Principal Highway Engineer

RGB Recruitment; Cardiff; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private healthcare

Flexible working arrangements

27 days annual leave (plus holidays)

Job summary

RGB Recruitment in Cardiff is seeking a Principal Highway Engineer to lead highway design projects from concept through construction. You will mentor junior engineers and work closely with clients, local authorities and multidisciplinary teams to deliver high-profile projects.

The role emphasizes delivering schemes with AutoCAD and Civil 3D, complying with DMRB and local standards, and driving collaboration, career progression and flexible working arrangements.

Qualifications

• Proven highway design experience in a consultancy setting.
• Strong project management and coordination across stakeholders.
• Mentor junior engineers and lead design teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead highway and infrastructure design from concept to construction.
• Prepare highway designs for mixed-use developments.
• Design junction improvements and estate roads to standards.
• Produce drawings and specs for planning and detailed design.
• Manage Section 278 and Section 38 processes and approvals.
• Liaise with authorities, clients, and external stakeholders.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship within the team.
• Support business development and project wins.

Skills

Highway design experience

Project management

Mentoring

Client liaison

Education

CEng or IEng (or working towards)

Tools

AutoCAD

Civil 3D

Job description

For more information on this vacancy, please contact Jason at RGB Recruitment.

Principal Highway Engineer

£50,000 - £65,000

Cardiff

An award-winning, multidisciplinary engineering consultancy based in Cardiff is looking to appoint a Principal Highway Engineer to strengthen its growing team. With a strong pipeline of residential, commercial, industrial and mixed‑use developments across South Wales and the wider UK, this is an excellent opportunity for an experienced highway engineer to take a leading role in the design and delivery of high‑profile projects.

You’ll join a collaborative and forward‑thinking team where you’ll lead highway design projects from concept through to construction, mentor junior engineers, and work closely with clients, local authorities and multidisciplinary design teams.

The Role

• Lead the design and delivery of highway and infrastructure schemes using AutoCAD and Civil 3D.
• Prepare highway designs for residential, commercial, industrial and mixed‑use developments.
• Design junction improvements, access roads, estate roads and highway infrastructure in accordance with local and national standards.
• Produce technical drawings and specifications to support planning applications and detailed design.
• Manage Section 278, Section 38 and other highway agreements through the approval process.
• Liaise with local highway authorities, clients and external stakeholders to deliver successful project outcomes.
• Provide technical leadership, mentoring and line management to engineers within the team.
• Support business development activities and contribute to winning new work.

Skills & Experience

• Proven experience in highway design within a consultancy environment.
• Strong working knowledge of AutoCAD and Civil 3D.
• Experience delivering highway schemes in accordance with DMRB, Manual for Streets and local authority design standards.
• Extensive knowledge of Section 278 and Section 38 agreements and the associated approval processes.
• Excellent communication and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Experience mentoring and developing junior engineers.
• Chartered status (CEng or IEng), or working towards chartership, would be advantageous.

What’s on Offer

• £50,000 - £65,000 (depending on experience)
• 24 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• 7 % employer pension contribution
• Private healthcare
• Flexible working arrangements
• Clear career progression into senior leadership

This is an excellent opportunity to join a highly respected consultancy that is committed to investing in its people. You’ll work on a diverse portfolio of infrastructure projects, receive ongoing professional development, and be fully supported towards Chartered Engineer status if required, with genuine opportunities for long‑term career progression.