Principal Engineer – Highways (Section 38)

We are seeking an experienced Principal Engineer with strong Section 38 Highways adoption experience to join a busy Highways & Transportation team. This role focuses on the negotiation, technical audit and approval of highway adoption schemes under Section 38 of the Highways Act, working closely with developers, consultants and internal teams to ensure designs meet adoptable standards. The Role You will: * Technically audit Section 38 highway design submissions * Review drainage, utilities and full highway layouts * Provide structured feedback and manage iterative resubmissions * Negotiate amendments with consultants and developers * Manage live schemes from handover (retirement cover) * Ensure compliance with legislative, regulatory and council standards * Support procurement, financial and resource management where required * Contribute to delivery during periods of changing priorities and resource pressure You must be confident challenging non-compliant designs and capable of managing complex, ongoing schemes from day one. What We’re Looking For Essential: * Direct experience with Section 38 Agreements * Strong highways design knowledge (adoptable standards) * Civil Engineering degree (or equivalent experience) * Experience within local authority or public sector highways * Strong technical report writing skills * Confident negotiator with consultants * Experience managing staff performance and workloads * Knowledge of CDM and Health & Safety legislation * IT competence (MS Office, GIS, AutoCAD understanding) Desirable: * Planning process experience * Experience working within politically sensitive environments * Experience managing operational response (e.g. adverse weather) The Person You will be: * Technically strong and decisive * Honest and accountable * Comfortable working in a fast-changing environment * Capable of prioritising workload under pressure * Able to motivate and support junior staff * Flexible in approach to hybrid and occasional operational demands Working Pattern Hybrid – ideally office-based Tuesdays (flexible for the right candidate). Manager returning 16th March – submissions to be reviewed that week