Technical Principal (Structural)

MOTT MACDONALD; Newcastle upon Tyne; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private medical insurance

Health cash plan

Peppy menopause support

Wellbeing programme

Flexible benefits

Annual bonus

Job summary

Mott MacDonald is seeking a Technical Principal with strong civil/structural expertise to lead design and delivery on energy infrastructure projects in the UK, including power plants and HV substations. The role emphasises FEED, detailed design, design coordination, and compliance with National Grid CDAE standards within a multidisciplinary team.

You will mentor engineers, contribute to proposals, and ensure high technical quality on time and budget.

Qualifications

• Proven civil/structural engineering knowledge and design codes (BS, Eurocodes, NGTS).
• Experience delivering FEED and detailed civil/structural design in energy projects.
• Ability to prepare detailed specifications and coordinate multi‑discipline design work.
• CDM 2015 designer experience and strong review/QA processes.

Responsibilities

• Oversee programme, budget, resources, and quality plans for projects.
• Lead proposal writing with compelling content and accurate cost estimates.
• Drive Front End Engineering Design activities for structural components.
• Develop drawings for planning applications and tender packages.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary design activities and design reviews.
• Prepare detailed civil/structural designs and technical specifications.
• Coordinate interfaces and resolve design conflicts across teams.
• Ensure compliance with National Grid CDAE standards.

Skills

Project Management

Proposal Writing

Front End Engineering Design

Drawing Preparation

Structural Design

Design Coordination

Specification Writing

National Grid CDAE

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Civil or Structural Engineering

Master’s degree in Civil or Structural Engineering

Chartered Engineer (CEng/MICE or MIStructE)

Job description

Location

Croydon, New castle, Altrincham, Brighton, Bristol, Glasgow

Recruiter contact

Abhijeet Barpanda

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.

To support 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.

Responsibilities

• 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

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

Project Technical Lead

• Leading the project team in technical innovation and problem‑solving.
• Ensuring top‑notch technical quality within scope, cost, and time.
• Collaborating with the Project Manager to build and resource the design team.
• Overseeing technical management, coordinating interfaces, and resolving conflicts.
• Contributing to proposal writing with compelling content and accurate cost estimates.
• Leading Front End Engineering Design activities for structural components.
• Guiding detailed designs for civil and structural components.

Design Coordination and Collaboration

• Coordinating with architects, building services engineers, and other disciplines to integrate structural designs seamlessly.
• Effectively resolving design conflicts within multidisciplinary teams.

Attention to Detail

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

Communication and Leadership

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

Experience

• Proven experience in structural engineering.
• Experience in energy projects is advantageous.

Qualifications

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

Benefits

Health and wellbeing

• Private medical insurance for all UK colleagues.
• Health cash plan to support everyday health costs and treatments.
• Access to Peppy, providing free support from menopause experts for all UK colleagues.
• Broad wellbeing support available through our comprehensive programme, including for your family.
• Ability to flex salary to opt into a wide range of health benefits, many of which can be extended to your family.

Financial wellbeing

• We match employee pension contributions between 4.5% and 7%.
• Life assurance equal up to 4× your basic salary, with an option to increase the level of cover to 6× your salary.
• Income protection scheme providing financial benefit and support for long‑term illness or injury.
• Flexible benefits, including increased life assurance cover, critical illness insurance, payroll saving and will writing.
• Annual bonus schemes reflecting business success.

Lifestyle

• Minimum 33–35 days holiday each year, including public holidays, with ability to buy or sell leave.
• Holiday entitlement increased to a minimum of 35 days after 5 years’ service.
• Employee saving schemes and discounts from high‑street retailers.

Enhanced family and carers leave

• 26 weeks paid maternity and adoption leave, and two weeks paid paternity/partner leave.
• Shared parental leave matches maternity leave, providing up to 24 weeks at full pay.
• Up to five additional days leave for significant caring responsibilities, two of which are paid.

Learning and development

• Primary annual professional institution subscription.
• Opportunities to enhance technical and soft skills through mentoring, formal training, and self‑development options.

Networks, communities, and social outcomes

• Access to groups supporting LGBTQ+, gender, race and ethnicity, disability, and parents/carers communities.
• Opportunities to make a difference within our communities through social outcomes.

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 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 discuss how we can support you.

Agile working

At Mott MacDonald, we offer a hybrid working policy that embraces your well‑being, flexibility, and trust, allowing you and your manager to choose how you work most effectively to meet your client, team, and personal commitments.