This is an exciting and challenging role in a growing team of 130+ C&S Engineers and Designers. Our department covers a range of projects from Concept Studies through to Detailed Design, providing a variety of interesting work. Industries include Water, Transportation, Energy, Nuclear, and Defence.

As a Principal Engineer, you will work in a multi-disciplinary team delivering infrastructure projects. Your responsibilities include providing civil and structural advice, analysis, calculations, reports, and specifications. You will lead small projects and sub-tasks technically, communicate designs effectively to BIM teams, other disciplines, construction personnel, and stakeholders. The role is primarily office-based in Manchester 2-3 days a week, with occasional site visits, design reviews, and client meetings mainly within the Northwest region. You will support and guide junior team members and deliver value engineering solutions, requiring confidence and authority in client interactions.

Your responsibilities could involve:

• Responsibility for C&S discipline technical input for projects and proposals, including documentation approval
• Organising discipline staff, allocating work, and ensuring delivery against plans
• Mentoring and developing graduates and less experienced engineers
• Producing high-quality C&S engineering deliverables on schedule, within budget, and to client satisfaction
• Ensuring compliance with applicable codes, standards, legislation, and company/client procedures
• Maintaining awareness of current relevant codes and standards
• Implementing company and client/project policies and procedures
• Communicating effectively with other disciplines and departments to ensure clear interfaces and correct designs
• Training and developing team members
• Line-managing a team of civil engineers, including performance management and work allocation

Additional specific tasks include defining client requirements, planning and delivering project tasks, designing new structures, assessing historic structures, and supporting estimates and business development. You will also provide guidance on nuclear sector requirements, regulations, and industry best practices, and support project managers with change management, progress reporting, and risk management.

Qualifications and experience required:

• Proven experience in infrastructure project lifecycle stages
• Good knowledge of UK design practices and installation requirements across industries
• Extensive knowledge of UK legislation and standards
• Awareness of risk management and HSE requirements
• Minimum BEng in Civil or Structural Engineering
• Chartership with ICE or IStructE
• CSCS or CCNSG certification
• Security Clearance or eligibility for SC (UK Citizenship or 5 years UK residence)

Desirable skills include experience with structures, assessments, scopes of work, estimates, business development, team leadership, contract knowledge, project management, and geotechnical expertise.

Costain aims to improve lives with smart infrastructure solutions across energy, water, transportation, and defence markets in the UK. We focus on strategic clients with major investments driven by national needs, regulations, and legislation. Our services cover the entire asset lifecycle, including strategic consultancy, digital solutions, asset optimisation, and complex programme delivery. We value our culture and principles, and appreciate the effort of applicants; however, due to high volume, individual feedback cannot be provided at the application stage.