, supporting the preparation of tender packages.
• Responsible for compliance with Health & Safety, Environmental Legislation and in-house quality assurance standards/processes.
• Be actively involved with team resource coordination, supporting the setup of teams and pitting the right people in the right roles.

Qualifications

• Relevant knowledge and experience of highway design and/or drainage systems at various stages of the project life cycle. Specific experience in road geometry, roundabouts, at-grade and grade separated junctions, inclusive active travel, highway drainage systems, road restraint systems, traffic sign and road marking design.
• Demonstratable experience in leading a single or multiple design disciplines of relevant projects (road, public transport, active travel, public real and/or private development).
• Experience of contract document preparation or contract administration/site supervision using Public Works Contracts.
• Ability to use, direct and check the design outputs created in relevant software such as Autodesk Civil 3D, Bentley OpenRoads Designer, InfoDrainage, PDS.
• Proactively manages change on tasks/projects, clearly communicating potential impacts on programme, cost, and quality.
• Good communication, client/stakeholder management, and interpersonal skills essential.
• Chartered Civil Engineer or Incorporated Engineer with extensive post professional qualification experience.
• Thorough understanding and application of relevant design codes such as the Design Manual for Roads & Bridges, Manual for Streets, TSRGD, Local Authority design guidance and are well versed in the preparation of drawings for contract documentation and technical approvals including the application of departures from standard.
• Experience of complying with Designers Duties under CDM regulations.

Benefits

• Work-life balance: flexible hybrid working, modern offices, WSP My Hour, part-time and flexible arrangements.
• Inclusivity & Belonging: inclusive culture, employee resource groups.
• Health & Wellbeing: Thrive programme, virtual GP service, reasonable workplace adjustments, Gymflex scheme, menopause support package.
• Professional development: training, mentoring, Chartership support.

Equal Opportunities

Here at WSP we positively encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, pregnancy or maternity/paternity. As a Disability Confident leader, we will interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria, please let us know if you require any workplace adjustments in support of your application.