Section Engineer

Balfour Beatty plc; Grays; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave

Pension savings schemes

Refer a friend bonus scheme

Employee discounts and exclusive offers

Job summary

Balfour Beatty plc is seeking a Section Engineer for the Lower Thames Crossing project, involving 43 bridges and extensive highway construction. The role includes supporting the Design Engineering team, ensuring health and safety compliance, and monitoring project progress.

The ideal candidate will have proven experience in large-scale infrastructure, strong leadership skills, and the ability to work under pressure. A competitive salary and numerous employee benefits are offered.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a similar role, preferably in large-scale infrastructure.
• Capable of taking ownership and communicating outcomes.
• Strong work ethic with flexibility to work unsociable hours.

Responsibilities

• Ensure compliance with health and safety guidelines.
• Monitor project progress and report variances.
• Lead and coach Site Engineers and Apprentices.

Skills

Leadership and communication skills

Sound knowledge of construction regulations

Ability to work under pressure

Current driving licence

CSCS Card, SSSTS or SMSTS qualified

Education

Good progression towards professional accreditation

Job description

About The Role

Our Balfour Beatty Highways business has a terrific opportunity for a Section Engineer to join our £1.2 billion Lower Thames Crossing project, consisting of 43 bridges, including viaducts, 17 km of complex highways construction, complex utility diversions, and a scheme-wide, industry‑leading approach to carbon reduction.

Balfour Beatty Highways maintain, manage and operate major highway networks across the UK and support local authorities creating communities where people want to live, work and play.

As a Section Engineer, you will be tasked with supporting the Design Engineering team in delivering projects related to our Lower Thames Crossing project.

What you’ll be doing

• Health, Safety & Wellbeing: Fully comply with our LTC ‘Beyond Zero Harm’ programme and the 4 BB Golden Rules, producing specific Works Package Plans, and conducting/recording weekly safety tours.
• Programme and Production: Produce three‑week lookahead programmes aligned with the stage programme. Monitor progress, record and report any variances to the weekly programme.
• Engineering & Design Management: Review both permanent and temporary design drawings in advance of the works. Resolve any questions with the designers before preparing the programme.
• Quality Assurance: Obtain (from the BB Highways library or other projects) Inspection & Test Plans (ITPs) for self‑delivered works and refine them in line with LTC specifications and standards.
• Community: Consider community and stakeholder requirements in preparing your lookahead programmes and consult with our Community and Communications team to understand and agree requirements.
• Environmental Sustainability & Carbon: Monitor compliance on site and report any breaches to your Package Manager and our Environmental team.
• Procurement: Delegate requisition responsibilities to the Site Engineer or Logistics team whilst ensuring plant and materials are in line with the cost plan and specification.
• Handover: Produce/approve redlines and compile construction certificates. Provide input into the O&M manuals and H&S files for the assigned scope.
• Leadership: Lead and coach Site Engineers and Apprentices.

Who we’re looking for

• Proven experience in a similar role, preferably on large‑scale infrastructure projects.
• Strong leadership and communication skills.
• Sound knowledge of construction regulations and best practices.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure and meet tight deadlines.
• Able to clearly communicate the requirements of a safe system of work and suggest improvements to systems.
• Capable of taking ownership of tasks and communicating outcomes with clarity.
• Strong work ethic with flexibility to work unsociable hours/nights.
• Able to work on own initiative and seek out opportunities in line with level of responsibility.
• Holds a current driving licence and CSCS Card, SSSTS or SMSTS qualified.
• Must be a strong team player, with developed communication skills.
• Good progression towards professional accreditation (e.g., ICE, IHT).

Benefits

• An attractive / negotiated salary.
• 42 core base hours per week.
• 25 days annual leave.
• Pension savings schemes.
• A whole host of other BB staff employee benefits (discounts, exclusive offers etc).
• Refer a friend bonus scheme.
• Scores of other Balfour Beatty opportunities available as well via our balfourbeattycareers.com portal.

Why work for us

Day in, day out, our teams deliver some of the UK’s most ambitious, exciting and meaningful projects; developing, building and maintaining the vital infrastructure that supports national economies and strengthens communities.

Benefits (continued)

In addition to contributing to and supporting work that makes life better for millions, we offer a full range of benefits. Here are some of our key benefits:

• 25 days paid annual leave (pro rata).
• Family friendly policies which include 28 weeks full pay for maternity/adoption leave and four weeks full pay for paternity/partners leave.
• Pension, share incentive plan, volunteering leave, recognition schemes and much more.

About Us

Balfour Beatty’s Highways business delivers major schemes including motorway upgrade programmes, complex national infrastructure projects and regional investment programme works for National Highways. We have a strong order book and a positive pipeline of opportunities, we put the road user, at the heart of everything we do. We work safely, reduce carbon emissions and add social value to the communities within which we work.

Diversity and inclusion

At Balfour Beatty we believe that diversity and inclusion are essential components of any successful, happy workplace. Through our Value Everyone Diversity and Inclusion Strategy and Action Plan, we are growing our diverse workforce and developing our inclusive culture where everyone is able to thrive and reach their full potential, regardless of their identity or background. To find out how we are making this a reality, visit www.balfourbeatty.com/diversityandinclusion.

We are a Gold Award holder in the Ministry of Defence ‘Employer Recognition Scheme’ and actively encourage applications from Armed Forces personnel, veterans and reservists.

As a Disability Confident Employer, we are committed to working with people who have disabilities and long‑term health conditions to remove barriers for them in obtaining employment. We are also committed to offering applicants with a disability an interview if they meet the minimum requirements for the role. For more information, visit: https://disabilityconfident.campaign.gov.uk/.

We are looking to continually improve our resourcing process and ensure that it is fair and inclusive for all. If you have any feedback on the process, please share this with us at: [e-mail].