Technical Principal (Structural)

Mott MacDonald; Altrincham; Hybrid; GBP 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private medical insurance

Wellbeing program

Flexible benefits

Job summary

Mott MacDonald is seeking a Technical Principal with CDAE experience to join its Civil and Structural Team. You will lead design work for power generation and HV projects, coordinate multidisciplinary interfaces, and drive technical excellence across FEED and detailed design activities.

The role offers hybrid working flexibility, opportunities for career progression, and engagement with international projects within a renowned global consultancy.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Civil/Structural Engineering or Construction Management.
• Chartered Engineer status (CEng, MIStructE, MICE) or eligible.
• Experience with National Grid standards and CDAE responsibilities.
• Knowledge of design codes: BS, Eurocodes and NGTS.
• CDM 2015 Designer experience and strong QA processes.

Responsibilities

• Oversee project programme, budget, resources, and quality plans.
• Craft compelling proposals for new work.
• Lead Front End Engineering Design (FEED) activities for structural components.
• Prepare drawings for planning, tender packages, and construction.
• Develop detailed civil/structural designs and specifications.
• Coordinate design across multidisciplinary teams and interfaces.
• Prepare detailed specifications and evaluate existing structures for reuse.
• Ensure compliance with National Grid CDAE standards.

Skills

Structural engineering

Design codes (BS, Eurocodes, NGTS)

CDM 2015 compliance

National Grid CDAE understanding

Project leadership

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s in Civil/Structural Engineering

Chartered Engineer (CEng / MIStructE / MICE)

Job description

• Relevant Experience: Proven experience in structural engineering.

Location/s: Croydon, New castle,Altrincham, Brighton, Bristol, Glasgow

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 Role

Our division specializes in providing top‑tier Civil and Structural expertise across power generation and HV transmission projects, including power plants, HV substations, HVDC Interconnector converter stations, and HV cable installations.

Due to our continued growth, we are seeking a Technical Principal with experience as a National Grid Contractor Design Approval Engineer (CDAE) to join our Civil and Structural Team. This role offers a diverse portfolio of work and ample opportunities for career advancement within the team.

The selected candidate will engage in design work for power plants, HVAC substations, HVDC Interconnector converter stations, and HV cable projects, with responsibilities including:

• Project Management: Overseeing programme, budget, resources, and quality plans.
• Proposal Writing: Crafting compelling proposals.
• Front End Engineering Design (FEED): Leading initial design phases.
• Drawing Preparation: Creating drawings for planning applications and tender packages.
• Detailed Civil/Structural Design: Developing comprehensive designs.
• Design Coordination: Collaborating across multidisciplinary teams.
• Specification Preparation: Drafting detailed specifications.
• Condition and Structural Assessment: Evaluating existing structures for reuse.
• National Grid CDAE: Ensuring compliance with National Grid standards.

Candidate Specification

Technical Expertise

• Expertise Required: In-depth knowledge of civil/structural engineering principles, including load‑bearing capacity, material properties, and design codes (British Standards, Eurocodes, NGTS).
• Quality Management: Ensuring technical quality with clear plans for reviews, checks, and approvals.
• Cultural Alignment: Upholding Mott MacDonald’s PRIDE values.
• CDM 2015 Compliance: Proven track record as a Designer under CDM 2015.
• National Grid Specs: Understanding of NGETSR137 & NGETSR188.

Project Technical Lead

• Leadership Role: Leading the project team in technical innovation and problem‑solving.
• Quality Assurance: Ensuring top‑notch technical quality within scope, cost, and time.
• Team Development: Collaborating with the Project Manager to build and resource the design team.
• Daily Management: Overseeing technical management, coordinating interfaces, and resolving conflicts.
• Proposal Expertise: Contributing to proposal writing with compelling content and accurate cost estimates.
• FEED Experience: Leading Front End Engineering Design activities for structural components. Construction Design: Guiding detailed designs for civil and structural components.

Design Coordination and Collaboration

• Multidisciplinary Collaboration: Excelling in coordinating with other disciplines (e.g., architects, building services engineers) to integrate structural designs seamlessly.
• Conflict Resolution: Effectively resolving design conflicts within multidisciplinary teams.

Attention to Detail

• Drawing Preparation: Proficiency in checking and reviewing detailed drawings for planning applications, FEED, and construction‑level detailed design packages.
• Compliance: Ensuring adherence to relevant standards.
• Structural Integrity: Managing and delivering designs in coordination with all relevant disciplines.

Communication and Leadership

• Clear Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills for conveying technical information, collaborating with team members, and presenting findings.
• Leadership Mindset: Demonstrating leadership qualities, especially when guiding junior engineers or collaborating with stakeholders.

Experience

• Relevant Experience: Proven experience in structural engineering.
• Energy Project Experience: Advantageous for this role.

Qualifications

• Education: A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Civil or Structural Engineering, or Construction Management.
• Chartered Engineer: CEng, MICE, or MIStructE.

This role is ideal for a dynamic and experienced professional looking to make a significant impact in the field of civil and structural engineering. If you are passionate about leading innovative projects and driving technical excellence, we would love to hear from you!

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.

Agile working

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.

Accessibility

We want you to perform your best at every stage in the recruitment process. If you are disabled or need any support to enable you to apply or attend an interview, please contact us at [e-mail] and we will talk to you about how we can support you.

We offer some fantastic benefits including:

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.

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.

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.
• 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.

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.
• Make a difference within our communities through our social outcomes.

Location(s): Croydon, GB Newcastle Upon Tyne, GB Glasgow, GB Altrincham, GB

Contract Type: Permanent

Work Pattern: Full Time

Market: Energy

Discipline: Civil

Job Ref: 16638