Principal or Associate Structural Engineer

Crouch Waterfall & Partners Ltd; Cardiff; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working and flexible hours

Minimum 25 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays

Annual discretionary bonus

Private medical insurance

Cycle to Work scheme

Electric vehicle scheme

Job summary

A leading engineering consultancy in Cardiff is seeking a Principal or Associate Structural Engineer to drive project delivery and provide technical leadership. The successful candidate will lead a dynamic team, engage with clients, and manage diverse projects, ensuring high standards are met. The position requires a Chartered Engineer with robust experience in structural design, excellent communication skills, and proficiency in structural engineering software. Hybrid working and extensive benefits are offered.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in designing bridges and structural steelwork.
• Ability to lead technical scopes and mentor junior engineers.
• Excellent communication skills in client-facing scenarios.

Responsibilities

• Drive the technical delivery of structural projects.
• Provide coaching and guidance to Engineers and Technicians.
• Oversee site inspections and technical report generation.

Skills

Structural design

Technical leadership

Client engagement

Mentoring

Communication

Project management

Education

Chartered Engineer (MICE or MIStructE)

Tools

Structural engineering software (Tedds, Robot, Midas)

Job description

This role is offered by Crouch Waterfall, a subsidiary of Vulcain Engineering Group.

Crouch Waterfall is a specialist Civil, Structural, and Geotechnical Engineering consultancy with over four decades of continuous growth and a reputation for delivering complex, high‑impact infrastructure projects across the UK. As a part of the Vulcain Engineering Group, we combine the agility of a specialist practice with the stability, reach, and innovation of a global engineering organisation.

With a legacy of excellence in Bridges, Rail, Infrastructure, Buildings, and Geotechnical Services, our teams lead projects from first concept to final delivery, bringing robust engineering expertise, creativity, and technical rigour to every challenge.

The Position – Principal or Associate Structural Engineer

As our Cardiff office continues its expansion, we are seeking an experienced and ambitious Chartered Structural Engineer (MICE or MIStructE) to join us. This is a pivotal leadership role, offering the opportunity to shape project delivery, mentor emerging talent, and play a key part in the continued growth of a thriving regional team.

Reporting directly to the Senior Management Team, you will take technical leadership of a diverse portfolio ranging from small bespoke structures to major projects. Your work will span commercial and public‑sector buildings, rail structures, temporary works, special structures, and complex assessments.

Some of the main responsibilities of the Principal or Associate Structural Engineer will include:

• Technical Leadership: Drive the technical delivery of structural projects - encompassing bridges, building structures, structural steelwork, reinforced concrete, and more.
• Team Leadership & Mentoring: Provide guidance, coaching, and oversight for Engineers and Technicians, supporting their development and raising the bar on technical excellence.
• Design Oversight: Review and verify designs produced by others, including detailed hand calculations and advanced computer‑based analysis.
• Site & Structural Assessments: Oversee surveys, inspections, and condition assessments, producing clear, high‑quality technical reports.
• Project & Resource Management: Lead programming, resource planning, and workload management in collaboration with senior leadership.
• Client Engagement: Work closely with clients to confirm scope, manage expectations, and uphold a high standard of delivery.
• Business Development: Contribute to fee proposals, bids, and tenders, and help cultivate new and existing client relationships.

You will lead, inspire, and develop a growing team of Engineers and Technicians, ensuring the consistent delivery of high‑quality technical outputs and acting as a trusted partner to both clients and internal stakeholders.

Preferred Experience:

• Strong track record in the design of bridges, structural steelwork, and reinforced concrete structures.
• Evidence of leading technical scopes, whether through project leadership or mentoring others.
• Confident in client‑facing environments; excellent communication skills.
• Fluent in English with permanent right to work in the UK and UK project experience.
• Chartered Engineer (MICE or MIStructE).
• Broad technical expertise across assessment, inspection, analysis, and new‑build design.
• Proficient in structural engineering software such as Tedds, Robot, and/or Midas; experience with 3D modelling environments is beneficial.
• Experience in bridge design and/or temporary works advantageous; wider structural backgrounds welcomed.
• Prior exposure to rail and/or highways preferred, though engineers from buildings or other infrastructure sectors are encouraged to apply.

Our Cardiff Team: Recent Highlights:

The Cardiff team has grown to fifteen specialists, reflecting strong demand and exceptional project delivery. Our engineers have contributed to landmark and technically ambitious schemes including:

• The Principality Stadium Roof Walk experience
• A 50m steel access tower for the Sudbrook tunnel shaft (River Severn)
• Footbridge designs including Devils Footbridge and Seven Sisters Footbridge
• The refurbishment of listed structures such as Llanbradach Station Footbridge
• Temporary and scaffold works design for Hinkley Point C
• Structural assessments and complex designs in brickwork, concrete, timber, and GRP

This role offers the chance to work on high‑visibility projects while helping to steer the strategic direction of a rapidly expanding office.

What We Offer

At Crouch Waterfall, your development truly matters. Whether you’re refining your leadership capabilities, seeking broader commercial exposure, or exploring new technical areas, we will support you with personalised training, mentoring, and real opportunities to progress.

You’ll join a friendly, collaborative team with an open‑door culture - where your input is valued, and your ideas can shape real project outcomes. As part of the wider Vulcain Engineering Group, you’ll also gain access to international expertise, major frameworks, and long‑term career pathways.

• Hybrid working and flexible hours
• Minimum 25 days’ annual leave + Bank Holidays + your Birthday off
• Additional leave purchase scheme
• Annual discretionary bonus
• Private medical insurance
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Electric vehicle scheme

Our Commitment to Inclusion

Crouch Waterfall is dedicated to creating an inclusive workplace where every employee has equal access to opportunity, recognition, and progression - regardless of gender, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or age.