Principal Structures Engineer SME

Senior Structures Engineer (Bridges SME) / Principal Equivilent High Speed Two Ltd | Chief Engineer's Group | Civil Structures Salary: £72,500 to £77,500 + 12% pen + health + 25 h Location: London or Birmingham | Hybrid working, typically 3 days in the office Programme: Entire HS2 Programme | 10+ years of programme activity Career Progression: Lead Structures Engineer £90,000 to £100,000 + package Become One of HS2's Three Structures Technical Authorities Are you an experienced Bridge Engineer or Senior Structures Engineer looking to take your technical expertise to programme level, influencing engineering decisions across one of Europe's largest infrastructure programmes? High Speed Two Ltd is recruiting a Senior Structures Engineer to join its specialist Civil Structures SME team, providing technical leadership and engineering assurance across the entire HS2 programme. The scale of the responsibility is significant. You will work across hundreds of structures, including more than 350 bridges and viaducts, as well as culverts, retaining walls and other major civil engineering structures. Crucially, you will become one of just three designated technically competent people within the Structures SME team, with delegated authority to review, approve and sign off structural design departures within your area of competence. When contractors encounter complex structural engineering problems or propose solutions that depart from established standards, you will help determine whether those solutions are technically acceptable, providing the engineering judgement needed to reach sound decisions and keep construction moving. The Opportunity The Civil Structures SME team provides specialist engineering support across HS2's four Main Works Civils contracts. It deals with complex structural issues that require input beyond the normal design and assurance processes of the delivery organisations. Your specialist background will be in bridge engineering, but your remit will extend across the wider structures discipline, including bridges, viaducts, retaining walls, culverts and other civil structures. You will review challenging designs, assess proposed engineering solutions and work with contractors, designers and HS2 engineering teams to resolve issues arising during design and construction. This is not a design production role. It is an opportunity to apply your technical expertise across a major infrastructure programme, influence engineering decisions and help establish consistent standards and solutions across multiple delivery organisations.

The Role

Reporting to the Head of Civil Structures, you will provide specialist engineering advice and assurance across the HS2 structures portfolio. You will assess complex engineering proposals, review technical submissions and support the development and application of standards and technical requirements. You will also contribute to peer reviews, technical governance and the resolution of engineering risks. The position requires someone who can quickly understand complex structural designs, identify the key engineering issues and develop practical, technically robust recommendations. You will need to balance engineering requirements with safety, constructability, programme, cost and whole life performance. Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Structural Engineering: Provide specialist bridge engineering expertise and technical assurance across more than 350 bridges and viaducts, as well as culverts, retaining walls and other civil structures.
• Design Review and Departures: Assess complex designs, technical submissions and proposed departures from HS2 requirements, making recommendations and providing formal approval within your delegated authority.
• Technical Problem Solving: Work with contractors, designers and HS2 engineering teams to resolve challenging structural issues arising during design and construction.
• Standards and Governance: Support the interpretation and development of engineering standards, contribute to technical governance and peer reviews, and promote consistent engineering practice across the programme.
• Engineering Risk and Value: Evaluate the implications of proposed solutions for safety, constructability, programme, cost, reliability, operability and maintainability.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Provide specialist advice to the four Main Works Civils contractors, design organisations, technical specialists and internal HS2 stakeholders, bringing together the right expertise to resolve complex issues.
• Continuous Improvement: Identify opportunities for innovative engineering techniques, improved structural solutions and greater efficiency across the HS2 structures portfolio.

About You

You will be an experienced Bridge Engineer or Senior Structures Engineer with the technical credibility and professional judgement to operate as a recognised subject matter expert. You will have developed significant experience in bridge design, assessment, review or technical assurance on major infrastructure projects. You will be comfortable reviewing complex engineering proposals, identifying where the technical challenge lies and forming a clear, defensible view on how it should be addressed. This role is particularly suited to someone who has moved beyond producing designs and enjoys reviewing, challenging and resolving engineering problems, providing technical direction and influencing decisions across a wider programme. You may currently work for a major engineering consultancy, main contractor, infrastructure client or technical authority. Experience in a client-side or technical assurance environment would be valuable, but strong technical capability is the priority. Essential Experience

• Significant bridge engineering experience, covering structural design, assessment, review or technical assurance.
• Experience working on major infrastructure projects, ideally within rail, transport or complex civil engineering.
• Strong understanding of structural engineering standards, design requirements and technical compliance.
• Proven ability to review complex designs, challenge engineering solutions and make technically defensible recommendations.
• Experience managing technical risks, engineering queries and design departures.
• Strong stakeholder management skills and confidence engaging with senior engineers, contractors and designers.
• Understanding of UK construction legislation, including CDM Regulations 2015, and working knowledge of the Common Safety Method for Risk Evaluation and Assessment.
• Chartered Engineer status or active progression towards chartership through a relevant professional institution. Equivalent experience will also be considered. Experience across other civil structures, including retaining walls, culverts and cut and cover tunnels, would be advantageous. Desirable Experience
• Experience on HS2, Crossrail, HS1 or other major railway infrastructure programmes.
• Previous involvement in technical assurance, engineering governance or the management of design departures.
• Experience working across multiple major contractors or infrastructure delivery organisations.
• Understanding of how structural engineering decisions affect programme delivery, commercial outcomes and whole life asset performance. Why Join HS2? This is a rare opportunity to take your bridge engineering expertise beyond an individual project and apply it across an entire railway programme. You will work alongside a small team of highly experienced structures specialists, engaging with major delivery organisations and influencing the engineering solutions adopted across hundreds of structures. The breadth of exposure, technical responsibility and opportunity to influence programme-wide decisions makes this a particularly attractive move for an experienced Bridge Engineer looking to develop into a senior technical leadership position. There is also a clear progression opportunity towards Lead Project Engineer, with salaries in the region of £90,000 to £100,000 plus package. With more than 10 years of programme activity ahead, this offers the opportunity to build a long-term career within HS2's engineering leadership team