Senior Civil Engineer - Water Major Projects
Cambridge, GB Bristol, GB Reading, GB Brighton, GB Leeds, GB Belfast, GB London, GB Sheffield, GB
Location/s: Cambridge, Brighton, Reading, London, Leeds, Sheffield, Belfast, Bristol; UK
Recruiter contact: Nicola Coyle
Mott MacDonald is a global engineering, management, and development consultancy with over 20,000 employees across more than 50 countries and 140+ offices.
We work across incredible global industries, delivering exciting work that is defining our future and making an important societal impact in the communities we serve. Our people power our performance – we succeed when they do. With countless opportunities to collaborate, learn, and grow, the possibilities for excellence are as varied as every individual.
Whether you want to grow as a subject matter expert or broaden your experience with roles across our international community, you’re surrounded by global specialists who want to combine their expertise and champion you to be your best. As a proudly employee-owned business, we benefit our clients, our communities, and each other, investing in creating the right space for everyone to feel empowered, included, and valued. Whatever your ambition, Mott MacDonald is where people come to be brilliant.
About the division
The Water Consultancy Division is Mott MacDonald’s centre of excellence for responding to water and wastewater challenges, offering fantastic opportunities to get involved in diverse and technically challenging work. The work we do is at the forefront of ensuring safe water supplies for future generations and protecting our environment. Our multi-disciplinary teams provide a variety of services throughout the full project life cycle, from advisory services and feasibility studies, through outline and detailed design, to construction support and site supervision.
Overview
Due to continued growth and strong market demand, we are expanding our Major Projects capability within our Water Consultancy Division and are looking to strengthen our team with a Senior Civil Engineer.
Working within our collaborative OneWater team, you will contribute to the development and delivery of nationally significant infrastructure that supports water security, environmental resilience and thriving communities. Our work goes beyond engineering: at Mott MacDonald we are committed to help shape places, protect the environment and deliver lasting social value for the communities we serve.
As an employee-owned business, our people are at the heart of everything we do. This means you will have a genuine voice in how we grow, how we deliver, and the impact we create for our clients and society.
Overview of the role
You will play a key role in the delivery of major water infrastructure programmes, particularly during the earlier engineering stages of feasibility, concept and outline design, helping to develop robust and consentable schemes, to safely navigate projects through the relevant planning and consenting processes, in particular the Development Consent Order process for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) in the UK.
Our immediate portfolio, which continues to grow, includes a diverse range of major infrastructure, such as:
- Large diameter water transfer pipelines
- Water tunnels and conveyance systems
- Water recycling and reuse schemes
- Reservoirs and strategic storage solutions
- Flood and coastal risk management programmes
These projects play a critical role in addressing climate challenges, enhancing resilience, and delivering long-term benefits to communities and the environment.
Key responsibilities and duties include:
- Deliver front-end engineering services from feasibility through to outline design
- Coordinate multi-disciplinary teams to develop integrated solutions
- Support development of robust and consentable engineering solutions
- Review and assure technical outputs for quality, compliance and buildability
- Engage with clients, regulators and stakeholders
- Support and mentor junior team members
- Contribute to bids, proposals and work-winning activities
- Promote technical excellence, innovation and best practice
- Ensure alignment with health, safety, environmental and quality standards
Candidate specification
We are looking for a collaborative and driven Senior Civil Engineer with a passion for delivering innovative, sustainable and cost-effective solutions that create tangible benefits for clients and communities.
Essential:
- Chartered Engineer (or working towards) with a relevant degree
- Experience on major, multi-disciplinary projects in the UK water sector
- Experience in civil engineering design and design assurance
- Knowledge of water and/or wastewater standards and specifications
- Experience working within multi-disciplinary project teams
- Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills
- Ability to balance technical, environmental and commercial drivers
- Proactive and adaptable approach with sound commercial awareness
- Commitment to continuous professional development
Desirable:
- Understanding of front-end engineering stages
- Familiarity with UK planning and consenting framework, specifically the Development Consent Order process
- Experience in pipelines, water/wastewater treatment, reservoirs, flood risk or large-scale infrastructure
- Knowledge of CDM regulations and designer responsibilities
- Experience with digital engineering tools (e.g. Civils 3D, GIS, modelling)
- Interest in low-carbon and sustainable design solutions
- Flexibility to travel to sites and offices as required
Why Join Mott MacDonald?
