Principal Civil Engineer

Job Description

Why This Role?

As a Principal Civil Engineer, you’ll have a key role in shaping and expanding our civil engineering capability in drainage and flood risk management promoting a catchment based approach and the use of nature-based and Blue/Green solutions.

You will influence strategic decisions for high‑profile UK water clients and play a pivotal role in embedding best practice across the business. This is your opportunity to shape direction, raise standards, and help build a high‑performing civil engineering team from the ground up.

If you’re energised by joining a fast‑growing, newly‑formed UK water practice, where you can directly influence the team’s trajectory and help shape the future of national water infrastructure, then this role offers you the platform to make a genuine, lasting impact.

Key Responsibilities

Technical & Design Leadership

• Take ownership of the civil scope within multidisciplinary delivery, promoting best practice and innovation while driving clear decisions on operability, maintainability, access, and whole-life performance. 
• Lead the development of surface water drainage strategies and the delivery of outline and detailed surface water drainage design (including hydraulic modelling), promoting the use of sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) and nature-based-solutions for a range of clients in the regulated and non-regulated water sector.
• Lead and support on the civil aspects of appraisal, feasibility, optioneering, design and delivery of flood and erosion risk management projects.
• Work on flood risk assessments advising clients on the most appropriate solutions to mitigate flood risk through design in line with policy and regulation.
• Support the development of the team’s expertise in river engineering and river restoration.
• Supervise and mentor less experienced team members helping them towards achieving professional qualifications.
• Fulfil Designer duties under CDM 2015, leading design risk management within the civil scope and, where appointed, undertaking Principal Designer responsibilities in support of the Design Manager during the pre-construction phase.

Client Engagement & Delivery

• Act as a senior client-facing technical lead, running workshops and design reviews, advising clients, and building long-term relationships with clients both in the regulated and non-regulated water sectors.
• Provide design assurance and technical support during delivery phases, including reviewing contractor submissions, answering design queries, and supporting handover/commissioning activities when required.

Business Growth & Team Development

• Grow the civil capability through business development and work winning: identify opportunities, shape scopes, contribute to bids, and build a healthy forward pipeline.
• Help translate the UK water growth strategy into practical actions: target sectors, priority accounts, capability gaps, and delivery plans.
• Help in building the civil arm of the UK water consultancy team through recruitment, mentoring and skills development, including pathways, coaching and technical governance.
• Work with the wider business to evolve new and improved service offerings, including sustainability-led and value-focused civil solutions.

Qualifications

What do we need from you

• BEng/MEng (or equivalent) in Civil Engineering.
• Registered as a chartered engineer (CEng) or equivalent professional membership (e.g., ICE or similar).
• Strong track record in the UK regulated and/or non-regulated water sector, e.g. water companies, Environment Agency, local authorities, private development.
• Demonstrated leadership across the design lifecycle: appraisal, feasibility/optioneering, concept, outline and detailed design, plus support through delivery stages as the designer.
• Demonstrable experience in Microdrainage / Infodrainage and drainage related hydrology.
• A strong interest for nature-based-solutions and the desire to champion a more strategic and sustainable approach to water management would be highly beneficial.
• Solid understanding of CDM designer responsibilities and sustainable design principles, with demonstrable experience contributing to low-carbon, practical engineering solutions within regulated infrastructure projects.
• Experience supporting projects delivered via frameworks, alliances and/or D&B models, including design review, technical query response, and design assurance.
• Confident client and stakeholder manager; clear communicator, comfortable presenting, and able to lead technical conversations with credibility.
• Evidence of BD/work-winning contribution (or strong demonstrable aptitude): opportunity shaping, bid inputs, client development, and service-line growth.
• People leadership experience: building teams, hiring and mentoring, and setting a positive, delivery-focused culture.

Please note that you must have the right to work in the UK to be considered for this position

Additional Information

What’s in It for You?

• An exciting new growth role in a fast‑organic growing UK business, offering clear and accelerated career progression
• Top Employers 2025 - Egis recognised across four continents for excellence in HR practices, having been awarded the prestigious Top Employer 2025 certification. Top Employers Institute is the global authority on recognising excellence in people practices.   
• A global leader in green infrastructure - we’re proud to lead the way in sustainable infrastructure, mobility and energy, innovating across the entire value chain and every aspect of the built environment. 
• Highly competitive leadership‑level reward package
• Hybrid and flexible working
• 26+ days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Professional development, chartership support & global mobility
• Supportive, inclusive culture driven by sustainability and long‑term community impact

Ready to Lead?

Join Egis and play a pivotal role in shaping the future of sustainable water infrastructure across the UK.

We are committed to our planet

In each project we design, engineer and operate we care deeply about the legacy we’re leaving behind. As part of our team, you’ll have a unique opportunity to use your skills and expertise to shape a better future for our communities in the UK, and all around the globe.

Our commitment is translated in the work carried out by our Egis Foundation, which funds concrete actions to address the climate crisis and is focused on educational and social initiatives that will help in the responsible and sustainable shift towards a sustainable world.

We are an Equal Opportunities employer and we strive to build a workforce that truly reflects the communities we represent. We welcome candidates from all backgrounds, regardless of age, disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, and any other protected characteristic. If you decide to apply for an opportunity with us, your application will be assessed based purely on your experience, the essential and desirable criteria, and your suitability for the role. We value each and every one’s contribution as this builds our culture and means that if you work with us, you will be included, listened to, and respected.