Principal Engineer

Ref: 114

Role: Principal Engineer

Salary: £81,156 – £90,279 per annum (dependent on experience)

Location: Louth, Office-based with hybrid working available 

Hours: 74 hours per fortnight (nine-day working fortnight)

Benefits:

• 26 days annual leave, increasing to 30 days with service
• Bank holidays plus additional statutory days
• Local Government Pension Scheme (defined benefit pension)
• Hybrid working (up to two days per week from home)
• Relocation package available
• Collaborative and supportive working environment

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Chartered Civil Engineer to join a senior leadership team as Principal Engineer.

This strategic leadership role is responsible for the technical direction, delivery and management of a large-scale capital engineering programme. Leading a multidisciplinary engineering team, you will ensure projects are delivered safely, efficiently and in line with regulatory, financial, environmental and organisational objectives.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic leadership for the capital engineering programme and associated projects.
• Lead, develop and manage a multidisciplinary engineering and project management team.
• Contribute as a member of the senior leadership team, supporting organisational strategy, planning and performance.
• Develop and maintain five and ten-year engineering investment and delivery plans.
• Ensure engineering programmes are delivered safely, on time, within budget and to the required quality standards.
• Maintain effective programme governance, reporting, controls and risk management processes.
• Provide expert technical advice to senior stakeholders on civil, mechanical and electrical engineering matters.
• Oversee the investigation, modelling, design and delivery of major capital projects.
• Prepare business cases, project proposals, cost estimates and funding submissions.
• Lead tender evaluations, procurement activities and contract management processes.
• Monitor project performance across cost, quality, safety, environmental impact and programme delivery.
• Ensure compliance with engineering standards, statutory obligations and financial regulations.
• Provide technical oversight of hydraulic, hydrological, geotechnical and structural engineering principles.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with contractors, consultants and external stakeholders.
• Drive continuous improvement across engineering systems, processes and programme delivery.
• Promote innovation, sustainability and best practice throughout the engineering function.
• Champion health, safety and wellbeing across all engineering activities.
• Ensure engineering solutions support climate resilience, environmental protection and sustainable infrastructure delivery.
• Report regularly to senior leadership on programme performance, risks and engineering matters.
• Support organisational resilience through effective resource planning and succession development.

The Successful Candidate:

• Chartered Engineer (CEng) status with a recognised professional institution (such as ICE).
• Degree qualified in Civil Engineering or a related engineering discipline.
• Significant experience delivering complex infrastructure or capital engineering projects.
• Strong knowledge of UK engineering standards, regulatory frameworks and project governance.
• Proven experience leading multidisciplinary engineering and project management teams.
• Experience working within regulated environments.
• Strong commercial awareness with experience managing contracts, procurement and project budgets.
• Excellent programme management, planning and organisational skills.
• Strong understanding of engineering risk management and quality assurance.
• Outstanding communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• A collaborative leadership style with the ability to inspire, develop and motivate high-performing teams.
• The ability to balance strategic thinking with operational delivery.
• A proactive, resilient and solutions-focused approach.
• Commitment to continuous improvement, innovation and professional excellence.