Principal Engineer – Water Design and Build Full Time NEW

Exeter, Devon
Jacobs

Principal Engineer – Water Design and Build Shape the Future of Water. Lead What Matters.

The UK water sector is changing faster than ever before. With unprecedented investment and sector-wide reform underway, this is a once-in-a-generation moment to leave your mark on critical national infrastructure.

If you’re a Civil Engineer/Senior Civil Engineer or a Principal Civil Engineer ready to lead, influence and shape complex water and wastewater projects, this is your opportunity to step into a role where your expertise truly counts.

Your Impact

This is more than a technical role – it’s a leadership platform.

You’ll be at the heart of transformational water and wastewater programmes, setting technical direction, mentoring future talent and influencing how vital assets are designed, built and operated for decades to come.

Your work will:
Safeguard communities and the environment through safe, compliant and buildable designs
Drive low-carbon, sustainable solutions using modern methods of construction and digital engineering
Shape smarter, safer infrastructure by embedding constructability, operability and CDM best practice
Leave a lasting legacy across some of the UK’s most high-profile water frameworks

This is a role where your decisions matter – to clients, regulators, delivery partners and society.

About the Opportunity

We’re proud to be at the forefront of transformation in the UK water sector, partnering with major water companies including United Utilities, Northumbrian Water, Thames Water, Severn Trent Water and Anglian Water.

We’re now growing our team in Exeter, seeking Civil Engineers, Senior Civil Engineers or Principal Civil Engineers to lead detailed design and Design & Build delivery across water and wastewater infrastructure.

As a Civil Engineer/Senior/Principal – Water (Detailed Design / D&B), you’ll:
Lead integrated, multi-disciplinary teams across civils, process, MEICA and construction
Own technical governance – from design reviews and change control to BIM/CDE delivery and design freeze
Act as the senior technical interface with clients, regulators, contractors and the supply chain
Guide projects from concept through to construction and handover
Champion Safety in Design, HAZID/HAZOP and risk-based engineering
Mentor and develop engineers, shaping standards, capability and future leaders

If you’re earlier in your Principal-level journey, you’ll be supported to grow – working alongside experienced specialists on major frameworks that will stretch and sharpen your leadership skills. You’ll bring deep technical credibility and the confidence to lead in complex D&B environments, including:
Extensive experience delivering water and wastewater infrastructure (treatment works, pumping stations, pipelines, MEICA)
Strong understanding of AMP delivery, water company governance and regulated utilities
Proven leadership of multi-disciplinary teams through design, construction and handover
A safety-led, risk-based engineering mindset with strong asset lifecycle knowledge
Experience using BIM, digital tools and Common Data Environments
A degree in Civil Engineering (or similar) and CEng status (or working towards)

Ready to Lead the Change?

If you want influence, technical challenge and the chance to shape the future of UK water infrastructure, this is the role for you.

Apply now and take your seat at the table for one of the most significant infrastructure transformations of our time.

Exeter Devon United Kingdom Exeter Devon United Kingdom Civil and Structural Water

Joining Jacobs not only connects you locally but globally. Our values stand on a foundation of safety, integrity, inclusion and belonging. We put people at the heart of our business, and we truly believe that by supporting one another through our culture of caring, we all succeed. We value positive mental health and a sense of belonging for all employees.

With safety and flexibility always top of mind, we’ve gone beyond traditional ways of working so you have the support, means and space to maximize your potential. You’ll uncover flexible working arrangements, benefits, and opportunities, from well-being benefits to our global giving and volunteering program, to exploring new and inventive ways to help our clients make the world a better place. No matter what drives you, you’ll discover how you can cultivate, nurture, and achieve your goals – all at a single global company. Find out more about life at Jacobs .

We aim to embed inclusion and belonging in everything we do. We know that if we are inclusive, we’re more connected and creative. We accept people for who they are, and we champion the richness of different perspectives, lived experiences and backgrounds in the workplace, as a source of learning and innovation. We are committed to building vibrant communities within Jacobs, including through our Jacobs Employee Networks, Communities of Practice and our Find Your Community initiatives, allowing every employee to find connection, purpose, and belonging. Find out more about our Jacobs Employee Networks here .

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As a disability confident employer, we will interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for a vacancy. We welcome applications from candidates who are seeking flexible working and from those who may not meet all the listed requirements for a role.

We value collaboration and believe that in-person interactions are crucial for both our culture and client delivery. We empower employees with our hybrid working policy, allowing them to split their work week between Jacobs offices/projects and remote locations enabling them to deliver their best work.

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