Principal Maritime Civil Engineer

ICE Recruit; Portsmouth; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A maritime engineering consultancy in Portsmouth is looking for a Principal Maritime Civil Engineer to lead engineering design and manage projects. The role requires strong experience in maritime engineering, client communication, and proficiency with AutoCAD. You will have opportunities to mentor junior engineers and shape the consultancy's growth. This position offers competitive salary and comprehensive benefits including 25 days leave and pension contributions.

Benefits

25 days holiday + 3 discretionary days

Pension Contributions

Life Insurance

Critical Illness Cover

Qualifications

• Strong experience in maritime or coastal engineering design and delivery.
• Confident communicator who works with clients and teams.
• Full UK driving licence and willing to travel.

Responsibilities

• Lead engineering design and technical delivery.
• Manage projects from concept through construction.
• Serve as a trusted technical advisor to clients.

Skills

Engineering design

Client communication

Project management

Geotechnical assessment

Mentoring

Education

Degree in Civil, Structural, Marine, or Coastal Engineering

Chartered with ICE IStructE

Tools

AutoCAD

STRAP

Robot

STAAD

Job description

Salary: Competitive, dependent on experience

Benefits: 25 days holiday + 3 days discretionary Christmas shutdown, Pension Contributions, Life Insurance, Critical Illness Cover

About the Opportunity

This isn’t a role where you inherit someone’s desk and quietly pick up where they left off.

At TILT Engineering & Design, we’re a fast-growing, specialist maritime civil engineering consultancy working across marinas, harbours, ports, and waterfront infrastructure internationally. We’re looking for a Principal Maritime Civil Engineer who wants to take lead, shape the direction of our marine capability, and grow as part of a dynamic, ambitious team.

If you want bureaucracy, layers of approvals, and doing the same thing every day - this isn’t it.

If you want autonomy, variety, responsibility, and the chance to genuinely influence the future of a startup consultancy with big plans - read on.

The Role

As our Principal Maritime Civil Engineer, you will take the lead on engineering design, technical delivery, and client-facing work across a diverse portfolio of coastal and marine projects. You’ll play a pivotal role in driving technical quality, mentoring junior engineers, and helping us expand our maritime offering.

Key Responsibilities

Engineering Design & Technical Delivery

• Lead the design of coastal and maritime infrastructure: pontoons, jetties, quay walls, slipways, berthing facilities, breakwaters, flood defences, and waterfront structures.
• Produce and review engineering drawings, calculations, and detailed design reports.
• Undertake stability, structural, and geotechnical assessments for floating and fixed assets.
• Oversee design risk assessments, technical reviews, and quality assurance processes. Champion innovative, practical, and commercially efficient solutions for clients.

Project Leadership

• Manage projects from concept through detailed design, consenting, construction and handover, reporting directly to the Managing Director.
• Be Client facing and building our client base.
• Prepare and contribute to tenders, bids, and technical proposals.
• Conduct site inspections, investigations, and construction support visits.
• Monitor progress against programme and budget, proactively managing risks.
• Serve as a trusted technical advisor to clients, contractors, and partners.
• Mentor our team and lead in continuous improvement.

Regulatory, Consenting & Environmental Compliance

• Lead or support MMO licence applications and marine consents.
• Ensure all designs meet relevant legislation, standards, and best practice (CDM, BS6349, Eurocodes, PIANC, etc.).
• Contribute to environmental assessments and sustainability-driven design approaches.
• Support and implement ISO 9001 & 14001-aligned management systems and EMS activities.

What We’re Looking For

You don’t need to tick every box — but you must be hungry to grow, lead, and take responsibility.

• Degree-qualified in Civil, Structural, Marine, or Coastal Engineering.
• To be Chartered with ICE IStructE.
• Strong experience in maritime or coastal engineering design and delivery.
• Proficiency with AutoCAD and structural analysis software (STRAP, Robot, STAAD, or similar).
• Confident communicator who can work directly with clients and multidisciplinary teams.
• Full UK driving licence and comfortable travelling to sites when required.

Why Join TILT?

Because you want more than a job — you want influence.

Here, you won’t be siloed. You’ll be involved in design, strategy, client development, site work, and shaping our growth. You’ll build systems, improve processes, and help us develop the next generation of engineers.

You’ll make the role your own, and we’ll give you the autonomy to do it.

What We Offer

• Genuine progression — shape your role as we scale.
• 25 days annual leave + 3 days discretionary Christmas shutdown.
• Pension, life insurance, critical illness cover.
• A fast-paced, ambitious environment where your voice matters.
• The chance to build something, not just maintain it.

Ready to Lead?

If you want responsibility, ownership, and the opportunity to leave your mark on a growing maritime consultancy, we want to hear from you.