Principal Design Engineer

Principal Design Engineer

Are you a highly experienced engineer with a passion for leading complex design solutions, influencing strategic decisions, and delivering critical infrastructure projects that make a real difference?

Were looking for a Principal Design Engineer to provide technical leadership across a portfolio of major capital delivery projects. In this role, youll work closely with operational teams, project managers, contractors, and design partners to develop and assure engineering solutions that are safe, sustainable, and deliver long-term value.

Youll play a key role in driving engineering excellence, supporting project delivery from concept through to construction and commissioning, while helping shape the future of our water and wastewater assets.

What youll be doing

- Leading the development and technical assurance of engineering designs across major capital projects.

- Providing engineering leadership throughout feasibility, concept, outline, and detailed design stages.

- Acting as the principal technical authority for complex engineering solutions and investment schemes.

- Managing and coordinating multidisciplinary design teams including electrical, mechanical, civil, ICA, and process disciplines.

- Reviewing and approving design deliverables to ensure compliance with company, regulatory, and industry standards.

- Identifying opportunities for innovation, standardisation, and whole-life cost optimisation.

- Supporting Design Risk Assessments, HAZOPs, design reviews, and technical governance processes.

- Ensuring designs are buildable, operable, maintainable, and aligned with asset management strategies.

- Supporting project delivery teams during procurement, construction, commissioning, and handover activities.

- Providing technical mentoring and development support to engineers and graduates.

- Working closely with stakeholders to manage engineering risks and resolve technical challenges.

- Contributing to engineering standards, best practice guidance, and continuous improvement initiatives.

- Supporting business planning and investment programmes through the production of technical options and business cases.

What were looking for

- Significant experience in engineering design within the water, wastewater, utilities, energy, process, or infrastructure sectors.

- Strong technical expertise in eith...