Principal Civil Engineer - Water

Start here. Grow here.

Are you ready to lead a team of talented engineers and shape the future of water infrastructure? Join our dynamic and multidisciplinary water team as a Principal Civil Engineer in one of our vibrant UK offices – whilst also taking advantage of our flexible hybrid working model.

At AECOM, we’re at the forefront of innovation, delivering an exceptional portfolio of water programmes and projects through long-term partnerships with key clients. Our team is engaged in high-profile, industry-leading infrastructure projects both in the UK and internationally. We are working on a variety of significant projects for water and sewerage authorities, local and national governments and other clients. Our operations span all stages of the design and construction process, from feasibility through to design, operation, maintenance, and asset management. 

We are an industry leader in the application of blue green infrastructure and nature based solutions. Our team is at the leading edge of this growing area of the water industry, with recent projects include being a leading design consultant for Severn Trent’s £76m Mansfield Strategic Flood Resilience Project – the largest Sustainable Drainage (SuDS) retrofit project in the UK; drafting Seven Trent’s Retrofit SuDS Design Manuals as well as authoring the draft National Standards for Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS), published in England by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Here’s what you’ll do:

• Deliver: Be responsible for the delivery of complex tasks and projects and manage the budget and programme for these tasks and projects. Work proactively and collaboratively to solve engineering problems to deliver benefits to the communities that we serve.
• Expertise: Be involved in all design stages including feasibility studies, outline designs, detailed designs, and preparing reports and technical specifications. Ensuring compliance of design with all applicable standards and regulations and provide technical expertise for interdisciplinary analytical studies.
• Collaboration: Liaise with clients to develop scope, price proposals and communicate project progress. Work closely with our teams of engineers, hydraulic modellers, environmental scientists and technical specialists to deliver a wide range of drainage and flood risk projects in the UK and overseas to a high level of quality.
• Leadership: Lead the technical delivery on a number of projects and be responsible for reviewing work produced by others to ensure timely and accurate results.
• Develop: Undertake line manager responsibilities for a number of junior staff, providing guidance and management to them as well as completing performance evaluations for those assigned. Support the development of junior members of the team, managing their input into projects and mentoring them (technical work and ICE / CIWEM).

If you're passionate about innovation and turning bold ideas into reality, we want to hear from you! Why not give our AECOM Water page on LinkedIn a follow to stay updated on the impactful projects we're working on and see firsthand the difference we're making in the industry!

Come grow with us.

Become part of our dynamic Water business, which boasts around 700 experts across the UK & Ireland. Collaborate with top-tier engineers and consultants to deliver a variety of captivating projects, from small initiatives to large-scale ventures, all the way from concept to completion.

At AECOM, you’ll thrive in an inclusive and forward-thinking environment where your contributions are valued - and let's not forget about the perks! You'll enjoy a range of core and personalised benefits designed to support your future and well-being, customised to fit your lifestyle. Take advantage of career development opportunities, technical practice networks, AECOM University, volunteering days and our flexible hybrid working model to ensure a work-life balance that suits your lifestyle. We recognise that everyone’s circumstances are different, so we’re happy to discuss part-time or flexible working arrangements that suit you.

Ready to push the limits of what’s possible?

Here’s what we’re looking for:

• Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering (or equivalent qualification), or demonstratable equivalent experience.
• Proven experience in the delivery and design of sustainable drainage or nature-based solutions at Principal level.
• Experience of leading project teams or sub-teams and mentoring and training junior staff.
• Chartered/Incorporated or working towards this with a relevant institution e.g. ICE, CIWEM.
• Experience of undertaking engineering assessments, options appraisals, engineering calculations and / or economic appraisals.
• Experience of outline and / or detailed design of flood risk management / assessment or drainage schemes

We celebrate diversity, including neurodiversity, and believe it enriches our team. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and abilities. If you are an applicant with a disability that requires reasonable accommodation to complete the application process, please contact us at [email protected]. At AECOM, we value everyone's unique contributions and perspectives.

If you meet some of the requirements above or have transferable skills you believe would benefit us, we would be delighted to hear from you!

Interested in the role or curious about life at AECOM? Follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube to explore our AECOM voices, employee stories, latest projects, and much more!

For further information about the role, reach out to the recruiter on LinkedIn – Jay Hewitt

About AECOM

AECOM is the world’s trusted infrastructure consulting firm, delivering professional services throughout the project lifecycle – from advisory, planning, design and engineering to program and construction management. On projects spanning transportation, buildings, water, new energy and the environment, our public- and private-sector clients trust us to solve their most complex challenges. Our teams are driven by a common purpose to deliver a better world through our unrivaled technical and digital expertise, a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion, and a commitment to environmental, social and governance priorities. AECOM is a Fortune 500 firm and its Professional Services business had revenue of $14.4 billion in fiscal year 2023. See how we are delivering sustainable legacies for generations to come at aecom.com and @AECOM.

Freedom to Grow in a World of Opportunity 

You will have the flexibility you need to do your best work with hybrid work options. Whether you’re working from an AECOM office, remote location or at a client site, you will be working in a dynamic environment where your integrity, entrepreneurial spirit and pioneering mindset are championed.

You will help us foster a safe and respectful workplace, where we invite everyone to bring their whole selves to work using their unique talents, backgrounds and expertise to create transformational outcomes for our clients.

AECOM provides a wide array of compensation, benefits and well-being programs to meet the diverse needs of our employees and their families. We’re the world’s trusted global infrastructure firm, and we’re in this together – your growth and success are ours too.

Join us, and you’ll get all the benefits of being a part of a global, publicly traded firm – access to industry-leading technology and thinking and transformational work with big impact and work flexibility. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we believe in each person’s potential, and we’ll help you reach yours.

We are a Disability Confident Employer and will offer an interview to applicants who have a disability or long-term condition, who meet the minimum/essential criteria for the role. Please let us know using this email address [email protected]  if you would like to apply through the Disability Confident Interview Scheme.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.