Principal Structural Engineer

Ramboll3; West of England; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Ramboll invites a Principal Structural Engineer to Bristol to lead the structural design and delivery of projects across the UK and internationally. You will combine technical leadership, project delivery, client engagement and team development within the Industry & Infrastructure Facilities (I&IF) team.

The role spans rail, aviation, energy, data centres and other critical infrastructure, with opportunity to mentor engineers and grow client relationships.

Qualifications

• Chartered with IStructE/ICE or international equivalent.
• Proven track record delivering technically challenging projects.
• Experience leading design teams and mentoring engineers.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to develop client relationships.

Responsibilities

• Lead structural design and delivery of projects or major elements.
• Develop and agree structural concepts, design philosophies and technical solutions.
• Apply advanced engineering judgement to complex problems.
• Ensure high technical quality of work across the team.
• Act as technical lead and adviser to clients and stakeholders.
• Inspire, coach and develop engineers within the Bristol team.
• Collaborate with architects, contractors and other disciplines.
• Promote low-carbon, sustainable design solutions and efficient use of materials.
• Support growth and development of the Bristol I&IF team.

Skills

Chartered engineer

Project leadership

Technical excellence

Client communication

Team coaching

Multidisciplinary mindset

Sustainable design

Infrastructure experience

Education

Chartered engineer (IStructE/ICE)

Job description

Principal Structural Engineer - Bristol

We invite you to bring your talent and passion into play as you take a leading role in delivering and shaping a wide range of interesting projects across the UK and internationally. If you are an experienced structural engineer looking for the opportunity to combine technical leadership, project delivery, client engagement and team development, our Principal Structural Engineer position in Bristol could be a great fit.

A great place to build your career

You’ll join our Industry & Infrastructure Facilities (I&IF) team in Bristol - a growing regional team with a real sense of community and a strong focus on technical excellence.

Our work spans a diverse range of sectors, including rail, aviation, energy, manufacturing, data centres and other critical infrastructure. The variety of our work means there is plenty of opportunity to apply your experience in new ways and develop your expertise.

We work on projects ranging from early feasibility and concept development through to detailed design and construction, often alongside major clients, contractors and multidisciplinary teams. The wider I&IF service line brings together expertise across structures, civils, MEP, sustainability and other specialist areas, with opportunities to collaborate across the UK and internationally.

Why Bristol?

Bristol offers something a little different. We’re a smaller regional team, so there is a genuine sense of community and plenty of opportunity to influence how we work and where we go next.

You’ll be surrounded by technically strong people who are generous with their knowledge and keen to support each other. Whether you want to deepen your technical expertise, develop your project leadership, build client relationships or help others progress their careers, there are people around you who can help.

We also believe work should be enjoyable. Our active Bristol social team organises everything from padel and other sporting activities to pub quizzes and informal social events.

Our new office is in a great location, close to Temple Meads and Bristol city centre, providing a collaborative base for our growing team.

Your role

As a Principal Structural Engineer, you will:

• Lead the structural design and delivery of projects or significant elements of projects.
• Develop and agree structural concepts, design philosophies and technical solutions.
• Apply advanced engineering judgement to technically challenging and complex problems.
• Take responsibility for the technical quality of your work and the work of others.
• Act as a technical lead and trusted adviser to clients, representing Ramboll at project meetings and helping to develop long-term relationships.
• Inspire, support and coach engineers and technicians, helping to develop technical capability within the Bristol team.
• Work collaboratively with architects, contractors and other disciplines to deliver integrated and practical solutions.
• Promote innovative and sustainable approaches to design, including low‑carbon solutions, reuse and efficient use of materials.
• Contribute to the continued growth and development of the Bristol I&IF team.

What we’re looking for

For this role, we believe your starting point is:

• Chartered with the IStructE, ICE or an international equivalent.
• Significant experience as a structural engineer, with a strong track record of delivering technically challenging projects.
• A high level of technical competence and sound engineering judgement across steel, concrete and/or timber.
• Experience taking technical responsibility for projects and leading design teams.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to explain complex engineering principles clearly to clients, colleagues and other stakeholders.
• The ability to build strong relationships with clients and collaborators.
• A willingness to share knowledge, coach others and contribute to the development of the wider team.
• A multidisciplinary mindset and an interest in understanding the wider drivers behind a project.
• A passion for finding better, more efficient and more sustainable ways of solving engineering problems.
• Experience in rail, aviation, energy, manufacturing, data centres or other critical infrastructure would be valuable, but we don’t expect you to have experience across all of these areas. We are looking for people with strong engineering fundamentals who are interested in applying their skills to new and varied challenges.

Your opportunity to make a difference

This is an opportunity to join a team that is growing and help shape what it becomes.

You’ll have the support of experienced technical specialists across Bristol, the wider UK I&I team and Ramboll’s international network, while having the autonomy to develop your own client relationships, lead projects and contribute to the direction of the local team.

If you’re looking for a Principal role where you can remain close to the engineering, work on genuinely varied projects, develop people and clients, and play an