Senior/Principal Civil Engineer (Water Infrastructure/Networks)

  • Sweco UK Ltd
  • Bristol, Gloucestershire
  • 18/05/2026
Full time Information Technology Telecommunications

Job Description

Senior or Principal Civil Engineer (Water Infrastructure / Networks)

We're now recruiting for a Senior or Principal Civil Engineer (Water Infrastructure / Networks) to join our team delivering outline design and detailed specifications primarily for drainage infrastructure (including SuDS) and wastewater schemes. This role is based in our Bristol office and can be worked flexibly with a minimum of 3 days per week in the office and the option of adjusted start and finish times.

Your role at a glance

The position will be as Lead Design Engineer in our established and expanding Water Infrastructure design team based in Bristol City Centre. We deliver a wide range of multi-disciplinary projects ranging in value from £1 million to £50 million.

Typical schemes include
  • Foul & Storm water pipelines
  • Combined Sewer Overflows (CSO's)
  • Pumping Stations
  • SuDS & Stormwater Separation
  • Nature-based Solutions
  • Network Storage
  • Flood Alleviation
What you'll be doing

You'll contribute to every stage of a project's lifecycle - helping define the brief, setting clear deliverables and milestones, and ensuring quality and consistency throughout. You'll produce and check technical designs such as calculations, drawings and reports, coordinate with other disciplines, and manage design changes as projects evolve. Along the way, you'll take ownership of your work, delivering to agreed time, cost and quality standards, and helping improve the way we work through lessons learned and continuous improvement.

You'll have the opportunity to support business growth by helping prepare bids and tenders, and by building strong, lasting relationships with our clients.

What we're looking for from you
  • Chartered Engineer status or working towards with a relevant institution e.g. ICE or CIWEM.
  • Strong interpersonal/team working skills, with a good working relationship with all levels of the organisation, clients and contractors together with the ability to communicate in a fluent and positive manner both verbally and written.
  • Comprehensive knowledge and experience of water and wastewater infrastructure design including an understanding of the basics and the integration of multidisciplinary elements including process engineering and MEICA.
  • Experience of project delivery at all stages including Detailed Design.
  • Experience in design, contract and tender preparation, tender assessment and contract administration.
Employee Benefits
  • Flexible and hybrid working (Flexworks Policy)
  • Competitive pension contribution
  • Life Assurance
  • Private Medical Insurance
  • Discretionary Annual Bonus Scheme
  • Payment of two relevant professional subscriptions
  • 25 days holiday plus bank holidays (with the option to purchase up to 5 additional days per year)
  • Cycle2Work Scheme
  • Employee Assistance Programme (wellbeing, mental health, financial and work advice)
  • Employee discounts via Sweco Benefit Select (Faircare)
  • Salary Sacrifice Electric Vehicle Scheme
  • We plant a tree for all new starters!
If I have a disability, can I get help (e.g. "reasonable adjustments") with the application process?

If you're an applicant with a disability that requires a reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the application process or are limited in the ability or unable to use the online application system and need an alternative method for applying, please contact for assistance.

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

We are proud to be a Disability Confident Committed employer and will interview applicants covered by the Equality Act 2010 that opt into the guaranteed interview scheme on the application form and meet the minimum criteria for the role. We positively encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, pregnancy or maternity/paternity.