Technical Principal - Bridges

Mott MacDonald; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension matching 4.5–7%

Life assurance 4x basic salary

Income protection

Flexible benefits

Employee ownership

Job summary

Mott MacDonald is recruiting a Technical Principal to join the Bridges team in Manchester, leading a range of rail projects across the UK and Ireland. You will drive technical excellence, coordinate multidisciplinary teams, manage client relationships, and support business development and bids.

The role offers collaboration with a global engineering network, a hybrid working policy, and opportunities to shape a growing regional Bridges capability while delivering high-profile rail infrastructure

Qualifications

• Degree qualified in a relevant Engineering field.
• Chartered Professional with a relevant Institution.
• Extensive experience in the UK rail sector.
• Experience in CRE role and railway bridge projects.
• Proven ability in business development and work winning.
• Strong leadership and technical leadership capabilities.
• Experience coordinating multidisciplinary teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead the rail portfolio within our Bridges team.
• Lead projects, focusing on technically excellent civil engineering design solutions.
• Provide technical guidance and support to our team and project portfolio.
• Develop and maintain relationships with clients and interfacing rail leads.
• Act as Contractors Responsible Engineer (CRE).
• Prepare and review project documents, reports, drawings and specs.
• Identify and mitigate project risks and implement solutions.
• Mentor engineers and support career development.

Skills

Rail leadership

CRE/CEM experience

Bridge design

Stakeholder management

Civil software

Bid management

Client relations

Leadership

Education

Degree in engineering

Chartered engineer

Tools

MicroStation

STAAD.Pro

RAM Structural

Job description

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Mott MacDonald is a global engineering, management, and development consultancy with over 20,000 employees across more than 50 countries and 140+ offices.

We work across incredible global industries, delivering exciting work that is defining our future and making an important societal impact in the communities we serve. Our people power our performance – we succeed when they do. With countless opportunities to collaborate, learn, and grow, the possibilities for excellence are as varied as every individual.

Whether you want to grow as a subject matter expert or broaden your experience with roles across our international community, you’re surrounded by global specialists who want to combine their expertise and champion you to be your best. As a proudly employee-owned business, we benefit our clients, our communities, and each other, investing in creating the right space for everyone to feel empowered, included, and valued. Whatever your ambition, Mott MacDonald is where people come to be brilliant.

About the business unit

We help conceive, drive, and implement transport solutions for cities, regions, and asset owners/operators around the globe. From preparing the business case and advising on related issues - such as revenue, procurement, and environmental legislation - to delivering the completed infrastructure and helping maintain it. Our planning, engineering, environmental and management skills cover the whole project cycle. We play a major role in developing and delivering the Global Transport Sector Strategy.

Overview of the role

We are looking to recruit a Technical Principal to join our Bridges team in Manchester to lead thetechnical delivery of a range of rail projects in the UK and Ireland, delivering major rail improvementto smaller local community rail enhancement and renewal projects, and supporting cross sectorprojects more broadly. You will have the opportunity to help shape and grow the local Bridges team,focusing on embedding technical excellence at the core of everything we do.

Our existing team currently has a well-established work bank and long-standing relationship with UKrail infrastructure managers and operators, Contractors and other Rail stakeholders, and we arelooking to expand our team’s capability locally in response to significant investment in rail travel in theregion.

Successful candidates will provide Engineering Leadership to our projects, developing strongerrelationships with our clients by working closely with them to understand their challenges and providehigh quality, efficient design solutions. Candidates will be involved in a range of small to large scalerailway projects which will be high profile within local communities and the wider rail industry. Therole will be varied and offer a fantastic opportunity for personal/career development.

Key responsibilities and duties include:

• Lead the rail portfolio within our Bridges team
• Lead projects, focussing on providing technically excellent civil engineering design solutions
• Provide technical guidance and support to our team and project portfolio
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with stakeholders, including clients and our interfacingrail discipline leads
• Undertake the role of Contractors Responsible Engineer (CRE)
• Prepare and review project documentation, including reports, drawings, and specifications
• Identify and mitigate project risks, implementing effective solutions to address challenges
• Mentor and support junior engineers, fostering a culture of continuous learning and professionaldevelopment
• Collaborate with business development teams to identify and pursue new project opportunities
• Manage the preparation of tenders and proposals for potential projects
• Manage project budgets, schedules, and resources to ensure timely and cost-effective delivery
• Extensive experience within the UK rail sector
• The candidate must demonstrate leadership and a suitable track record of civil engineeringexperience with a specialism in bridges
• Proficiency in civil engineering software, strong management skills, and excellent communication abilities
• Demonstrable technical leadership and collaborative capabilities, with the ability to coordinate and work effectively with multidisciplinary teams
• Track record of overseeing projects from client relationship and bid development phase, through to planning, design, and delivery phases
• Strong technical skills and a detailed understanding of standards and client requirements for the design of railway bridge infrastructure
• Ability and enthusiasm for supervising the work of others, including check and approval of key deliverables
• Experience within the role of Contractors Responsible Engineer (CRE)
• Degree qualified in a relevant Engineering or related field
• Chartered Professional with a relevant Institution/Organisation
• Experience in business development and work winning
• Engaged industry connections
• Experience within the role of Contractors Engineering Manager (CEM)

