Principal Highways Engineer

Waterman Group; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Waterman Group is seeking a Principal Civil Engineer to lead highway and infrastructure design projects from feasibility through construction. You will manage design packages, mentor junior staff, and ensure quality and timely delivery in collaboration with clients and authorities.

The role requires Chartered/ Incorporated status or progression, and experience with NEC contracts, DMRB, and LTN 1/20. Waterman offers flexible hybrid working and a collaborative team culture.

Qualifications

• Degree in Civil Engineering or related discipline.
• Working toward Incorporated or Chartered Engineer status (IEng/CEng).
• Proven experience in highways and infrastructure design within a UK consultancy or local authority.
• Good working knowledge of DMRB, Manual for Streets and LTN 1/20.
• Experience delivering schemes for local authority clients and/or development led projects.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• 5 years’ experience post-graduation; Chartered Engineer status.
• Experience supporting construction stages and site activities.
• Experience mentoring junior staff.
• Familiarity with surveys, traffic, drainage and utilities; active travel schemes incl. cycle facilities per LTN1-20.
• Experience safety improvement schemes.
• Software knowledge: Word/Excel/PowerPoint/Project; AutoCAD/Civil 3D/KeySign/KeyPost/AutoTrack.

Responsibilities

• Deliver highways and infrastructure design projects from feasibility to construction.
• Produce and check designs per UK standards (DMRB, Manual for Streets, LTN 1/20, TSRGD).
• Act as project lead or deputy on highways schemes (junctions, active travel, bus priority).
• Oversee design drawings using AutoCAD/Civil 3D; prepare reports and tender docs.
• Respond to technical queries; liaise with contractors and site teams.
• Support road safety audits, design reviews and QA processes.
• Manage tasks, programs and budgets per scope.
• Liaise with clients, authorities and stakeholders; support NEC3/NEC4 contracts.
• Assist with change control and QA; mentor graduates and juniors.
• Promote good design and adherence to internal quality systems.

Skills

Highways design

Project delivery

Leadership & mentoring

Communication skills

Quality assurance

Contract administration (NEC3/NEC4)

Software: AutoCAD

Software: Civil 3D

Education

Degree in Civil Engineering

Incorporated/Chartered Engineer status (IEng/CEng)

Chartered Engineer (IEng/CEng)

Tools

AutoCAD

Civil 3D

KeySign

KeyPost

AutoTrack

Microsoft Project/ Primavera

Job description

We are seeking a Principal Civil Engineer to play a key role in the technical delivery of highways and infrastructure projects for local authority and private sector clients. The role focuses on leading packages of work, producing and checking designs, supporting junior staff, and contributing to the successful delivery of projects from feasibility through to construction.

Key Responsibilities

Technical & Project Delivery

• Deliver highways and infrastructure design projects across feasibility, preliminary design, detailed design and construction support stages.
• Produce and check designs in accordance with UK standards including DMRB, Manual for Streets, LTN 1/20, TSRGD and local authority specifications.
• Act as a project lead or deputy project engineer on highways schemes including junction improvements, active travel, bus priority measures, public realm, highway drainage and development led infrastructure.
• Oversee and participate in the preparation of design and drawings using Autocad/Civil 3d software, specifications, technical reports and tender documentation.
• Respond to technical queries during design and construction, including liaison with contractors and site teams.
• Support road safety audits, design reviews and technical approval processes.

Project Support & Client Interface

• Manage allocated tasks, programmes and budgets in line with agreed scopes.
• Liaise with clients, local authorities, statutory undertakers and internal stakeholders under the guidance of a Project Manager or Associate.
• Support delivery under NEC3/NEC4 and other standard forms of contract.
• Assist with change control and quality assurance processes.
• Provide day to day technical guidance to graduate and junior engineers.
• Review and check work produced by less experienced team members.
• Support staff development through mentoring and contribution to professional development objectives.
• Promote good design practice and compliance with internal quality systems.

Qualifications & Experience

• Degree (or equivalent) in Civil Engineering or a related discipline.
• Working toward Incorporated or Chartered Engineer status (IEng/CEng).
• Proven experience in highways and infrastructure design within a UK consultancy or local authority.
• Good working knowledge of DMRB, Manual for Streets and LTN 1/20.
• Experience delivering schemes for local authority clients and/or development led projects.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• 5 years’ experience post-graduation
• Chartered Engineer (IEng or CEng).
• Experience supporting construction stages and site activities.
• Experience mentoring junior staff.
• Familiarity with wide range of highway and infrastructure related elements including some or all of the following:
• Surveys and investigations (topographic, traffic, geotechnical, drainage, underground utilities etc),
• Traffic signs and road markings,
• Appreciation of environmental factors
• Assessing impact on and arranging diversion of underground utilities,
• Active travel schemes, in particular design of cycle facilities in accordance with LTN1-20,
• Safety improvement schemes (identifying and addressing safety issues)
• Good working knowledge of some / all of the following software packages:
• Microsoft: Word / Excel / Powerpoint / Project (or Primavera)
• Autodesk: Autocad / Civil 3d / KeySign / KeyPost / AutoTrack

What We Offer

• A technically focused senior role with clear progression to Principal level and beyond.
• Involvement in a wide range of highways, active travel and regeneration projects.
• Registered professional training scheme with the ICE or CHIT, supported professional development and CPD.
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements.
• A collaborative, supportive team culture.

At Waterman we are committed to our people, our communities, and the planet. We are transforming our business and offering our most exciting opportunities yet so now is the time to join us.

We are a Disability Confident organisation, committed to an active Inclusion, Diversity and Equal Opportunities Policy starting with our recruitment and selection process.

Life Here

'All the hard work you put in will result in something that will remain long after you are gone. Its like a stamp you have left on the world.'

Bodunde Balogun - Apprentice, Infrastructure and Environment

'I have felt so welcome during my time here and even in such a short time have learnt a great deal!'