# Principal Engineer > Bridges Electrical Engineers · Maidstone, United Kingdom (Hybrid) · Full-time · Posted 2026-11-10 **Workplace:** hybrid **Department:** Design ## Description **The Role** At Bridges Electrical Engineers, we are looking for an experienced and technically capable Principal Engineer to provide engineering leadership, technical expertise and design assurance across our projects and programmes of work within the water and wastewater industry. As a subject matter expert within your discipline, you will play a key role in developing engineering solutions, supporting project delivery teams and maintaining strong relationships with clients and technical stakeholders. You will work closely with colleagues across our regional offices to promote consistency in design approaches, share knowledge and ensure the successful delivery of high-quality engineering solutions. This is an opportunity to influence engineering standards, champion innovation and support the development of our future engineering capability, while working collaboratively as part of our #OneTEAM approach. **Key Responsibilities** **Engineering Leadership & Technical Expertise** - Act as the principal technical lead within your engineering discipline, providing specialist knowledge, guidance and support across the regional office. - Represent the engineering discipline on agreed projects, programmes, frameworks and key client relationships. - Develop and maintain strong working relationships with client technical specialists, understanding their requirements, design approaches and standards. - Work collaboratively with Principal Designers across other regional offices to align design methodologies, tools and technical approaches, promoting consistency and best practice. - Provide expert engineering advice, technical troubleshooting and support to engineers and wider project teams. - Champion innovation, new technologies and improved engineering practices. **Design & Project Delivery** - Take ownership of developing engineering solutions for individual projects and programmes of work, from initial concept through to completion. - Establish clear project requirements at the outset, ensuring the engineering team understands the scope, expectations, deliverables and responsibilities. - Develop practical, cost-effective engineering solutions that consider whole-life costs, including design, manufacture, installation, commissioning and ongoing operation. - Ensure engineering decisions support project requirements and wider business objectives. - Provide ongoing technical input throughout both the design and contract delivery phases, ensuring solutions remain aligned with client expectations. - Clearly define the scope and limits of engineering support, ensuring responsibilities, outstanding actions and handover arrangements are understood. - Support the appointment and management of specialist contracted services, including surveys and design activities, ensuring requirements and deliverables are clearly defined. - Provide technical support to the Estimating team during the early stages of projects and tender development. **Design Assurance, Compliance & Health and Safety** - Provide technical assurance, verification and guidance to ensure engineering designs comply with relevant legislation, industry standards, client specifications and project requirements. - Ensure project and health and safety risks are appropriately assessed, eliminated or managed through the design process. - Guide and support the recording of design assurance activities, technical reviews and key engineering decisions. - Provide assurance and technical input into commissioning plans and commissioning activities, supporting delivery teams through to successful completion. - Identify potential technical issues and provide appropriate solutions to maintain quality, compliance and programme delivery. **Team Development & Continuous Improvement** - Support Design Managers in identifying and allocating the appropriate engineering skills and resources to meet project and programme requirements. - Share technical knowledge and experience to support the development of engineers across the business. - Contribute to recruitment activities and help build the long-term capability of the engineering team. - Mentor and support developing engineers, including providing guidance to colleagues working towards professional qualifications and Chartered Engineer status. - Identify opportunities to improve engineering processes, systems and ways of working, supporting their successful implementation. - Promote collaboration, communication and knowledge sharing across regional teams, reinforcing our #OneTEAM culture. **About You** - We are looking for someone with strong technical experience, a collaborative approach and the confidence to provide engineering leadership across a range of projects and stakeholders. **At Bridges, We Are More Than Engineers** We are listed in the Sunday Times Top 100 Places to Work 2024. As a team, we shape and support engineering and construction for our clients, who in turn touch the daily lives of millions of people across the UK. We have a large, diverse team of talented Safe & Happy People, combining their strengths and ambition to bring innovation and evolution, ensuring sustainability for all stakeholders. Across our key sectors – Water, Power, Energy and Aggregates – we deliver diverse and interesting projects and programmes throughout UK infrastructure. Supported by our regional office network and manufacturing hub in the heart of Somerset, which forms part of our 60,000 sq. ft. head office complex, we bring together engineering expertise and practical manufacturing capability to deliver solutions for our customers. Our projects range in value from £5k to £15m. We undertake roles as Principal Contractor and Principal Designer on various schemes, while also supporting our valued Tier 1 contractor clients through subcontracting and off-site manufacturing. ## Requirements **Essential:** - Significant experience within an engineering discipline relevant to the water and wastewater industry. - A strong technical background with the ability to lead engineering solutions and provide specialist advice. - Experience working on complex engineering projects, from initial design through to installation, commissioning and operational handover. - A good understanding of relevant engineering legislation, industry standards, client specifications and design assurance processes. - Experience developing cost-effective engineering solutions, with an understanding of whole-life costs and commercial considerations. - The ability to build effective working relationships with clients, colleagues and external technical specialists. - Experience supporting, mentoring or developing engineers within a technical team. - Strong communication and problem-solving skills, with the ability to explain complex technical matters clearly. - A proactive approach to innovation, continuous improvement and knowledge sharing. **Professional qualifications:** - A relevant degree or equivalent qualification in an engineering discipline. - Chartered Engineer status, or actively working towards Chartered status, would be advantageous. ## Benefits **BENEFITS OF WORKING FOR BRIDGES** RoSPA Gold Medal winner, Bridges - is an excellent company to work for and a great place to develop your career. Our goal is to exceed the very highest standards and ensure our people work in a culture of health, safety and well-being. We are currently holders of the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award, which reinforces our commitment to supporting the armed forces community. We are a family-run business with a friendly and welcoming culture, and we are dedicated to helping our employees learn, develop, and achieve success - along with us and throughout their careers. Bridges also offers an excellent benefits package: - Company car/car allowance - Health cash plan with Healthshield - Standard Life Pension Scheme - 5.5% company contribution - Life Assurance Scheme - Employee Discount Scheme - Bike 2 Work scheme - Training and development opportunities - Employee referral scheme - £1,000 if you successfully introduce someone - Employee recognition schemes - Enhanced Maternity and Paternity pay **When you join us, you’ll be part of our exciting journey.** Wherever your journey begins with us, through mutual engagement, we’ll make sure you are supported and invested in. We believe in ‘team bridges’ and leadership at all levels with our guiding principles: Safe People, Happy People, Sustainable Business. Bridges is an equal-opportunity employer and is committed to ensuring equality and diversity within the workplace ## Apply [Apply at Bridges Electrical Engineers](https://apply.workable.com/bridges-ltd-careers/j/B6BD2877EA/apply) --- Powered by [Workable](https://www.workable.com)