Principal Engineer (Highways)

About the role

As a Principal Engineer (Highways) at SYSTRA, you will utilize substantial experience to win and deliver projects safely, ensuring compliance with divisional controls for bidding, revenue, and margin delivery. This role is primarily within the Highways team but involves collaborative work across various teams and projects. You will be part of an existing team delivering a varied program of highway and transportation schemes for public and private sector clients across local and strategic highway networks. The focus will be on development infrastructure projects from feasibility through to detailed design, including highway and drainage design, as well as associated technical and statutory authority approvals.

Responsibilities

• Manage and lead designs on small projects while assisting in delivery, budgets, resourcing, planning, and programming on other projects with the senior team.
• Prepare technical outputs, coordinate with other disciplines, and represent the team internally and externally.
• Ensure financial, technical, and project management control of the civil engineering aspects of projects of various sizes.
• Delegate to, manage, and direct Engineers and Technicians involved in projects.
• Support the development of less experienced Engineers.
• Oversee all stages of highway designs (adoptable or non-adoptable) ensuring compliance with appropriate standards (DMRB, MCHW, MfS, TSM, Local Authority guides, etc.).
• Design and detail highway and drainage infrastructure.
• Liaise with relevant project teams to ensure designs are fully coordinated.
• Collaborate with other construction professionals in the development of designs.
• Assist in the delivery of technical outputs within the team (Drawings, Specifications, Cost Estimates, Contract Documents, and Technical Reports).
• Prepare and price scope/briefs, proposals, and deliverables for new projects.
• Identify, develop, and maintain relationships with clients, understanding their objectives and managing expectations.
• Ensure successful project delivery to time, cost, quality, and other contractual requirements.
• Make presentations to clients, third parties, and colleagues as appropriate.
• Attend meetings with clients to support project delivery and business development.
• Undertake site visits to monitor the progress of works against specifications and highlight issues to the contractor, client, and/or project manager.
• Demonstrate behaviors aligned with SYSTRA’s behavioral framework, fostering a culture of excellence, collaboration, respect, and empowerment.

Requirements

• Substantial experience in the Highways/Development Infrastructure sector.
• MEng/MSc or BEng in Civil Engineering.
• Chartered status (ICE or CIHT) or working toward Professional Qualification.
• Extensive Civil Engineering experience within a consultancy environment.
• Proven ability to take a lead role in project delivery and manage dynamic project teams delivering high-quality projects successfully.
• Substantial knowledge and experience of delivering highway design and appropriate approval processes.
• Experience of highway technical design on major and minor projects, including a good understanding of design principles and practical application.
• Substantial knowledge and use of appropriate standards (DMRB, MCHW, MfS, TSM, Local Authority guides, etc.).
• Substantial knowledge of standard engineering practices and a demonstrable understanding of Health and Safety, including CDM.
• IT literate with excellent knowledge in the use of AutoCAD/Civils 3D and/or other civil engineering packages to design and detail highway and drainage infrastructure.
• Experience of project management and responsibility for financial and commercial aspects of projects.
• Experience of drainage design would be beneficial.
• Ability to determine appropriate solutions with innovation and value.
• Proven ability to communicate effectively with colleagues, clients, and third parties.
• Ability to mentor and supervise less experienced colleagues effectively.
• Ability to work collaboratively with a range of design teams and project stakeholders.
• Excellent written communication skills.
• Ability to prepare technical reports and fee proposals that are fit for purpose.
• Ability to effectively represent the Company externally.
• Ability to manage own workload and prioritize competing demands.

Desirable Skills

• Experience of working with Public and Private sectors is preferable.
• Knowledge of and engagement with the civil engineering industry.
• Adaptable, self-motivated, enthusiastic, hardworking, and a desire to self-progress.
• Flexibility, agility, and a willingness to learn new skills.
• Ability to 'see the bigger picture' and understand the consequences of decisions.

Benefits

• Clear and well-supported pathways for career development and qualification attainment.
• Competitive remuneration package including a bonus and private healthcare.
• Electric car scheme.
• A broad suite of flexible benefits to suit your lifestyle.
• Hybrid working, balancing the benefits of working from home with in-person contact in modern, well-equipped offices.
• Dedicated flexible working policy to support work-life balance.
• Employee-led working groups and a clearly defined diversity and inclusion strategy.
• SYSTRA Wellness Programme offering a wide range of support, including wellness champions, free health checks, healthy eating workshops, and regular seminars.
• Two paid days for charity work.
• Growing social calendar.