Principal Structural Engineer

Job Description

Start here. Grow here.

AECOM is looking for an experienced Principal Structural Engineer to join our Belfast office.

This is an excellent opportunity for an established structural engineering professional looking to take a leading role in the delivery of technically challenging projects, provide technical direction to project teams, develop client relationships and contribute to the continued growth of our Belfast Structures team.

As a Principal Structural Engineer, you will combine technical leadership, project delivery, client engagement and mentoring. You will take responsibility for complex projects and significant project elements, influence design strategy, support the development of our engineers and play an active role in identifying and developing new business opportunities.

The Belfast Structures team delivers projects across Northern Ireland, the UK and internationally. As part of a global consultancy, you will work alongside leading professionals on technically challenging and diverse projects across sectors including healthcare, data centres, commercial and office developments, residential, education, industrial and manufacturing, infrastructure, hospitality and the public sector.

What you can expect

• A diverse portfolio of local, national and international projects.
• The opportunity to provide technical leadership on complex and high-profile projects.
• A highly collaborative multidisciplinary environment with access to specialist expertise across the wider business.
• Opportunities to develop and strengthen client relationships and business development opportunities.
• The opportunity to mentor, develop and support engineers and technical staff.
• Involvement in major projects for internationally recognised clients.
• Opportunities to contribute to technical excellence, innovation and best practice across the Structures team.
• A supportive environment that encourages professional development, collaboration and continuous learning.
• The opportunity to play a key role in the continued growth and development of the Belfast Structures team.

Ready to push the limits of what’s possible?

As a Principal Structural Engineer, you will:

• Provide technical leadership and direction on projects, taking responsibility for the delivery of complex structural engineering schemes from concept and feasibility through detailed design, construction and completion.
• Lead the structural engineering input on major projects and significant multidisciplinary commissions, ensuring solutions are technically robust, efficient, economical and aligned with client requirements.
• Apply a high level of engineering judgement to resolve complex technical challenges and develop innovative, practical and buildable solutions.
• Lead the preparation and review of structural calculations, technical reports, specifications, drawings, schedules and other engineering deliverables.
• Provide technical assurance and review the work of engineers and technicians, ensuring quality, accuracy, coordination and compliance with project requirements.
• Take responsibility for key aspects of project delivery, technical risk, quality, programme and resources.
• Coordinate structural design with architects, civil engineers, building services engineers, geotechnical specialists and other members of the multidisciplinary team.
• Provide clear and authoritative technical input at design reviews, progress meetings, client meetings and project workshops.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with clients, contractors, consultants and other stakeholders.
• Act as a senior technical point of contact for clients, understanding their objectives and providing effective engineering solutions.
• Identify opportunities to improve project delivery, technical performance and efficiency through innovation, digital engineering and best practice.
• Support business development and bid activity, including developing technical proposals, scopes, fee estimates and presentations where required.
• Contribute to the growth of the Structures team by identifying opportunities, supporting client development and helping to build AECOM's profile within the market.
• Mentor and develop engineers and technicians, supporting their technical development, professional progression and achievement of professional qualifications.
• Contribute to technical communities and knowledge-sharing initiatives across AECOM, promoting consistency and excellence in structural engineering practice.
• Undertake and oversee structural inspections, surveys, assessments and investigations of existing buildings and structures where required.
• Provide technical support during construction, including responding to technical queries, reviewing contractor information and undertaking site inspections.
• Ensure all designs and technical deliverables comply with relevant UK and Northern Ireland standards, codes, regulations and project requirements.
• Promote AECOM's commitment to health and safety, quality, sustainability and professional excellence throughout project delivery.

Qualifications

Ready to push the limits of what’s possible?

We are looking for a driven and experienced Principal Structural Engineer with a strong technical background, proven leadership capability and a track record of successfully delivering complex structural engineering projects.

As the successful candidate, you will have:

• A degree, or equivalent qualification, in Structural Engineering, Civil Engineering or a relevant engineering discipline.
• Chartered Engineer (CEng) status.
• Professional membership of the Institution of Structural Engineers (MIStructE) and/or the Institution of Civil Engineers (MICE).
• Significant post-Chartership experience in structural engineering design, project delivery and technical leadership.
• Proven experience leading the delivery of complex and multidisciplinary structural engineering projects.

Additional Information

Interested in the role or curious about life at AECOM? Follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube to explore our AECOM voices, employee stories, latest projects, and much more! 

For further information about the role, reach out to the recruiter on LinkedIn Colum Calnan.

At AECOM, we are committed to maintaining a secure and trustworthy recruitment process and take any fraudulent hiring activity seriously. To support this commitment, all newly hired employees are required to attend an in-person Day 1 onboarding at an AECOM office location as a condition of employment.

About AECOM

AECOM is the world’s trusted infrastructure consulting firm, delivering professional services throughout the project lifecycle – from advisory, planning, design and engineering to program and construction management. On projects spanning transportation, buildings, water, new energy and the environment, our public- and private-sector clients trust us to solve their most complex challenges. Our teams are driven by a common purpose to deliver a better world through our unrivaled technical and digital expertise, a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion, and a commitment to environmental, social and governance priorities. AECOM is a Fortune 500 firm and its Professional Services business had revenue of $16.1 billion in fiscal year 2025. See how we are delivering sustainable legacies for generations to come at aecom.com and @AECOM.

Freedom to Grow in a World of Opportunity 

You will have the flexibility you need to do your best work with hybrid work options. Whether you’re working from an AECOM office, remote location or at a client site, you will be working in a dynamic environment where your integrity, entrepreneurial spirit and pioneering mindset are championed.

You will help us foster a safe and respectful workplace, where we invite everyone to bring their whole selves to work using their unique talents, backgrounds and expertise to create transformational outcomes for our clients.

AECOM provides a wide array of compensation, benefits and well-being programs to meet the diverse needs of our employees and their families. We’re the world’s trusted global infrastructure firm, and we’re in this together – your growth and success are ours too.

Join us, and you’ll get all the benefits of being a part of a global, publicly traded firm – access to industry-leading technology and thinking and transformational work with big impact and work flexibility. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we believe in each person’s potential, and we’ll help you reach yours.

We are a Disability Confident Employer and will offer an interview to applicants who have a disability or long-term condition, who meet the minimum/essential criteria for the role. Please let us know using this email address [email protected]  if you would like to apply through the Disability Confident Interview Scheme.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.