Principal Design Engineer - Senior Design Engineer

Part of the VolkerWessels UK Group, VolkerStevin is an industry-leading civil engineering business, providing complex and innovative engineering solutions across a wide range of sectors including maritime, flood risk management, defence, energy, water and regeneration. Collaborating with, and drawing on the specialist skills of the group’s business units we deliver a truly integrated, multidisciplinary service.

VolkerStevin have a fantastic opportunity for a Principal Design Engineer to join our Design team at Preston. We have a large and varied order book of projects, are you ready for your next challenge?

• Conduct informal audits during site visits.
• Provide feedback on consultant performance.

The role of the Principal Design Engineer is to provide engineering support at all stages of the tendering and construction process for VolkerStevin Infrastructure Limited, VolkerStevin Specialist Businesses and other VWUK businesses as required.

The Principal Design Engineer supports the Head of Engineering and Engineering Manager in delivering the department's strategy.

Role Purpose

This role supports the Engineering Department in delivering strategic objectives, ensuring high technical standards, and providing expert oversight of temporary and permanent works. The position acts as a technical authority, mentor, and departmental representative across multiple projects.

Key Responsibilities

Engineering Strategy & Development

• Identify improvement opportunities and support delivery of departmental strategy.
• Assist senior leadership in achieving engineering goals.

Temporary Works Management

• Support training delivery for Q25‑VS procedures.
• Help develop competency of TWCs and TWSs.

Design Production

• Approve and check design deliverables.
• Review internal and external temporary works designs.
• Produce complex temporary and permanent works designs, including calculations, drawings, risk assessments, and technical reports.

Draughting & Drawing Oversight

• Produce sketches and drawings when required.
• Communicate drawing requirements to CAD Technicians and check outputs.
• Ensure compliance with VS Engineering CAD standards.

Technical Support

• Provide technical advice and produce technical reports.
• Support risk management and carry out inspections.
• Share knowledge and support staff development.

Quality Management

• Conduct informal audits during site visits.
• Support resolution of quality issues and non‑conformances.

Commercial Support

• Provide feedback on consultant performance.
• Prepare design fee estimates and programme durations.
• Support commercial teams with technical input.

Consultant Coordination

• Act as liaison between project teams and consultants.
• Agree scopes, obtain quotations, draft Task Orders.
• Monitor progress and review consultant deliverables.

Workload & Programme Management

• Maintain department programme and Kanban Board.
• Attend weekly resource meetings.
• Monitor progress and raise delivery risks.

People Development

• Assist in competency assessment and coaching of engineering staff.
• Support a positive, inclusive team culture.
• Act as ICE Supervising Civil Engineer for graduates and apprentices.

Project Interaction & Communication

• Maintain awareness of major projects.
• Act as Engineering Department Representative (EDR).
• Attend meetings and undertake site visits.

About You

• Relevant Engineering Degree
• Chartered / Incorporated status with the ICE, IStructE or other relevant professional body.
• Minimum 8 years industry experience
• Broad range of temporary and / or permanent works design experience

We Offer a Range Of Benefits, Including

• Competitive salary
• Competitive annual leave and an additional day off on your birthday
• Option to buy additional annual leave
• Private medical care
• Pension
• Life Assurance
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Shopping and restaurants vouchers, rewards, and discounts
• Training and development opportunities-comprehensive skills-based training
• Family friendly polices including enhanced maternity benefits
• Employee Assistance programme
• Mental health, physical health, and financial support
• 24/7 Virtual GP service

Fairness, inclusion and respect

We believe in pushing boundaries in the pursuit of fairness, inclusion and respect. So, our teams can be comfortable that, whatever their background, VolkerWessels UK is a place where they can be themselves and thrive.

VolkerWessels UK is committed to maintaining healthy, safe and productive working conditions for its entire staff and therefore a drugs & alcohol screening is mandatory for all.

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