- Contribute to nationally significant infrastructure with meaningful social and environmental impact for our clients and communities
- Be part of an employee-owned business, where your contribution directly shapes our success
- Collaborate with industry-leading experts in a supportive, multi-disciplinary environment
- Access flexible and varied career progression opportunities
We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We believe that different perspectives strengthen our teams and improve the solutions we deliver. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and encourage you to apply, even if you do not meet every requirement listed.
UK Immigration
Mott MacDonald Ltd. are not currently offering sponsorship to candidates under the Skilled Worker visa route in the UK. This decision is as a consequence of the changes made to the Skilled Worker route by the UK Government in April 2024. We continue to welcome applications from candidates who are eligible for alternative immigration routes in the UK, that do not require sponsorship as a Skilled Worker now or in future.
Agile working
At Mott MacDonald, we believe it makes business sense for you and your manager to choose how you can work most effectively to meet your client, team, and personal commitments. We offer a hybrid working policy that embraces your well-being, flexibility, and trust.
Equality, diversity, and inclusion
We put equality, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of our business, seeking to promote fair employment procedures and practices to ensure equal opportunities for all. We encourage individual expression in our workplace and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels they can contribute.
Accessibility
We want you to perform your best at every stage in the recruitment process. If you are disabled or need any support to enable you to apply or attend an interview, please contact us at reasonable.adjustments@mottmac.com and we will talk to you about how we can support you.
We offer some fantastic benefits including:
Financial wellbeing
- We match employee pension contributions between 4.5% and 7%.
- Life assurance equal up to 4 x your basic salary, with an option to increase the level of cover to 6 x your salary.
- Our income protection scheme provides a financial benefit, as well as absence and return to work support due to long-term illness or injury.
- Flexible benefits, including increased life assurance cover, critical illness insurance, payroll saving and will writing.
- As an independently owned business we share the financial success of the business with all our colleagues in various ways including annual bonus schemes.
Employee Ownership
- Our employee ownership model means no external investors, just us, creating a culture of shared success.
- Our employees have a stake and a voice in our business, giving them a direct connection to our success through our personal and group performance bonuses.
- As your career grows, so does your stake, recognising your long-term impact and contribution.
- Your voice matters, with the opportunity to connect directly with senior leadership through formal channels to help shape our future.
- For our senior roles you will have a direct pathway towards ownership from day one.
Health and wellbeing
- Private medical insurance for all UK colleagues.
- Health cash plan to support you with every day health costs and treatments.
- Access to Peppy, providing free support from menopause experts for all UK colleagues.
- A variety of wellbeing support is available through our comprehensive wellbeing program, including access for you and your family.
- Ability to flex your salary to opt into a wide range of health benefits, many of which can be extended to your family too.
Lifestyle
- A minimum of 33-35 days holiday each year, inclusive of public holidays and dependent on level, with the ability to buy or sell leave through our flexible benefits programme.
- 10 days additional paid leave for Armed Forces Reservists and Cadet Force Adult Volunteers.
- Holiday entitlement increased to a minimum of 35 days after 5 years’ service.
- Variety of employee saving schemes and discounts from high-street retailers.
Enhanced family and carers leave
- Enhanced family leave policies, including 26 weeks paid maternity and adoption leave, and two weeks paid paternity/partner leave.
- Our shared parental leave matches maternity leave meaning we pay up to 24 weeks at full pay.
- Up to five additional days leave are provided for those with significant caring responsibilities, two of which are paid.
- We offer policies and dedicated support to help military families balance service life with career and wellbeing.
Learning and development
- Primary annual professional institution subscription.
- A broad range of opportunities to enhance both technical and soft skills through mentoring, formal training, and self-development options.
Networks, communities, and social outcomes
- Join a wide range of groups including our Advanced Employee Networks which support our LGBTQ+, gender, race and ethnicity, disability, and parents/carers communities.
- We are proud signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant and Gold Award holders in the MOD Employer Recognition Scheme, supported by our dedicated internal Armed Forces Network.
- Make a difference within our communities through our social outcomes.
Apply now, or for more information about our application process, click here.