Principal Civil Structural Engineer

Job Description

Overview

Are you an experienced Principal Civil Structural Engineer who enjoys combining technical excellence with leadership and mentoring? Do you feel energised by guiding teams, building strong relationships, and contributing to meaningful growth within the nuclear industry? We are looking for Principal Civil Structural Engineers to join our growing teams in Sheffield and Manchester. In this role, you’ll play a key part in delivering major new-build nuclear projects such as Hinkley Point C, Sizewell C, Small Modular Reactor (SMR) programmes, and future fusion technologies. You’ll have the opportunity to contribute as both a technical leader and a people leader, shaping multidisciplinary projects, supporting team development, engaging with clients, and helping expand our Power New Build business. If you're motivated by making a lasting impact and leading complex projects forward, we’d love to hear from you.

Your role

In this role, you will have the opportunity to:

• Apply your expertise in the analysis and design of nuclear safety-related structures, or in assessing existing nuclear facilities.
• Collaborate with safety case, internal hazard, and external hazard specialists to support the development and substantiation of safety functional requirements.
• Lead multidisciplinary engineering projects, ensuring high-quality delivery that aligns with timelines and client expectations.
• Guide and support teams, mentoring engineers and providing technical oversight while fostering a collaborative and inclusive environment.
• Build strong relationships with clients and stakeholders, understanding their needs and delivering thoughtful, effective solutions.
• Contribute to the strategic growth of the business, including supporting bid development, securing new opportunities, and strengthening client partnerships.
• Balance technical depth with leadership responsibilities, helping shape both project outcomes and team capability.
• Work flexibly across office and client environments (minimum 3 days per week), gaining exposure to diverse and impactful programmes.

About you

We take a strengths-based approach, recognising that experienced professionals bring a unique blend of expertise, leadership style, and perspective. You may find that many of the following resonate with you:

• You are a Chartered Engineer (IStructE, ICE, or equivalent), with a strong foundation in civil or structural engineering.
• You enjoy leading and developing others, creating an environment where teams feel supported, motivated, and able to do their best work.
• You bring deep technical experience within the nuclear sector, particularly in design, assessment, and safety-related structures.
• You feel confident working collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams, including safety case and hazard specialists, to deliver integrated solutions.
• You have a strategic mindset and enjoy contributing to business growth through client engagement, bid development, and opportunity identification.
• You’re able to simplify complex challenges and deliver practical, well-considered engineering solutions.
• You value building strong, trusted relationships with clients and stakeholders, contributing to long-term partnerships.
• You are motivated by shaping the future of nuclear energy and contributing to a more sustainable and low-carbon future.

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.