Senior / Principal Civil Engineer

About the Role

The Transport business unit designs, plans and delivers infrastructure solutions for cities, regions and asset owners, covering the whole project life‑cycle and contributing to the Global Transport Sector Strategy. Its expertise spans business case development, revenue advisory, procurement, environmental legislation and asset management. The role will lead a team of drainage engineers on high‑profile UK and international projects, delivering sustainable drainage infrastructure, driving digital design solutions and ensuring climate‑change resilience. Key responsibilities include coordinating project teams to meet technical, budget and programme targets, producing and reviewing calculations, specifications and drawings, managing design risk, and representing Mott MacDonald with clients and stakeholders. The role also involves forecasting, risk management, bid production and adherence to global standards, health, safety and environmental policies.

Key Responsibilities

• ▸digital design
• ▸sustainable drainage
• ▸team lead
• ▸risk management
• ▸budget coordination
• ▸client liaison

What You Bring

Mott MacDonald is recruiting for a Senior or Principal Civil Engineer with a drainage design focus across multiple UK locations, including Altrincham, Birmingham, Brighton, and many others. Applicants will work within the UK and may be required to travel to other offices or sites as needed. The ideal candidate has a strong technical background in drainage design, a proven track record of delivering complex projects, experience managing small teams, excellent communication skills and a good understanding of CDM regulations; desirable experience includes the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges, asset management, travel flexibility and bid preparation. Candidates who meet at least 80 % of the criteria are encouraged to apply. Please note that the firm does not currently sponsor Skilled Worker visas, but welcomes candidates eligible for alternative UK immigration routes. Alternative routes such as the Graduate Route or Innovator Visa are welcomed. • Strong technical background in drainage design. • Proven ability to deliver complex technical projects and ensure compliance with quality and technical standards. • Experience managing small teams and supporting development of junior staff. • Excellent communication and collaboration across multidisciplinary internal teams. • Good understanding of designers’ responsibilities under CDM Regulations. • Experience with the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (desirable). • Experience in asset management and maintenance prioritisation (desirable). • Willingness to travel to other offices and sites as required (desirable). • Experience preparing successful bids and client engagement (desirable). • No Skilled Worker visa sponsorship currently; open to alternative immigration routes.

Requirements

• ▸drainage design
• ▸project delivery
• ▸team management
• ▸cdm knowledge
• ▸dmrb experience
• ▸asset management

Benefits

The company offers a comprehensive package of health, financial and lifestyle benefits, extensive learning and development opportunities, employee networks and community programmes, as well as generous family‑care leave. Benefits can be flexed through a salary‑flex scheme to suit personal needs. • Private medical insurance for all UK colleagues. • Health cash plan to support everyday health costs and treatments. • Access to Peppy for free menopause support for UK colleagues. • Comprehensive wellbeing program available to employees and families. • Salary‑flex options to opt into a wide range of health benefits. • Pension contributions matched between 4.5% and 7%. • Life assurance up to 4× basic salary, optional increase to 6×. • Income protection scheme offering financial and return‑to‑work support. • Flexible benefits including critical illness insurance, payroll saving and will writing. • Annual bonus schemes sharing the business’s financial success. • 33–35 days holiday per year, inclusive of public holidays, with buy/sell option. • Holiday entitlement rises to a minimum of 35 days after five years’ service. • Employee saving schemes and discounts from high‑street retailers. • 26 weeks paid maternity and adoption leave. • Two weeks paid paternity/partner leave. • Shared parental leave up to 24 weeks at full pay. • Up to five additional caring days, two of which are paid. • Annual professional institution subscription for continued learning. • Mentoring, formal training and self‑development opportunities. • Advanced Employee Networks supporting LGBTQ+, gender, race, disability and parents/carers communities. • Opportunities to contribute to social outcome projects in local communities. • Hybrid/agile working policy promoting wellbeing, flexibility and trust. • Reasonable adjustments available for disabled candidates throughout recruitment.

Work Environment

Hybrid