Senior Engineer - Infrastructure, Highways & Drainage Design

Location: Watford
Reporting to: Senior Project Engineer

The Role

We are seeking a Senior Engineer with a strong design consultancy background to join our growing Infrastructure team. This role offers the opportunity to work across highways, drainage, SuDS, and civil infrastructure design, delivering projects for a wide range of public and private sector clients.

You will take ownership of technical and commercial delivery from early feasibility through to detailed design and construction support. This is an ideal opportunity for engineers looking to move beyond a traditional consultancy role - gaining broader project exposure, influencing buildability, and seeing designs delivered on site.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop highways, drainage, SuDS, and infrastructure designs, including below-ground networks, geometric design, and site-wide strategies.
• Prepare models, drawings, specifications, and technical reports in accordance with UK standards (including DMRB where applicable).
• Deliver designs using industry-standard tools such as AutoCAD, Civil 3D, MicroDrainage, InfoWorks, and BIM workflows.
• Plan, manage, and deliver work packages, including input to programming, pricing, proposals, and cost estimation.
• Provide technical assurance by checking and approving designs, calculations, and documentation.
• Act as a key point of contact for clients, local authorities, water companies, and other stakeholders.
• Deliver standalone consultancy commissions and support planning applications and technical approvals.
• Support construction delivery through site visits, surveys, and buildability input.
• Ensure compliance with Health & Safety, environmental standards, and CDM Designer duties.
• Mentor and support graduate engineers and technicians.

What Sets This Role Apart

• Full project lifecycle involvement - from concept and planning through to construction.
• Broader technical scope - work across highways, drainage, and infrastructure rather than a single discipline.
• Real impact on delivery - collaborate with construction teams and influence buildability decisions.
• Diverse project mix - balance consultancy-led commissions with major infrastructure schemes.
• Client-facing responsibility - build and manage key stakeholder relationships.

What You''ll Achieve

• Contribute to the growth and capability of the Infrastructure team.
• Deliver high-quality, sustainable, and buildable design solutions.
• Manage resources, programmes, and budgets effectively.
• Strengthen client relationships and support future work opportunities.
• Develop your technical expertise across highways, drainage, and infrastructure design.
• Gain valuable experience supporting construction phases and real-world delivery.

About You

• Degree in Civil Engineering (or equivalent).
• Chartered Engineer (ICE) or actively working towards chartership.
• Strong experience in a design consultancy environment.
• Experience in highways and/or drainage design, including SuDS and infrastructure projects.
• Knowledge of UK design standards and approval processes (e.g. DMRB, Section 104, 106, highways adoption).
• Proficient in tools such as AutoCAD, Civil 3D, MicroDrainage, InfoWorks, and BIM-enabled workflows.
• Understanding of CDM Designer''s Duties and safe design principles.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with experience working with clients and multidisciplinary teams.