Principal Highways Development Engineer – Adoptions

West Northamptonshire Council; Northampton; On-site; GBP 75,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

West Northamptonshire Council seeks a Principal Highways Engineer to lead highway development management for new developments, focusing on S38/S278 agreements and adoption into public highways. The role requires technical leadership, design review, and effective collaboration with planners and developers.

You will guide complex schemes, review layouts against standards, and mentor junior staff to build team capabilities while delivering safe, high‑quality infrastructure for West Northamptonshire.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in highways development management and highway agreements (S38/S278).
• Proven ability to lead design reviews and adoption processes for new infrastructure.
• Strong technical advisory skills on complex schemes and planning responses.

Responsibilities

• Lead on the technical review and approval of Section 38 and Section 278 agreements, guiding schemes through design, construction, inspection, and adoption into the public highway.
• Carry out detailed design reviews to ensure proposed layouts meet local and national standards, protecting the council's interests.
• Negotiate solutions with developers/consultants to support growth while protecting the highway network.
• Provide expert technical advice on complex schemes and assist in planning applications requiring highways input.
• Mentor and develop junior engineers within the team.

Skills

Highways engineering

Design reviews

S38/S278 agreements

Negotiation with developers

Mentoring juniors

Job description

West Northamptonshire Council seeks a Principal Highways Engineer to lead highway development management for new developments, focusing on S38/S278 agreements and adoption into public highways. The role requires technical leadership, design review, and effective collaboration with planners and developers.

You will guide complex schemes, review layouts against standards, and mentor junior staff to build team capabilities while delivering safe, high‑quality infrastructure for West Northamptonshire.