Senior / Principal Engineer (Coastal, River & Urban Water Quality Modelling)
Location: Various locations
Job Type: Full time
Ref: R‑152116
Overview
The Senior / Principal Engineer will act as a technical specialist and delivery lead in coastal, river, sewer and water quality modelling, supporting complex water industry and regulatory projects. The role focuses on deep technical leadership, high‑value project delivery, and expert advisory support to clients and regulators, without formal director‑level line management accountability.
This role is suited to a recognised subject‑matter expert who leads through technical excellence, mentoring, and project‑level authority.
Note: We welcome applications from candidates who may not meet every requirement but demonstrate partial suitability and the potential to grow into the role.
Your role
Provide senior technical leadership on projects involving
* Sewer networks, rivers, estuaries and coastal waters.
* Flood risk and flood alleviation studies.
* Water quality, bathing water and environmental compliance.
Lead water quality (WQ) modelling, including
* MIKE suite (e.g. MIKE 21) for coastal and estuarine modelling.
* Integrated river, sewer and receiving water modelling.
Act as Technical Manager / Technical Lead for complex modelling studies, ensuring
* Appropriate methodologies.
* Robust model build, verification and validation.
* Clear interpretation of results.
Undertake and oversee
* Intermittent discharge investigations.
* EDM and monitoring data analysis.
* Integrated catchment and sewer impact assessments.
Provide expert technical advice to
* Water companies.
* Environmental regulators.
* Internal project teams.
Support regulator liaison on
* Water Framework Directive (WFD).
* Bathing Water Directive.
* Mentor and support junior and mid‑level staff, including technical review and skills development.
* Contribute to innovation and improvement of modelling approaches, including rapid and real‑time assessment tools.
About you
* PhD in Civil Engineering or related discipline (sediment transport / drainage systems).
Professional Memberships
* MCIWEM.
* Chartered Water and Environmental Manager (C.WEM).
Experience
* Relevant years' experience in research and consultancy.
* Experience delivering and leading complex technical modelling projects.
Strong track record in
* Technical leadership.
* Project delivery.
* Client and regulator engagement.
Why choose AtkinsRéalis?
Wherever you are in your career – and whoever you are – AtkinsRéalis is for you. Here, support and collaboration are a vibrant part of a culture that lets you choose where – and how far – your career can go. Take on projects that push boundaries and drive sustainable impact, surrounded by colleagues who believe there's no limit to how brilliant you can be. It's time to join a like‑minded team where you'll be rewarded, supported, and free to be your kind of brilliant.