Location
Manchester
Industry sector
Engineering
Job type
Permanent | Full Time
Job start date
ASAP
Posted date
25/01/2026
Closing date
15/02/2026
Job Title: Principal Drainage Engineer
Ref. No.: CJD2401K26
Location: Manchester
Salary: £50,000 - £60,000
This is a wonderful opportunity to join my client, a reliable, industry-leading Multidisciplinary Consultancy, renowned for lending their extensive skillset across the engineering and environmental sectors. They are currently seeking a motivated, confident Principal Drainage Engineer who is willing to take on a number of challenging projects across the region, proactively overseeing a team of design experts in the field. You will be based near the thriving, rebellious city of Manchester.
Benefits for the role of Principal Drainage Engineer include (but are not limited to):
* Competitive annual salary, including long service awards
* Generous annual leave package (with the option to buy additional days' leave)
* Private Healthcare and Life Insurance schemes
* Payment of subscription fees for Professional Body memberships
* Company Pension Scheme
* Flexible/hybrid working opportunities
* Electric Vehicle (EV) scheme
* A focus on Continuing Professional Development (CPD) with career progression opportunities
* An inclusive team environment, with a focus on team development and social events
Responsibilities for the role of Principal Drainage Engineer include:
* Manage design process for highways and surface water/foul drainage strategies
* Develop technical documents and reports, as well as fee proposals
* Check, amend, and submit technical documents produced by colleagues
* Manage key working relationships with clients and other stakeholders, including Local Authorities, regulatory bodies, etc.
* Produce risk assessments, overseeing site walkovers and other surveying works
* Oversee all aspects of projects, from initial inception through to successful delivery and implementation, including budgetary restrictions and time constraints
Required skills and experience for the role of Principal Drainage Engineer include:
* A Degree in Civil Engineering, Hydrology, or a similar, relevant discipline
* Possess Chartered Status with a relevant Professional Body (e.g., CEng, CIWEM, etc.)
* Considerable experience within a design-based role, within a UK consultancy (or Local Authority) setting
* Substantial experience of report-writing and producing technical documents, particularly Flood Risk Assessments (FRA)
* Proven experience of using the relevant software packages, including Civils 3D, MicroDrianage/InfoDrainage, Causeway PDS/Causeway Flow, AutoCAD, etc.
* Excellent working knowledge of the relevant Section Agreements and their applications (e.g., S104, S38, S185, etc.)
* Proven ability to successfully lead a high-performing team of professionals within the sector
* Good working knowledge of the relevant UK legislation, regulations, and policy (including DCG, Building Regulations, etc.)
* Excellent communication (written and verbal) and organisational skills
* Hold a full, valid UK Driving Licence, able to travel to sites as and when required
Desirable skills and experience for the role of Principal Drainage Engineer include:
* A Higher Degree in a relevant field
* Experience of managing a high-performing team of people, as well as projects
If you are interested in the role of Principal Drainage Engineer, please do not hesitate to contact Caroline Davis at Penguin Recruitment. Please also see our website for a range of other roles currently available. This is a permanent role. Penguin Recruitment is operating as a recruitment agency in respect to this vacancy.