Principal Engineer – Dams and Reservoirs Major Projects
Join to apply for the Principal Engineer – Dams and Reservoirs Major Projects role at Mott MacDonald.
Location: Cambridge, Leeds, Bristol, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Reading; UK
Recruiter contact: Laura Easdon
Mott MacDonald is a global engineering, management, and development consultancy with over 20,000 employees across more than 50 countries and 140+ offices. We work across incredible global industries, delivering exciting work that is defining our future and making an important societal impact in the communities we serve.
Our people power our performance – we succeed when they do. With countless opportunities to collaborate, learn, and grow, the possibilities for excellence are as varied as every individual.
Whether you want to grow as a subject matter expert or broaden your experience with roles across our international community, you’re surrounded by global specialists who want to combine their expertise and champion you to be your best. As a proudly employee‑owned business, we benefit our clients, our communities, and each other, investing in creating the right space for everyone to feel empowered, included, and valued. Whatever your ambition, Mott MacDonald is where people come to be brilliant.
About the Division
The Water Consultancy Division is Mott MacDonald’s centre of excellence for responding to water and wastewater challenges, offering fantastic opportunities to get involved in diverse and technically challenging work. The work we do is at the forefront of ensuring safe water supplies for future generations and protecting our environment. Our multidisciplinary teams provide a variety of services throughout the full project life cycle, from advisory services and feasibility studies, through outline and detailed design, to construction support and site supervision.
Overview of the Role
We are seeking a Principal Civil Engineer with a strong background in delivering major infrastructure projects, detailed design, and working collaboratively with clients and contractors. A pragmatic approach to problem‑solving and decision‑making is essential for the role. You will join our Dams and Reservoirs team, contributing to the delivery of high‑profile projects across the UK and internationally.
Key Responsibilities and Duties
* Lead the detailed design of complex civil engineering works, ensuring technical excellence and compliance with industry standards, harnessing our existing expertise in geotechnical engineering, hydraulic structures, risk assessment and collaborating with specialists in hydrology, hydropower, water transfers, environment, planning and beyond.
* Deliver robust and buildable solutions considering practical constraints and opportunities.
* Collaborate closely with contractors to develop buildable, cost‑effective solutions within design and build frameworks.
* Manage project deliverables, timelines, and quality assurance processes.
* Prepare feasibility studies, calculations, specifications, drawings, and schedules.
* Support site supervision and construction phases, resolving technical challenges as they arise.
* Represent Mott MacDonald in client and stakeholder meetings, building strong relationships to support business growth.
* Mentor junior engineers and contribute to technical development across the team.
* Promote a strong health and safety culture and drive continuous improvement in project delivery.
Candidate Specification
Essential
* Proven track record of experience in dams, reservoirs, hydropower, hydraulic structures and/or river engineering.
* Experience in design and delivery of major infrastructure projects in the water engineering sector.
* Ability and enthusiasm to provide supervision to engineers, technicians and apprentices.
* Excellent communication and collaboration skills.
* Experience of managing multidisciplinary teams and complex projects.
Desirable
* Chartered / Incorporally civil engineer with a relevant professional institution.
* Experience of managing clients and other project stakeholders.
* Appointed to the Supervising or All Reservoir Panel under the Reservoirs Act.
* Experience in BIM and collaborative environments, e.g. Civil 3D, BIM360, including supervising the work of others.
UK Immigration
Mott MacDonald Ltd. is not currently offering sponsorship to candidates under the Skilled Worker visa route in the UK. This decision is a consequence of the changes made to the Skilled Worker route by the UK Government in April 2024. We continue to welcome applications from candidates who are eligible for alternative immigration routes in the UK that do not require sponsorship as a Skilled Worker now or in future.
Agile Working
We offer a hybrid working policy that embraces your well‑being, flexibility, and trust.
Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
We put equality, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of our business, seeking to promote fair employment procedures and practices to ensure equal opportunities for all. We encourage individual expression in our workplace and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels they can contribute.
Accessibility
We want you to perform your best at every stage in the recruitment process. If you are disabled or need any support to enable you to apply or attend an interview, please contact us at reasonable.adjustments@mottmac.com and we will talk to you about how we can support you.
Benefits
Health and Wellbeing
* Private medical insurance for all UK colleagues.
* Health cash plan to support you with everyday health costs and treatments.
* Access to Peppy, providing free support from menopause experts for all UK colleagues.
* A variety of wellbeing support is available through our comprehensive wellbeing programme, including access for you and your family.
* Ability to flex your salary to opt into a wide range of health benefits, many of which can be extended to your family too.
Financial Wellbeing
* We match employee pension contributions between 4.5% and 7%.
* Life assurance equal up to 4× your basic salary, with an option to increase the level of cover to 6× your salary.
* Our income protection scheme provides a financial benefit, as well as absence and return to work support due to long‑term illness or injury.
* Flexible benefits, including increased life assurance cover, critical illness insurance, payroll saving and will writing.
* As an independently owned business we share the financial success of the business with all our colleagues in various ways including annual bonus schemes.
Lifestyle
* A minimum of 33–35 days holiday each year, inclusive of public holidays and dependent on level, with the ability to buy or sell leave through our flexible benefits programme.
* Holiday entitlement increased to a minimum of 35 days after 5 years’ service.
* Variety of employee saving schemes and discounts from high‑street retailers.
Enhanced family and carers leave
* Enhanced family leave policies, including 26 weeks paid maternity and adoption leave, and two weeks paid paternity/partner leave.
* Our shared parental leave matches maternity leave meaning we pay up to 24 weeks at full pay.
* Up to five additional days leave are provided for those with significant caring responsibilities, two of which are paid.
Learning and Development
* Primary annual professional institution subscription.
* A broad range of opportunities to enhance both technical and soft skills through mentoring, formal training, and self‑development options.
Networks, Communities, and Social Outcomes
* Join a wide range of groups including our Advanced Employee Networks which support our LGBTQ+, gender, race and ethnicity, disability, and parents/carers communities.
* Make a difference within our communities through our social outcomes.
Apply now, or for more information about our application process, click here.
Job Ref: 10666
Contract Type: Permanent
Work Pattern: Full Time
Market: Water
Discipline: Civil
Recruiter Contact: Laura Easdon
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