About the role
Salford, Greater Manchester
Calibre Search
Principal Structural Engineer
Location: Salford Quays, Manchester
Working Pattern: Hybrid
Sector: Defence, Nuclear, Public Sector, Energy & Complex Industrial Infrastructure
The Opportunity
Are you an experienced Principal Structural Engineer looking for an opportunity to lead technically challenging projects that have a genuine impact on critical UK infrastructure?
We are working with a leading engineering and project delivery organisation that supports major clients across the defence, nuclear, public sector, energy and complex industrial sectors.
This is an exciting opportunity to take a senior technical and project leadership role on high-value, complex engineering programmes, helping deliver infrastructure that supports national resilience, energy security and the UK's future infrastructure needs.
You'll work within a highly skilled multidisciplinary environment where technical excellence, innovation, collaboration and safety are fundamental to successful project delivery.
The Role
Reporting into senior engineering leadership, you will take responsibility for leading structural engineering project teams and overseeing multiple workstreams, ensuring projects are delivered safely, on programme, within budget and to the required quality standards.
Your responsibilities will include:
Leading structural engineering project teams to deliver designs in line with cost, programme, quality and safety requirements.
Providing technical leadership and ensuring teams have the appropriate capability and resources to deliver successfully.
Overseeing structural design for complex buildings, foundations and multidisciplinary engineering projects.
Providing technical direction and engineering input throughout the project lifecycle.
Ensuring compliance with relevant technical standards, quality systems, governance and assurance processes.
Managing technical interfaces with other engineering disciplines.
Building strong relationships with clients, stakeholders and project teams.
Supporting the development and mentoring of engineers within the wider team.
Contributing to continuous improvement initiatives and wider business development activities.
Helping identify and implement innovative and effective engineering solutions.
Maintaining a strong focus on health, safety, quality and technical assurance.
About You
We're looking for a technically strong and experienced Structural Engineer who is comfortable taking ownership of complex projects and leading multidisciplinary teams.
Essential Experience
Chartered Civil/Structural Engineer with relevant post-chartership experience.
Professional membership such as CEng MICE or MIStructE.
Extensive experience delivering complex structural engineering projects.
Strong technical knowledge of structural design principles, methodologies, codes and standards.
Proven experience leading, managing and mentoring engineering teams.
Significant experience in foundation design and structural engineering.
Strong leadership, communication and stakeholder management skills.
Good understanding of CDM Regulations, health and safety and engineering governance.
SC clearance or eligibility to obtain SC clearance.
Desirable Experience
Experience in one or more of the following would be advantageous:
Defence projects.
Nuclear projects.
Energy and power.
Complex industrial environments.
Public sector infrastructure.
Seismic design.
Ground improvement techniques.
Advanced structural analysis.
Technical assurance and regulatory compliance within highly regulated environments.
What's on Offer?
This is an opportunity to join an organisation working at the forefront of critical infrastructure and complex engineering, where the projects you contribute to have genuine national significance.
You'll have the opportunity to:
Work on major projects across defence, nuclear, energy and industrial sectors.
Take a leading role in technically complex and high-value programmes.
Work alongside highly experienced multidisciplinary engineering specialists.
Develop your technical and leadership capability.
Access professional development and clear career progression opportunities.
Work within a collaborative and inclusive engineering environment.
Benefit from flexible and hybrid working arrangements.
Benefits
The organisation offers a comprehensive benefits package, which may include:
Competitive salary and performance-related rewards.
Company car or cash allowance.
Matched contributory pension scheme.
Life assurance.
25 days annual leave, with the option to purchase additional leave.
Employee discount schemes.
Flexible and hybrid working.
Family-friendly policies.
Employee assistance programme.
Professional development and training opportunities.
Security Clearance
Due to the nature of the projects involved, this position is subject to security clearance requirements.
The successful candidate must be able to obtain and maintain the appropriate level of security clearance in line with client and sector requirements.
Additional nationality or residency criteria may apply to certain projects due to specific client or national security requirements.
If you are a Chartered Structural Engineer looking for your next senior opportunity and want to work on complex, high-profile infrastructure projects where your technical expertise genuinely matters, I would be keen to hear from you.
Calibre Search promote equality in the workplace and we welcome applications from all suitably skilled or qualified candidates regardless of their sex, race, disability, religion/beliefs, sexual orientation or age. We act as both an employment agency and employment business
Reference: https://diversejobsmatter.co.uk/job/26126208/principal-structural-engineer/ · Posted 2 hours ago · Closes 2 Oct 2026 · Listed via DIVERSEJOBSMATTER LIMITED