Principal Highways & Drainage Engineer

Kier Group plc.; Maidstone; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Kier Group plc. is seeking a Principal Highways & Drainage Engineer to lead complex design and delivery across multiple locations in the UK. You will steer temporary works, provide expert advice, and ensure buildable, safe solutions while upholding high design standards.

The role requires chartered status or equivalent, with substantial highways and drainage experience, and a proven track record of cross-disciplinary collaboration within a major contractor environment.

Qualifications

• Chartered engineer with significant experience in highways and drainage.
• Experience leading construction engineering services and design management.
• Ability to collaborate across multidisciplinary teams.

Responsibilities

• Leading delivery of temporary works design and checking for highways and drainage.
• Providing tender and bid support with outline designs and feasibility studies.
• Managing project leadership, agreeing technical requirements and deliverables.
• Acting as technical help desk to support understanding and delivery.
• Developing technical standards and design processes for consistent quality.

Skills

Chartered membership (CEng/MICE)

Lead complex construction projects

Technical design management

Client & stakeholder relations

Sustainable development focus

Education

Chartered engineer (CEng/MICE) or equivalent

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