Principal Engineer


Company:	North Somerset Council
Salary:	£36,581 to £49,817 a year
Hours:	Full-time
Location:	Weston-super-Mare, BS23 1UJ
Working pattern:	Hybrid - 3 days remote
Job type:	Permanent
Posting date:	15 Sept 2026
Closing date:	15 Oct 2026

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Summary

About us.

North Somerset Council is committed to providing high-quality services to our community. We are committed to creating a fair, green, and more inclusive environment for all our residents. Join us and contribute to making a positive impact on our community.

The role.

We are seeking a dedicated and experienced Engineer to a Principal Engineer level to join our Highway Structures Team. The Highway Structures Team is responsible for managing around 1026 highway structures, which includes Road and Foot Bridges, Public Rights of Way (PROW) Bridges, Highway Retaining walls, and other structures. The team also responsible for delivering annual capital and revenue programme of maintenance works for highway structures (circa £1million), Statutory Annual Inspections of structures (General and Principal inspections), Administration and Approval of Technical Approval (TA) procedures, and the Management and Repair of Vehicle Restraint Systems (VRS’s).

In this role, you will Lead on the delivery of capital projects and the relevant structural design works, as well as supporting the Team Manager on the review of technical documents and the proposals as part of the AIP approval procedures for the external projects.

Key responsibilities:

- Structural Design and production of works specifications with construction drawings, in accordance with national standards such as, Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (DMRB) and The Manual of Contract Documents for Highway Works (MCHW).

- Structural assessments of highway structures and bridges.

- Conducting Principal Inspections / Special Inspections to highway structures.

- Reviewing of design drawings and calculations.

- Development of engineering solutions and presentation of engineering options.

- Preparation of design concepts, design details, drawings, specifications, contract documents and other technical documents.

- Supporting development of junior members of staff.

- Prepare technical reports (e.g. Feasibility/Options Reports, Assessment Reports, and other technical reports).

- Assist in the preparation and monitoring of the budget for projects including the planning, monitoring, and reporting of project resources.

- Ensure innovation and best practice are highlighted and adopted where practicable.

- Ensure compliance with all relevant technical standards such as Eurocodes, British Standards etc.

- Develop safe, sustainable and value for money solutions to meet technical and project requirements.

- Drive effective Health, Safety & Welfare practices within the team. Also, compliance with relevant environmental legislation, particularly the CDM regulations.

Valid driving licence and own transport, or be able to provide alternative, suitable method of travel is an essential condition for this role.

Work style.

At North Somerset Council, we offer a hybrid working environment based on four distinct work styles. Depending on the role and personal circumstances, you will fall into one of these categories. However, please note that during the induction period, it may be necessary to spend more time in the office to support your learning and development. We are flexible and open to discussions about your preferred working style, and if you wish to be in the office more frequently, this can be negotiated.

This role falls into the category of Flexible Worker which means you can expect to work in the following way:

- 2-3 days in the office.

- Works both from home and the office, depending on the task at hand.

- Training is provided to help balance work-life and manage time effectively, with an emphasis on communication for team touchpoints and planning in-office days for collaboration.

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