Senior Principal

Senior Principal / Technical Principal Engineer Location/s: Altrincham, Birmingham, Cambridge, Croydon, Leeds; UK Recruiter contact: Madeleine Knight 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 your 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 seeking Chartered Civil or Highway Engineers with experience in light rail, tramway or bus rapid transit design and planning, to be part of our Transport and Mobility Solutions Division in the UK. You will be required to deliver technical leadership, a collaborative approach and inspire engineering teams to deliver projects to a high quality, within budget and timescales. You will be offered, and be expected to take on, a degree of autonomy and responsibility and able to contribute to growing the technical capability of the Urban Transit and Mobility team's profile and work portfolio through successful project delivery and participation in business development. Although there are roles available in a number of locations across the UK, you will be expected to collaborate with our Urban Transit and Mobility Practice across the world and the wider global Mott MacDonald business. The role offers the successful applicant the opportunity to develop their skills and progress their career working as a part of a Global Award Winning team of innovative engineers and specialists. Responsibilities Delivering and planning the development, design and implementation of light rail, tramway and bus rapid transit projects Demonstrate technical leadership and provide mentoring while ensuring adherence to H&S policy and procedures Leading the engineering solutions of tasks on multi-disciplinary project teams across a portfolio of complex projects, ensuring delivery to client requirements, programme and budget Managing technical interfaces and integration of multiple disciplines in a co‑ordinated manner to deliver coherent solutions Ensuring a high level of quality in all deliverables through diligent checking and collaboration with discipline experts Provision of inputs to bid proposals and submissions Active involvement in business development through attentive customer care when working with clients Mentoring and developing junior staff Candidate Specification Degree qualified (B.Eng Hons or equivalent) in Civil or Highway Engineering or related discipline, or Masters degree qualified (M.Eng or equivalent), or extensive equivalent experience A Chartered Engineer with a proven record of technical leadership on light rail, tramway or bus rapid transit infrastructure projects Experienced in working on multi-disciplinary design projects, including planning technical schedules with resources, leading teams of multi-disciplinary engineers and ensuring integration Sound understanding of light rail, tramway or bus rapid transit standards and guidance, and experience of working at a strategic level taking a lead at the highest level with clients Able to communicate confidently and professionally in English with colleagues, fellow professionals and clients at all levels (written and verbal) Experience in preparing fee proposals, contributing to business development, and building successful client relationships, including with local authorities and private sector clients Required Skills Knowledge of light rail / tramways principles and understanding design standards such as Manual for Streets Experience in the use of BIM to coordinate design inputs Ability to work in complex multi-disciplinary environments without standards, following best practice and able to rely on international equivalents Possess experience of preparing light rail, tramway or bus rapid transit engineering designs, for planning through to detailed construction, standard details and technical specifications Have an understanding of personal Health and Safety responsibilities Ideal Candidate Attributes Experience working with a systems engineering approach would be an advantage with experience of requirements management on major complex projects Experience of co‑ordinating multiple disciplines and ensuring integration and interface management Experience in providing engineering proof of evidence in Transport and Works Act Order inquiries or similar statutory processes Experience of public and stakeholder consultation Experience in co-ordinating scheme development with business case work tasks and overseeing the consistency of both Expertise in the design and construction of on‑street track forms of varying designs. Ability to snag the failure of the same Significant experience in the maintenance and renewal of tramway or light rail infrastructure and its design Experience in the application of CSM‑RA to rail or light rail projects and the establishment of operational concepts, strategies and plans (Operational modelling capability is not required for this role, though knowledge of it may be advantageous) Experience of managing operational light rail or tramway systems including performance and demand management, cost management of the same UK Immigration Mott MacDonald Ltd. are not currently offering sponsorship to candidates under the Skilled Worker visa route in the UK. This decision is 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 reasonable.adjustments@mottmac.com and we will talk to you about how we can support you. Benefits 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, ethnicity, disability, and parents/carers communities. Make a difference within our communities through our social outcomes. Apply now, or for more information about our application process, click here. Location(s): Altrincham, GB; Croydon, GB; Birmingham, GB; Cambridge, GB; Leeds, GB Contract Type: PermanentWork Pattern: Full TimeMarket: TransportDiscipline: CivilJob Ref: 12661Recruiter Contact: Madeleine Knight #J-18808-Ljbffr