Costain Group PLC
Principal Design HSE Engineer
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Principal Design HSE Engineer – Job Description
Costain’s multi-discipline engineering and design team delivers design outputs, ranging from studies to detailed designs for both permanent and temporary works. We prioritise sustainable and safe-by-design solutions, driven by a strong constructability ethos.
A Principal Design HSE Engineer typically acts as the most senior engineer in their discipline for a specific project, holding full authority to act on behalf of that discipline when delegated by the Chief Design HSE Engineer.
About the Role
The Design HSE Engineer plays a critical role in ensuring safe process plant design. Key responsibilities include:
- Producing documents compliance with Health and Safety Executive, Environmental Agency, and other regulators.
- Producing, checking, and approving internal Design HSE deliverables.
- Managing specialist consultants for design HSE activities beyond the expertise of Costain Engineering Ltd.
Design HSE influence can significantly impact project costs and timelines. The role reports to the Chief Design HSE Engineer and, when assigned to a project, may also report to a project engineering manager or project manager as appropriate.
On projects, senior process engineers, process engineers, and graduate engineers report to the job holder, depending on project size and scope.
Ensuring compliance with company policies, legislation, and client requirements concerning health, safety, and environmental matters is essential, while working in a manner that prevents harm to oneself, colleagues, subcontractors, and the environment.
Responsibilities
As a Project Design HSE Engineer (also known as Technical Safety Engineer or Process Safety Engineer), key responsibilities include:
- Supervising and executing Design HSE work assigned by the Chief Design HSE Engineer.
- Checking and approving Design HSE work in line with Company Procedures.
- Acting as proposals Design HSE Engineer for designated proposals, overseeing design work for initiatives.
- Assisting the Chief Design HSE Engineer with administrative tasks within the discipline.
- Planning resources and monitoring design progress, including man-hour usage.
- Liaising with other disciplines as necessary.
- Supporting Work Winning and Construction/Commissioning Departments as required.
- Providing training, information, and feedback to colleagues, particularly junior engineers.
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Ensuring legal and organizational responsibilities related to HSE issues are upheld for employees, contractors, clients, and third parties while adhering to Company policies and client requirements.
Requirements
Essential Knowledge, Skills, and Experience
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Chartered Engineer with significant years of experience in process industries since graduation, along with a minimum of 5 years in Design Safety and Environmental Engineering / Technical Safety / Process Safety.
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Experience must include the preparation of:
- Safety philosophies (e.g., F&G, AFP, and PFP philosophies)
- AFP and PFP specifications and calculations
- Fire and explosion consequence and risk assessments
- QRA, DSEAR, HAZID, ENVID, HAZOP, LOPA
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Experience across all stages of the project lifecycle—from studies through FEED to detailed design and construction.
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Strong communication skills.
Desirable
- Mobility to work across various projects throughout the UK.
- Site or construction experience.
- Experience across multiple sectors or industries.
- Ability to work independently.
- Experience in updating corporate guidance and operating controls.
- An innovative approach, with the skill to challenge and drive new solutions in engineering and construction delivery.
Qualifications
Essential
- Professional Qualifications (e.g., Chartership or Incorporated Status).
- A degree in Chemical Engineering (or equivalent).
- Educational experience relevant to their engineering discipline, ideally a degree with a 2:1 classification or better.
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Desirable
- Additional technically focused qualifications or training.
About Costain
Costain improves lives through integrated, leading-edge, smart infrastructure solutions serving the UK’s energy, water, transportation, and defence markets. We help clients achieve:
- Increased business performance by enhancing capacity and customer service.
- Safeguarding security and enhancing resilience.
- Decarbonisation and operational efficiency.
Our vision is to become the UK’s leading smart infrastructure solutions company. We achieve this by collaborating with blue-chip clients whose investments align with strategic national needs, regulatory commitments, legislation, or essential performance requirements.
We deliver digitally optimised solutions via five core services covering the entire asset lifecycle:
- Future-shaping strategic consultancy
- Consultancy and advisory
- Digital technology solutions
- Asset optimisation
- Complex programme delivery
Our company culture and values underpin all we do.
Note: Costain values the time spent applying but, due to high volumes, does not provide individual feedback at the application stage. Feedback is offered only after an interview.
As a Disability Confident employer, we ensure that applicants who disclose a disability and meet role criteria are generally invited for interviews.
In cases of high-volume, seasonal, or peak hiring, the number of interviews might be limited—including for disabled candidates. For further details, visit the Disability Confident website.
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