We are actively recruiting a diverse workforce that is reflective of the communities we serve. We recognise that differences in ability, skills and experience are a strength and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds.

UK Immigration

Mott MacDonald Ltd. are not currently offering sponsorship to candidates under the Skilled Worker visa route in the UK. This decision is as a consequence of the changes made to the Skilled Worker route by the UK Government in April 2024. We continue to welcome applications from candidates who are eligible for alternative immigration routes in the UK, that do not require sponsorship as a Skilled Worker now or in future.

At Mott MacDonald, we believe it makes business sense for you and your manager to choose how you can work most effectively to meet your client, team, and personal commitments. We offer a hybrid working policy that embraces your well-being, flexibility, and trust.

Equality, diversity, and inclusion

We put equality, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of our business, seeking to promote fair employment procedures and practices to ensure equal opportunities for all. We encourage individual expression in our workplace and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels they can contribute.

AI Usage

At Mott MacDonald, we see the value AI can bring, but we take a people-first approach to hiring. While AI tools can help candidates prepare and build confidence, every application and hiring decision is reviewed by our recruitment and hiring teams. We encourage the responsible use of AI while ensuring we get to know the real person behind the application.

Accessibility

We want you to feel supported and able to perform at your best throughout our recruitment process. If there is anything we can do to make applying or interviewing with us more accessible, please contact us at [e-mail] and we'll be happy to discuss how we can help.

We offer some fantastic benefits including:

Financial wellbeing

• We match employee pension contributions between 4.5% and 7%.
• Life assurance equal up to 4 x your basic salary, with an option to increase the level of cover to 6 x your salary.
• Our income protection scheme provides a financial benefit, as well as absence and return to work support due to long-term illness or injury.
• Flexible benefits, including increased life assurance cover, critical illness insurance, payroll saving and will writing.
• As an independently owned business we share the financial success of the business with all our colleagues in various ways including annual bonus schemes.

Employee Ownership

• Our employee ownership model means no external investors, just us, creating a culture of shared success.
• Our employees have a stake and a voice in our business, giving them a direct connection to our success through our personal and group performance bonuses.
• As your career grows, so does your stake, recognising your long-term impact and contribution.
• Your voice matters, with the opportunity to connect directly with senior leadership through formal channels to help shape our future.
• For our senior roles you will have a direct pathway towards ownership from day one.

Health and wellbeing

• Private medical insurance for all UK colleagues.
• Health cash plan to support you with every day health costs and treatments.
• Access to Peppy, providing free support from menopause experts for all UK colleagues.
• A variety of wellbeing support is available through our comprehensive wellbeing program, including access for you and your family.
• Ability to flex your salary to opt into a wide range of health benefits, many of which can be extended to your family too.

Lifestyle

• A minimum of 33-35 days holiday each year, inclusive of public holidays and dependent on level, with the ability to buy or sell leave through our flexible benefits programme.
• 10 days additional paid leave for Armed Forces Reservists and Cadet Force Adult Volunteers.
• Holiday entitlement increased to a minimum of 35 days after 5 years’ service.
• Variety of employee saving schemes and discounts from high-street retailers.

Enhanced family and carers leave

• Enhanced family leave policies, including 26 weeks paid maternity and adoption leave, and two weeks paid paternity/partner leave.
• Our shared parental leave matches maternity leave meaning we pay up to 24 weeks at full pay.
• Up to five additional days leave are provided for those with significant caring responsibilities, two of which are paid.
• We offer policies and dedicated support to help military families balance service life with career and wellbeing.

Learning and development

• Primary annual professional institution subscription.
• A broad range of opportunities to enhance both technical and soft skills through mentoring, formal training, and self-development options.

Networks, communities, and social outcomes

• Join a wide range of groups including our Advanced Employee Networks which support our LGBTQ+, gender, race and ethnicity, disability, and parents/carers communities.
• We are proud signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant and Gold Award holders in the MOD Employer Recognition Scheme, supported by our dedicated internal Armed Forces Network.