Senior Drainage, Water & Infrastructure Engineer

Job Description

Role Overview – The Senior or Principal Drainage, Water & Infrastructure Engineer is responsible for delivering on a broad and diverse range of projects, including major infrastructure, masterplan development, and renewables/energy schemes.

The role requires strong technical capability, a commitment to high quality design, and an ambition to develop experience in both project and client management.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Technical & Design

• Deliver high quality design work across drainage, water, and infrastructure projects.
• Apply advanced skills using Civils3D, MicroDrainage, Causeway Flow and/or InfoDrainage to oversee and produce accurate models, drawings, and technical reports.
• Develop practical and sustainable engineering solutions that respond to environmental, planning, and client requirements.
• Assist in technical reviews, ensuring designs align with best practice and project specifications.

Project Management

• Support the planning, coordination, and delivery of engineering tasks and project packages.
• Monitor progress, manage priorities, and contribute to forecasting, resources, and project reporting.
• Develop experience in commercial awareness, risk management, and programme control.
• Take ownership of assigned tasks and deliverables, ensuring compliance with deadlines and quality standards.

Client & Stakeholder Engagement

• Attend meetings, workshops, and site visits (driving licence required).
• Communicate proactively with clients, consultants, contractors, and regulators.
• Represent Fairhurst professionally, clearly conveying technical information to varied audiences.
• Build strong, long term working relationships with partners and stakeholders.

Quality & Compliance

• Ensure all work meets Fairhurst’s quality management processes and industry standards.
• Follow relevant legislation, design codes, and internal governance procedures.
• Maintain accurate records, transparent assumptions, and auditable design outputs.
• Contribute to a culture of continuous improvement and technical excellence.
• Support and guide junior team members, sharing knowledge and encouraging professional development.
• Assist in developing skills within the team and contribute to a positive, collaborative working environment.
• Principal Engineers may lead project teams, take on line management duties, or develop specialist areas of expertise.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Qualifications & Professional Requirements

• Principal Engineer: Chartered with the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE).
• Senior Engineer: Near completion of Professional Review with ICE, committed to achieving chartership within 12 to 18 months.
• Strong experience in drainage, water, and infrastructure engineering across varied project types.
• High competence in Civils3D, MicroDrainage, Causeway Flow and/or InfoDrainage.
• Full UK driving licence (required for site work and client visits).

Core Competencies

Communication

• Communicates clearly, confidently, and professionally in writing and verbally.
• Able to present complex technical information effectively.

Problem Solving

• Strong analytical approach with the ability to develop evidence based solutions for water environment challenges.

Initiative

• Proactive, self motivated, and capable of progressing work independently.
• Identifies opportunities for improvement and contributes innovative ideas.

Accountability

• Takes ownership of tasks, demonstrating reliability and accuracy in technical outputs.

Organisation & Project Management

• Able to manage competing deadlines and shifting priorities.
• Strong planning, documentation, and time management skills.

Managing Resources

• Uses tools, data, and team support efficiently.
• Supports responsible and effective use of project resources.
• Builds positive, respectful relationships within multi disciplinary teams.
• Contributes to a collaborative, knowledge sharing culture.
• Comfortable working in dynamic project environments with evolving requirements.
• Embraces change and applies learning effectively.

Customer Service

• Provides responsive, solution focused support to clients.
• Demonstrates professionalism, reliability, and commitment to client needs.

Alignment with Fairhurst Group Values

• Excellence: Committed to delivering high quality, technically robust work.
• Lasting Relationships: Builds trust with colleagues, clients, and partners.
• Pure Thought: Applies clear, transparent reasoning and maintains professional integrity.
• Continuous Development: Engages in continual learning and development for personal and organisational growth.

WHAT WE OFFER YOU

• A collaborative, partner led environment with access to multidisciplinary expertise.
• Career and professional development and opportunities on high profile projects.
• Competitive salary and benefits, aligned to experience and location.
• A culture built on responsiveness, flexibility, and sustainable, value adding engineering.
• Competitive salary and excellent flexible benefits package.
• Contributory pension, personal health care plan and life insurance.
• 33 days annual leave (inclusive of Public Holidays) including annual leave purchase and buy back scheme.
• Bonus Schemes including loyalty bonus and qualifications award.
• Interest free travel loan.