Principal civil engineer

Job Description

Principal Civil Engineer

Edinburgh | Hybrid Working | Permanent or Contract Considered

Permanent Salary: Circa £100,000 - £120,000 + Benefits + Potential Equity (Permanent only)

Contract Rate: DOE

Peace Recruitment is delighted to be supporting a rapidly growing international energy infrastructure business in the appointment of a Principal Civil Engineer to join their Edinburgh-based engineering team.

This is a rare opportunity to join a highly funded, ambitious organisation that is helping shape the future of large-scale energy infrastructure projects globally.

Following significant recent investment and continued growth, the business is expanding its engineering capability and is seeking an experienced Principal Civil Engineer to join its client-side project delivery team.

Working alongside senior engineering leadership, you will play a key role in overseeing major civil engineering packages, managing technical interfaces with engineering partners and contractors, and supporting the delivery of some of the most significant energy infrastructure projects currently in development.

The Opportunity

This role would suit an experienced Civil Engineer who enjoys operating at the interface between engineering, construction and project delivery.

You will act as a client-side engineering representative, providing technical oversight and assurance across major infrastructure packages while ensuring designs are practical, constructible and aligned with project objectives.

This is not a traditional consultancy design role. Instead, you will work closely with engineering consultants, contractors and project stakeholders to guide and oversee the successful delivery of major infrastructure programmes.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide client-side oversight of civil engineering design and delivery activities
• Review and challenge engineering deliverables produced by consultants and contractors
• Support the development of major infrastructure packages including:
• Earthworks
• Site grading
• Drainage systems
• Stormwater management
• Roads and access infrastructure
• Heavy haul routes
• Deep excavations and foundations
• Coordinate technical interfaces across multidisciplinary engineering teams
• Support contractor management and construction readiness activities
• Participate in technical reviews, risk assessments and project assurance activities
• Engage with senior stakeholders and project leadership teams
• Ensure designs support safe, efficient and practical construction methodologies
• Contribute to the development of engineering strategies, delivery plans and project standards

About You

We are interested in speaking with experienced Civil Engineers who have delivered large-scale infrastructure, energy or industrial projects and are looking for an opportunity to move into a more strategic client-side engineering role.

You are likely to have experience within one or more of the following sectors:

• Energy Infrastructure
• Transmission & Distribution
• Renewable Energy
• Offshore Wind
• Major Infrastructure
• Industrial Developments
• Ports & Marine Infrastructure
• Oil & Gas
• Heavy Civil Engineering

Requirements

• Degree qualified in Civil Engineering
• Chartered Engineer (CEng) status preferred but not essential
• 10-15+ years' relevant experience
• Strong understanding of earthworks, drainage, grading and major civil infrastructure works
• Experience working on large-scale infrastructure, industrial or energy projects
• Experience managing technical interfaces with contractors, consultants or EPC organisations
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills
• Comfortable balancing technical detail with project delivery and commercial considerations

What's On Offer?

• Opportunity to join a rapidly growing international energy business
• Exposure to globally significant infrastructure and energy projects
• Hybrid working from Edinburgh
• International collaboration and occasional travel opportunities
• Long-term career progression as the organisation continues to expand
• Competitive salary and benefits package
• Equity participation available for permanent hires
• The opportunity to help shape the future of large-scale energy infrastructure delivery