At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission‑critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting‑edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good.
Your impact
Manchester | Birmingham ‑ Shape the Places of Tomorrow
At Jacobs, we’re not just designing infrastructure — we’re creating places that connect people, power innovation, and support resilient, thriving communities. Our Cities & Places Site Development teams in Manchester & Birmingham are growing, and we’re looking for a Principal Civil Design Engineer who wants to bring real impact, fresh thinking and technical excellence to every project.
Joining us means applying your expertise to some of the most diverse and ambitious programmes in the UK and beyond. Whether it’s transforming Manchester Airport, enabling next‑generation defence and pharmaceutical facilities, or shaping advanced manufacturing campuses, you will bring the insight, leadership and creativity that help turn complex challenges into meaningful outcomes.
This is your opportunity to grow and lead a team, influence strategy, elevate delivery standards and shape the future of our Site Civils capability in the North.
You will bring the curiosity to challenge conventional approaches, the confidence to guide multidisciplinary teams and the technical depth to deliver robust civil engineering solutions.
Your leadership will help strengthen our integrated Cities & Places offering — ensuring we deliver coordinated, high‑quality site development across sectors such as Defence, Aviation, High Tech Buildings and the Built Environment.
You will inspire engineers around you, nurture future talent and set the tone for how excellent civil design is delivered across our projects.
What you will do :
* You will grow and lead the C&P Site Development team and shape a unified approach to delivering site civils across projects, collaborating closely with drainage, utilities, earthworks, environmental and architectural specialists.
* You will build relationships across our business and with external clients, spotting opportunities, sharing knowledge and helping shape the pipeline of future work.
* You will provide hands on and strategic oversight of site civil design — including drainage, earthworks, utilities and platform development — ensuring technical rigour and seamless coordination across disciplines.
* You will build and grow the team and support the development of engineers at all levels, fostering strong collaboration, capability growth and a culture of excellence.
Here's what you'll need
* Chartered engineer with a relevant professional body (ICE or equivalent)
* Experience in the use of structural analysis and design software (such as AutoCAD, Civil 3D, microdrainage)
* An excellent communicator, capable of presenting project and design solutions to clients, and collaborating with multi‑discipline teams to achieve the best results
* Strong civil engineering background with a holistic view of site civils
* Leadership capability: ready to lead delivery and guide and mentor others
* Ability to balance strategic thinking with hands‑on technical input
* Embrace and implement new technologies including digital and automation within the team and on projects
* Ability to aid the commercial success of project, including delivery to schedule and budget
At Jacobs, you'll find more than just a job. You'll discover:
A global network of expertise and opportunity
A culture founded on safety, integrity, inclusion, and belonging
Flexible working arrangements that support your well‑being and potential
Opportunities to make a real‑world impact through our global giving and volunteering programs
Up to 10% pension
24 days (+10 days bought) holidays
Free medical and income protection insurance and many more!
The role is based in Manchester or Birmingham and will require 3 days office attendance.
Ready for a change? Apply Below Now to Start Your Journey with Jacobs!
We value collaboration and believe that in‑person interactions are crucial for both our culture and client delivery. We empower employees with our hybrid working policy, allowing them to split their work week between Jacobs offices/projects and remote locations enabling them to deliver their best work.
As a disability confident employer, we will interview disabled candidates who best meet the criteria. We welcome applications from candidates who are seeking flexible working and from those who may not meet all the listed requirements for a role.
Your application experience is important to us, and we’re keen to adapt to make every interaction even better. If you require further support or reasonable adjustments with regards to the recruitment process (for example, you require the application form in a different format), please contact the team via Careers Support.
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