Principal Engineer

Get AI‑powered advice on this job and more exclusive features. Location/s: Glasgow, Edinburgh, Leeds, Cambridge, London, Reading, Bristol, Brighton & Manchester, UK Recruiter contact: Laura Easdon 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 Division The Water Consultancy Division is Mott MacDonald’s centre of excellence for responding to water and wastewater challenges, offering fantastic opportunities to get involved in diverse and technically challenging work. The work we do is at the forefront of ensuring safe water supplies for future generations and protecting our environment. Our multidisciplinary teams provide a variety of services throughout the full project life cycle, from advisory services and feasibility studies, through outline and detailed design, to construction support and site supervision. Ready for your next challenge? We're a company that actively fuels the creativity of our people, creating foundations that bring brain and soul together. We understand that careers take many forms, and we have a rich history of success in the AMP8 framework, proving that variety is key to job satisfaction. Overview Of The Role We are seeking an experienced and enthusiastic Civil Engineer to join our Dams and Reservoirs team. Mott MacDonald is a market leader in the UK water sector, serving major water companies and delivering a wide variety of engineering and advisory projects. Our Dams and Reservoirs team has ambitious growth plans in three key areas: Meeting upcoming investment needs through our existing and new frameworks with major UK water companies, reservoir owners and the Environment Agency Development of Strategic Resource Options to address future water supply challenges Delivery of landmark hydropower projects in the UK and internationally You will join a multidisciplinary team of engineers, preparing feasibility studies, calculations and outline/detailed civil engineering designs; producing technical and commercial specifications, drawings and schedules; and carrying out site supervision duties. You will work in close partnership with clients and contractors, building strong relationships that will enhance the company’s reputation and help secure further work. This role offers a fantastic opportunity to develop your technical and project management skills, with great prospects for career progression as the business continues to grow. Clients such as the Environment Agency, HS2, water utility companies, hydropower developers and international development agencies trust us to deliver their schemes, and we are looking for a Civil Engineer to help us reward that trust. We operate an agile working policy with the expectation that you will spend more time working in any of the offices stated above than not. We are seeking a Principal Civil Engineer with experience in dams and/or river engineering who will lead the design of large, multidisciplinary projects, supervise the work of more junior staff whilst providing technical and professional guidance. Key Responsibilities And Duties Include Leading multidisciplinary projects and bids, harnessing our existing expertise in geotechnical engineering, dam foundation analysis, risk assessment and breach analysis, hydraulic structures, dam body analysis, and collaborating with our specialists in hydrology, hydropower, water transfers, environment, planning and beyond Representing the company in technical and consortia meetings Driving knowledge‑sharing and innovation through training and empowering others Mentoring and developing others, providing guidance to support their professional development Promoting a vibrant health and safety culture and practice Driving continuous improvement in project delivery 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 the 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 everyday 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 programme, 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 × your basic salary, with an option to increase the level of cover to 6 × 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): Leeds, Manchester, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Cambridge Contract Type: Permanent Work Pattern: Full Time Market: Water Discipline: Water Job Ref: 5699 Recruiter Contact: Laura Easdon #J-18808-Ljbffr