Principal Civil Engineer

Principal Civil Engineer Powering the UK's Energy Transition As the UK's energy transition accelerates, we're growing our Civil Engineering team in Scotland to support a strong pipeline of renewable energy and critical infrastructure projects. At Tetra Tech, you'll have the opportunity to work on major schemes including substations, transmission distribution reinforcement, onshore wind farms, highways, access infrastructure, and wider energy projects that connect renewable energy to homes, businesses, and communities across the UK. Following several significant project wins and continued investment in our Scottish business, we currently have an opportunity for a Principal Civil Engineer to join our team in Edinburgh or Glasgow. This is your chance to lead and shape projects that are critical to delivering the UK's net-zero ambitions. If you are passionate about civil engineering design, sustainability, and developing infrastructure that supports renewable energy generation and transmission, this role offers the opportunity to make a significant impact while advancing your career within a collaborative and forward-thinking environment. Purpose Scope of the Role As a Principal Civil Engineer, you will take responsibility for leading the delivery of complex civil engineering projects from concept through to construction design across the renewable energy, power, and infrastructure sectors. You will provide technical leadership and strategic input across a range of projects including onshore wind farms, substations, battery energy storage developments, transmission and distribution infrastructure, highways, access tracks, bridges, retaining structures, drainage systems, earthworks, and associated civil engineering works. You will ensure designs are practical, buildable, sustainable, and aligned with both client objectives and industry best practice. You will oversee the development of concept designs for planning and third-party consents and approvals, preparation of sustainable drainage proposals, and liaison with statutory consultees such as Local Authorities, SEPA, and EA. Acting as the client's primary point of contact, you will manage design packages, lead multi-disciplinary coordination, and ensure timely delivery to programme and budget. You will also mentor and guide senior and junior engineers, ensuring technical excellence and adherence to quality assurance processes. From design concept to construction stage, you will actively manage health, safety, environmental, and sustainability risks, communicate residual risks effectively, and ensure compliance with statutory requirements and guidance. You will play a key role in implementing project management frameworks and supporting work-winning activities to drive business growth within the renewable energy and infrastructure sectors. Your Impact in this Position You will be instrumental in delivering the infrastructure required to support the UK's transition to a low-carbon future. Success in this role is measured through technical leadership, strategic thinking, and proactive collaboration. In the short term, you will focus on delivering high-quality civil engineering solutions for renewable energy and infrastructure projects while supporting multidisciplinary project teams. Over time, you will take on greater responsibility for client engagement, business development, and helping shape Tetra Tech's growing presence within Scotland's renewable energy, power, and infrastructure markets. Through your work, you will directly contribute to projects that strengthen the electricity network, improve connectivity, support sustainable development, and enable renewable energy to reach homes, businesses, and communities across the UK. Your Toolkit for Success at Tetra Tech At Tetra Tech, we recruit using core capabilities—the essential skills, experience, and responsibilities required to perform the role effectively. But here's the secret: there's no such thing as the perfect candidate. If you feel you meet around 75% of the requirements, we'd love to hear from you. Technical Expertise in Civil Infrastructure Design You will bring extensive experience in civil engineering design and project delivery, ideally within renewable energy, power transmission and distribution, highways, or major infrastructure projects. Your technical capability will include the ability to develop and review complex designs for roads, access tracks, drainage systems, earthworks, foundations, and associated civil infrastructure, ensuring compliance with industry standards and best practice. Experience supporting projects such as onshore wind farms, substations, battery energy storage facilities, grid connection infrastructure, or wider energy developments will be highly advantageous. Proficiency in AutoCAD, Civil 3D, and drainage design software such as Causeway Flow or MicroDrainage is essential, as these tools will enable you to produce accurate and efficient design outputs. A strong understanding of industry standards such as DMRB, sustainable drainage principles, hydraulic modelling, and earthworks design will enable the delivery of robust and environmentally responsible solutions. Your knowledge of construction methodologies, material specifications, and testing requirements will ensure that designs are practical, cost-effective, and buildable. Leadership Strategic Delivery As a Principal Civil Engineer, you will demonstrate proven experience in managing large-scale, multi-disciplinary projects and leading design teams to deliver exceptional results. You will take ownership of project planning, resource allocation, and technical oversight, ensuring that all deliverables meet programme, budget, and quality requirements. Your leadership will extend beyond technical guidance—you will inspire and mentor senior and junior engineers, fostering a culture of collaboration, continuous improvement, and technical excellence. Strong organisational skills, commercial awareness, and the ability to manage competing priorities effectively will be key to driving successful outcomes and maintaining client confidence. Communication Stakeholder Engagement Excellent communication skills are essential for this role. You will represent the business confidently in client meetings, technical workshops, stakeholder consultations, and project reviews, ensuring that complex engineering concepts are conveyed clearly and persuasively. Your ability to prepare detailed technical reports, present design solutions, and respond to queries effectively will underpin strong relationships with clients, contractors, developers, and statutory bodies. You will act as a trusted advisor, providing pragmatic solutions and maintaining open lines of communication throughout the project lifecycle. Innovation Sustainability Leadership You will champion innovative approaches to civil engineering design, integrating sustainability principles into every stage of project delivery. This includes identifying opportunities to reduce carbon emissions, optimise material reuse, improve resource efficiency, and implement low-impact construction techniques. You will actively contribute to whole-life carbon assessments and embed best-practice methodologies that align with environmental objectives, client aspirations, and the UK's net-zero ambitions. Your forward-thinking mindset will help position our team as a leader in sustainable infrastructure and renewable energy development. Commercial Awareness Client Focus You will demonstrate a strong understanding of project economics, including cost control, risk management, and value engineering. Your ability to anticipate client needs, provide strategic advice, and contribute to work-winning activities will strengthen relationships and support business growth. You will play a key role in preparing bids, developing proposals, and ensuring that technical solutions align with commercial objectives. 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