Senior Civil Structural Engineer Rail

Carrington West; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 66,000 - 78,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Job summary

Carrington West is seeking a Senior Civil Structures Engineer to join the technical engineering function supporting a major rail infrastructure programme. The role focuses on structural assurance, design review and expert advisory across ~350 structures including bridges and culverts.

You will challenge design decisions, review complex submissions and provide practical recommendations within a multidisciplinary environment, with 3 days in the office.

Qualifications

• 8–12 years in civil structural engineering.
• Proven bridge design/assessment experience essential.
• Experience across bridges, viaducts, retaining walls, culverts.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical oversight across extensive structure portfolio.
• Review designs and provide practical technical recommendations.
• Challenge engineering decisions with contractors and designers.
• Support multidisciplinary interfaces and risk-based technical assurance.
• Lead engineering advice across major infrastructure projects.

Skills

Bridge design

Structural assessment

Technical assurance

Stakeholder communication

Risk-based approach

CEng progression

Education

CEng candidate / ICE member

Job description

Are you an experienced Civil Structures Engineer with a strong technical background in bridge design and structural assessment?

Do you have the confidence to review complex structural designs, challenge technical decisions and provide expert engineering advice across major infrastructure projects?

Salary:

• £71,121.60 - £77,509.20 (London, including 20% flex fund)
• £65,853.60 - £71,058.20 (Birmingham, including 20% flex fund)

Location: Birmingham or London, 3 days in the office per week
Job Title: Senior Civil Structures Engineer
Job Type: Permanent
Closing Date: 6th November 2026

I am recruiting for a Senior Civil Structures Engineer to join the technical engineering function supporting one of the UK's largest rail infrastructure programmes, working across a complex portfolio of bridges, viaducts, retaining structures, culverts and other major civil engineering assets.

This is a highly technical role focused on structural engineering assurance, design review and providing specialist advice to delivery teams, contractors and designers across the programme.

You'll be working within a small, experienced team responsible for providing technical oversight across approximately 350 structures, identifying potential design issues, challenging engineering solutions and ensuring designs meet the required standards.

The role requires someone with a strong hands-on structural design background who can take a broader view of engineering challenges, understand multidisciplinary interfaces and confidently advise on complex technical matters.

Essential:

• Strong technical experience in civil structural engineering, ideally with 8-12 years of relevant experience.
• Proven experience in bridge design and/or structural assessment, with direct exposure to bridge engineering essential.
• Experience working across a range of civil structures, including bridges, viaducts, retaining walls and culverts.
• Strong understanding of structural design principles, engineering standards and technical assurance processes.
• Ability to review structural designs and drawings, identify potential issues and provide practical technical recommendations.
• Experience working with multidisciplinary engineering teams and understanding interfaces between civil structures and other disciplines.
• Confidence communicating technical advice and challenging design decisions with contractors, consultants and delivery teams.
• Strong engineering judgement, problem-solving skills and the ability to take a risk-based approach to technical assurance.
• Chartered Engineer status (CEng) or demonstrable progress towards chartership with ICE or an equivalent professional institution.

Desirable Experience:

• Experience within rail, highways or major infrastructure projects.
• Knowledge of DMRB (Design Manual for Roads and Bridges) and technical approval requirements, including CG 300.
• Experience reviewing technical submissions, departures from standards and engineering assurance documentation.
• A combination of structural design and assessment experience.
• Experience working with bridges and structures interfacing with operational railways or highways.
• Understanding of CDM Regulations and relevant UK engineering standards.
• Experience providing technical assurance across large, complex infrastructure programmes.
• Knowledge of multidisciplinary interfaces, including geotechnical engineering, drainage and rail systems.
• Experience working with major contractors, engineering consultancies or integrated project delivery teams.

This is an excellent opportunity to join a specialist engineering team supporting one of the UK's most significant infrastructure programmes, with exposure to a wide variety of technically challenging civil structures.

My client is particularly interested in engineers who have developed strong practical design expertise and are now looking to apply that knowledge in a broader technical assurance and advisory capacity.

Previous rail experience is desirable but not essential. The priority is finding someone with a solid structural engineering background, particularly in bridge design, who can confidently review engineering solutions, identify risks and provide sound technical guidance.

This role would suit an experienced Senior Structural Engineer or an early-stage Principal Engineer looking to take on greater technical responsibility while remaining closely involved in engineering rather than moving into a purely managerial position.