Principal Civil Engineer

Ref: ZR_9550_JOB  ·  Posted on 04 August 2026

Introduction

Our client is looking for a Principal Civil Engineer to support the planning and delivery of off-site infrastructure for a major Small Modular Reactor (SMR) programme.

 

You'll be the technical owner of civil engineering requirements across a range of Associated Development facilities, working within a fast-paced, multi-disciplinary client team.

 

 

Working Patterns and location – Hybrid – a couple of days travel to site in Warrington per month

Key responsibilities

·        Define and develop civil engineering requirements for all Associated Development facilities, ensuring regulatory and project alignment.

·        Lead early site assessment activities covering geotechnical, hydrological, environmental, and access considerations.

·        Oversee civil layout and infrastructure concept development for facilities including MOLF, Logistics Centre, and Workers' Accommodation Campus.

·        Maintain technical ownership of AD civil scope, design intent, interface management, and change control.

·        Provide technical oversight and assurance of deliverables from the Foundation Engineer, Technology Provider, and Owner's Engineer.

·        Coordinate with planning, environmental, and consenting teams to support regulatory submissions and approvals.

·        Engage with local authorities, transport bodies, and stakeholders to confirm interfaces, constraints, and dependencies.

·        Contribute to risk assessments, cost and schedule inputs, BIM modelling, and engineering decision records for AD works.

 

Skills & experience

·        10+ years' civil engineering experience on large, complex, multidisciplinary infrastructure programmes.

·        Strong knowledge across geotechnical, structural, drainage, utilities, and site development disciplines.

·        Demonstrable experience supporting early-stage site assessment, planning, and regulatory consenting processes.

·        Proven ability to manage technical interfaces and maintain design intent across complex, multi-party project scopes.

·        Experience providing design assurance and quality oversight on major infrastructure programmes.

·        Strong stakeholder engagement skills across technical and non-technical audiences including regulators and local authorities.

·        Solid problem-solving ability with a track record of identifying risks and developing effective mitigation strategies.

·        Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, evolving programme environment with emergent requirements.

 

The client would also like to see some of the below, but this is not essential:

·        Experience in the nuclear, energy, or other highly regulated sector.

·        Familiarity with UK planning frameworks, environmental requirements, and nuclear regulatory expectations.

·        Proficiency in civil engineering design tools and BIM modelling environments.

·        Experience working within client-side or owner's engineer project teams on major capital programmes.

Our client is committed to providing a diverse and inclusive workplace and welcomes applications from all backgrounds.

 

Part-time opportunities/flexible working is available to suit individual needs.

 

Please note that the client has determined that the off-payroll working rules will apply to this assignment and therefore this contract will be run through an Umbrella Company. Income tax and primary national insurance contributions will be deducted at source from any payments made to the intermediary.

 

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