Principal Highways & Drainage Engineer

Kier Group plc.; Basildon; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Kier Design is seeking a Principal Highways & Drainage Engineer to lead complex construction engineering services across multiple projects. You will ensure safe, buildable designs while guiding technical teams and stakeholders through design development from concept to delivery.

The role emphasizes leadership in temporary works, standards development, and collaboration with clients to deliver high-quality infrastructure, with hybrid working options across locations in the UK.

Qualifications

• Chartered engineer status or demonstrable extensive relevant experience in highways and drainage.
• Experience leading complex construction engineering services with highways focus.
• Ability to provide design management advice across multidisciplinary teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead delivery of temporary works design and checking for highways and drainage solutions.
• Provide tender and bid support with outline designs and feasibility studies.
• Manage project leadership, technical requirements, and design deliverables.
• Act as technical help desk to support understanding and quality of output.
• Develop technical standards and design processes to ensure consistent quality.

Skills

Highways design

Drainage engineering

Technical leadership

Bid/tender support

Stakeholder management

Education

CEng/MICE

Job description

What will you be responsible for? As a Principal Highways & Drainage Engineer, you'll be working within the team, supporting them in delivering safe and buildable engineering solutions. We're seeking a highly skilled Principal Highways & Drainage Engineer to lead the delivery of complex construction engineering services. This is an excellent opportunity to work within a supportive and collaborative environment, where your technical expertise will help shape innovative solutions and drive excellence. You'll play a key role in ensuring safe, buildable designs while contributing to the development of our engineering capabilities. If you're passionate about making a meaningful impact and working with a team that values expertise and innovation, we'd love to hear from you.

Your day to day will include:

• Leading the delivery of temporary works design and checking, focusing on highways and drainage solutions
• Providing tender and bid winning support, including outline design schemes and feasibility studies
• Managing project leadership responsibilities, including agreeing technical requirements and overseeing design deliverables
• Acting as a technical help desk, providing engineering expertise and advice to support understanding
• Leading the development of technical standards and design processes to ensure consistent quality of engineering output

• A Chartered member of a relevant professional institution (e.g. CEng MICE) with significant relevant experience, or demonstrable extensive relevant experience
• Experienced in leading complex construction engineering services with a focus on highways and drainage solutions
• Able to provide technical expertise and design management advice across multidisciplinary teams
• Skilled in developing and maintaining positive relationships with clients and stakeholders
• Committed to promoting sustainable development and best practice in engineering

We're looking for a Principal Highways & Drainage Engineer to join our team based in various locations. Kier Design are a highly regarded Tier 1 Contractor, with a 750 plus strong design consultancy team, recognised as a Top 30 employer on Glassdoor. Join us as a Principal Highways and Drainage Engineer and become part of one of the UK's leaders in temporary works design and management and construction-related technical services. As part of our 100-strong team, you'll get to work on hundreds of projects across one of the most diverse and high-profile portfolios in the country, with access to Kier's £11bn+ project pipeline - supporting complex construction and major infrastructure schemes from concept through to delivery.

Location: Birmingham / Bristol / Cambridge / Cardiff / Glasgow / Leeds / Liverpool / London / Manchester / Newcastle / Norwich / Plymouth - agile working, with up to 1-2 days per week from home if desired

Hours: 40 hours per week - some flexibility on hours available if desired, just let us know when you speak to us.

We are unable to offer certificates of sponsorship to any candidates in this role