Principal Structural Engineer

Job Description

Overview

We are seeking an experienced Principal Structural Engineer to play a pivotal role in establishing and growing our structural engineering capability in Nottingham. This is a key strategic hire and foundational role – offering a rare opportunity to shape, grow, and lead a new structural team within an established and successful Midlands Buildings Structures Team. The role offers excellent opportunities for personal and professional progression for the right candidate, and we are particularly keen to hear from individuals who demonstrate strong potential for future growth. In your first 12 months, you will support our Birmingham Building Structures team (typically one day per week in Birmingham), within the Midlands Buildings & Places sub-region, contributing to technical delivery, client engagement, and team leadership across a strong pipeline of projects. As capability and workload develop locally, this role will transition into a Nottingham-based team leader position, with responsibility for establishing and growing a structural engineering team. This role requires someone who is comfortable working independently, taking ownership and helping to build something new, rather than relying on day-to-day direction. You will play a key role in delivering innovative, sustainable, and technically excellent design solutions, while helping expand our regional presence and client base.

Your role

• Lead the design and delivery of building structures projects from concept to construction.
• Provide technical leadership across the Midlands team, and wider Midlands, Southwest and Wales (MSWW) Building Structures practice.
• Act as a key link between Birmingham and Nottingham Buildings & Places teams.
• Establish and grow the Nottingham structural engineering capability.
• Build strong client relationships and contribute to regional business growth.

Technical & Project Delivery

• Deliver multiple projects or lead  larger scheme elements to programme & budget.
• Produce and oversee high-quality, efficient structural designs.
• Apply expertise across steel, reinforced concrete, timber, and masonry structures.
• Lead design reviews and provide technical assurance.
• Ensure compliance with Eurocodes and British Standards.
• Provide buildability advice and support construction-stage activities.
• Carry out structural surveys and site inspections where required.

Client & Commercial

• Act as a key point of contact for clients, contractors, and design teams.
• Build and maintain strong client relationships.
• Identify and support new business opportunities.
• Lead and contribute to fee proposals, bids, and tender submissions.
• Develop scopes of work and project delivery programmes.
• Support the growth of the Nottingham and wider Midlands structural offering.

Team Leadership & Growth

• Establish the structural engineering presence in Nottingham.
• Mentor and support engineers across the Midlands team.
• Support recruitment and development of a local team as it grows.
• Foster a collaborative, high-performing team culture.
• Progress into a Nottingham Structural Team Lead / Studio Lead role.

About you

• Chartered Engineer (CEng) – MIStructE or MICE.
• Significant post-graduate experience in building structures.
• Proven track record delivering projects from concept through to construction.
• Experience leading structural delivery on medium to large projects.
• Strong design capability in steel, reinforced concrete, timber, and masonry.
• Good understanding of sustainable and low-carbon design approaches.
• Proficient in structural analysis and design software.
• Strong knowledge of Eurocodes and British Standards.
• Understanding of construction processes and buildability.
• Leadership ambition with a desire to build and grow a team.
• Strong commercial awareness and consultancy experience.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Self-motivated with the ability to work independently.
• Collaborative and proactive approach.

Rewards & benefits

Explore the rewards and benefits that help you thrive – at every stage of your life and your career. Enjoy competitive salaries, employee rewards and a brilliant range of benefits you can tailor to suit your own health, wellbeing, financial and lifestyle choices. Make the most of a myriad of opportunities for training and professional development to grow your skills and expertise. And combine our hybrid working culture and flexible holiday allowances to balance a great job and fulfilling personal life.

Rewards and benefits – Careers at AtkinsRéalis

About AtkinsRéalis

We're AtkinsRéalis, a world-class engineering services and nuclear organization. We connect people, data and technology to transform the world's infrastructure and energy systems. Together, with our industry partners and clients, and our global team of consultants, designers, engineers and project managers, we can change the world. We're committed to leading our clients across our various end markets to engineer a better future for our planet and its people.

Find out more.

Additional information

Security clearance

This role may require security clearance and offers of employment will be dependent on obtaining the relevant level of clearance. If this is necessary, it will be discussed with you at interview. The vetting process is delivered by United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) and may require candidates to provide proof of residency in the UK of 5 years or longer. If applying to this role please do not make reference to (in conversation) or include in your application or CV, details of any current or previously held security clearance.

We are committed to creating a culture where everyone feels that they belong - a place where we can all be ourselves, thrive and develop to be the best we can be. So, we offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements and employee resource groups to support all employees. As an Equal Opportunities Employer, we value applications from all backgrounds, cultures and ability. As a Disability Confident Leader, we are committed to offering an interview to all applicants who have a disability and meet the essential criteria. If you would like to be considered under this commitment, please let us know at the application stage.

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Worker Type

Job Type

At AtkinsRéalis, we seek to hire individuals with diverse characteristics, backgrounds and perspectives. We strongly believe that world-class talent makes no distinctions based on gender, ethnic or national origin, sexual identity and orientation, age, religion or disability, but enriches itself through these differences.