Principal Civil Engineer

Principal Civil Engineer  £60,000 – £70,000 Portsmouth Full-Time / Permanent If you thrive on complex design challenges, love leading talented engineers, and want real influence over project direction, this role will feel like a step up, not just a sideways move. You’ll bring deep expertise across development infrastructure, drainage strategy, highways design, S278/S38 approvals, SuDS, AutoCAD, and Site3D, using your technical leadership to drive quality across a growing portfolio of projects. This is ideal for someone already acting as a trusted technical lead, or ready to step confidently into that space. ABOUT YOUR NEW ROLE

• Lead civil engineering design across drainage, highways, external works, and development infrastructure
• Deliver S278/S38 schemes, SuDS systems, and foul/surface water drainage designs
• Produce and review AutoCAD drawings, Site3D models, technical reports and calculations
• Manage project delivery, programmes, technical approvals and planning submissions
• Coordinate engineers, technicians and project resources across multiple live projects
• Attend client meetings, design team meetings and site visits
• Prepare fee proposals, support BD activity and maintain strong client relationships
• Ensure compliance with DMRB, MfS, Building Regulations and local authority standards
• Lead QA, design reviews, risk management and health & safety in design

TECHNICAL SKILLS

• Civil engineering design
• Drainage design (SuDS, attenuation, infiltration, foul & surface water)
• Highways design (S278, S38, access roads, junctions, layouts)
• Development infrastructure
• AutoCAD, Site3D, Civil 3D or similar
• Flood risk, drainage strategies, cut & fill, levels design
• Technical approvals with local authorities and statutory bodies
• Planning applications, pre‑apps and condition discharge

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Chartered or working towards CEng/IEng (ICE)
• Degree or HND in Civil Engineering
• Experience in a civil engineering consultancy or multi‑disciplinary engineering environment
• Proven experience delivering infrastructure, drainage, and highways projects
• Strong background in project management, team leadership, and client liaison
• Ability to manage multiple civil engineering projects simultaneously

SALARY AND BENEFITS 

• £60,000 – £70,000 (DOE)
• Performance‑related bonus
• Hybrid working (typically 2 days from home)
• Private healthcare scheme
• 24 days holiday + bank holidays (increasing with service)
• Flexible working hours
• Free on‑site parking

Reference Number: PCE