Principal Engineer

Principal Engineer

Location: Durrington, West SussexSalary: £75,000 per annumContract: Permanent, Full-Time

We are seeking an experienced and driven Principal Engineer to join our utilities client in West Sussex. This is an exciting opportunity for a technically accomplished engineering professional to take a leading role in the delivery of major water and wastewater projects that will directly impact customers, communities, and the environment.

As a Principal Engineer, you will provide technical leadership within your discipline, whether Civil, Mechanical, EICA, Process, Network Modelling, or Hydraulics, guiding multidisciplinary design teams through the successful development and delivery of complex engineering schemes.

This role offers the opportunity to influence strategic decisions, drive innovation, mentor engineering talent, and deliver sustainable solutions that support the future of the UK water industry.

The Role

Reporting to the Engineering Discipline Lead, you will lead the technical delivery of a range of water and wastewater projects, ensuring solutions are safe, efficient, sustainable, and delivered on time and within budget.

You will work closely with Project Design Leads, Project Managers, contractors, consultants, and key stakeholders to develop and implement engineering solutions while maintaining the highest standards of technical governance and quality assurance.

Key Responsibilities

Technical Leadership

• Lead the technical delivery of water and wastewater projects from concept through to completion.
• Provide expert guidance and leadership to multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Prepare and approve design calculations, specifications, datasheets, and technical documentation.
• Resolve complex engineering and design challenges.
• Ensure compliance with technical governance procedures and quality standards.
• Review and approve engineering designs and technical outputs.

Project Delivery

• Manage project design budgets and support commercial decision-making.
• Ensure engineering solutions are delivered in line with programme requirements.
• Monitor project progress and identify risks, issues, and opportunities.
• Work collaboratively with stakeholders to achieve successful project outcomes.

Health, Safety & Environment

• Promote a strong health and safety culture across project teams.
• Ensure compliance with CDM Regulations and organisational HSE standards.
• Develop risk mitigation strategies and design solutions that minimise operational risks.
• Champion sustainable and environmentally responsible engineering solutions.

Innovation & Continuous Improvement

• Challenge traditional approaches and identify innovative solutions.
• Support the implementation of digital engineering and design technologies.
• Research emerging industry best practice and drive continuous improvement initiatives.
• Contribute to the development and maintenance of engineering standards.

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, mentor, and coach junior engineers and technical staff.
• Support the professional development of engineers within your discipline.
• Contribute to workforce planning, recruitment, and succession planning.
• Foster a collaborative culture where innovation and continuous learning are encouraged.

Commercial & Financial Management

• Support the delivery of cost-effective engineering solutions.
• Ensure projects achieve best whole-life cost outcomes.
• Assist in business case development and budget management.
• Influence and negotiate with senior stakeholders across internal and external organisations.

About You

We are looking for an experienced engineering professional with a proven track record of delivering engineering solutions within the UK water sector.

You will have:

• Significant experience delivering water and/or wastewater infrastructure projects.
• Experience operating at Senior Engineer, Principal Engineer, or equivalent level.
• Strong technical expertise within your engineering discipline.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary design teams.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
• The ability to resolve complex engineering challenges.
• Strong commercial awareness and budget management experience.
• Experience mentoring and developing engineering talent.
• A proactive approach to innovation and continuous improvement.
• Full UK Driving Licence.

Essential Qualifications

• MEng, BEng, BSc or HNC in Engineering, Environmental Science, or a related discipline.
• Chartered Engineer (CEng) status with an appropriate professional institution.
• Extensive experience within the UK water and/or wastewater industry.

Desirable

• Subject Matter Expert status within a specialist water or wastewater discipline.
• Experience working across multiple stages of the AMP cycle.
• Knowledge of digital engineering and modern design methodologies.

Adecco acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment and an employment business for the supply of temporary workers. The Adecco Group UK & Ireland is an Equal Opportunities Employer.

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