Principal Engineer - Bridges

A little more about your role… 

You will join the Bridges Team based in our Exeter office, which is a busy office filled with established professionals across many disciplines. Our Bridges Team has an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the wide variety of structures across the Southwest. You will be further supported by structures colleagues from across WSP who provide additional resources and specialist expertise to deliver high quality services. 

As a Principal Engineer, you will have a pivotal role in supporting our local authority clients within the Southwest to maintain and enhance their structures. Our clients have a varied bridge stock from multi-span post tensioned concrete bridges to small masonry arches, and everything in between. We have an extensive programme of design, assessment and inspection schemes to provide a fast paced and varied workload.  

The type of work we undertake is extremely varied but includes: 

• Designing new and replacement bridges and retaining walls, as well as inspecting, assessing, repairing and strengthening existing structures, ranging from masonry arches and stonework retaining walls to modern moving structures.  

• Taking projects through their entire life cycle, from inception to construction. 

• The variety of projects and skills within our team, together with our culture of learning, development and support, will give you fantastic opportunities to broaden your experience and skills across all sectors. 

No two days will be the same, but you could be expected to, 

•  Manage your own portfolio of schemes: be the Technical Lead and Project Manager, leading projects through their entire life cycle, including inspection, assessment, feasibility, detailed design, procurement, site supervision and construction.  

• Working with Clients and design teams to deliver compliant designs on time and within budget and meeting H&S, CDM, QA and technical review requirements. 

• Prepare and review reports, calculations, drawings, schedules, health and safety risk assessments, feasibility studies and other documents in accordance with local and national procedures and guidance. 

• Work collaboratively with team members to identify and resolve technical and commercial issues 

• Write proposals for new schemes, including cost estimates, and manage the commercial position on projects. 

• Coordinate and communicate with multi-disciplinary supporting teams from across the UK and internationally, as well as Clients and stakeholders, to deliver projects. 

• Undertake site work for construction supervision, surveys and inspections. 

• Have Line Management duties and support the development of junior members of the team. 

What we will be looking for you to demonstrate… 

• It is anticipated that you will be a Chartered Civil or Structural Engineer. It is expected that your experience will include the following: 

• A passion for working on projects that make a real difference to local communities. 

• A mature and self-aware approach to achieving high standards and safe working practices. 

• Practical knowledge and experience of bridge design, maintenance, strengthening, assessment, inspection and supervision gained from working on both construction sites and in the design office. 

• Practical knowledge and experience of project management of bridge projects. 

• Proven working knowledge of the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (DMRB) and Manual of Contract Documents for Highway Works (MCHW) in relation to structural schemes. 

• Understanding and experience of use of Eurocodes and their application to bridge design. 

• Experience of design and assessment of steel, reinforced and prestressed concrete bridge structures and masonry arch structures.

• Experience of grillage, space frame and finite element analysis software packages. 

• Evidence of being a confident communicator able to convey your point of view and keep stakeholders and colleagues informed.