Fairhurst
Principal Flood Engineer

How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
About Fairhurst LLP
Fairhurst LLP is one of the UK’s largest private multidisciplinary partnerships of consulting engineers, delivering civil, structural, geotechnical, environmental, transportation, planning, water, and landscape architecture services across 16 principal offices in the UK. Fairhurst specialises in providing cost‑effective, sustainable engineering solutions and prides itself on high-quality service delivery, technical excellence, and long-standing client relationships.
Our Water Services Team
Our Water Services Team is passionate about supporting and managing how engineering projects interface with, protect, and ensure the sustainability of our water environment. Rivers, streams and coasts are highly valued assets, and they are part of our natural heritage. We deliver successful engineering outcomes that serve the water environment including large master-planning strategies, transport infrastructure, river restoration, flood prevention, dams, reservoir, renewable energy, river / coastal restoration, water supply and sustainable drainage schemes for the present and the future.
Role Overview
The Principal Flood Engineer / Consultant is responsible for delivering on a broad and diverse range of projects including flood management, masterplan development, major infrastructure and renewables/energy schemes.
The role requires strong technical capability, a commitment to high‑quality design, and an ambition to develop experience in both project and client management.
Key Responsibilities
Technical & Design
- Deliver high‑quality design work in flood management and mitigation, river restoration and sustainable water related infrastructure projects.
- Experience in utilising software packages such as Flood Modeller, Tuflow, Infoworks, GIS, ReFH2 and WINFAP to oversee production of accurate flood models, drawings, and technical reports.
- Develop practical and sustainable engineering solutions that respond to environmental, planning, and client requirements.
- Assist in technical reviews, ensuring designs align with best practice and project specifications.
Reasons to use Rodeo
I’m in my final year doing Economics and I don’t know whether to apply for grad schemes now or do a masters first. What do you think?
Honest answer — it depends on where you want to end up. A lot of top grad schemes (Big 4, civil service, banking) don’t need a masters. Let’s look at the ones you’d be competitive for now, and we can decide if a masters actually adds anything.
Also worth knowing: most autumn 2026 applications are open now. Timing matters more than you think.
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
Graduate Consultant — 2026 Scheme
Why you're a good match
StrongYour economics background and your summer at a regional bank line up with what PwC looks for on the consulting scheme. Applications close in four weeks.
See breakdownIt searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Why you're a good match
You’ve got the grades and the economics background, and your bank internship is exactly the experience this scheme looks for. Apply soon — deadlines close within the month.
Experience fit
Your summer at the bank plus your econometrics coursework map directly to the day-one responsibilities on this scheme — client modelling, market briefings, and deal support.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
Project Management
- Support the planning, coordination, and delivery of engineering tasks and project packages.
- Monitor progress, manage priorities, and contribute to forecasting, resources, and project reporting.
- Develop experience in commercial awareness, risk management, and programme control.
- Take ownership of assigned tasks and deliverables, ensuring compliance with deadlines and quality standards.
Client & Stakeholder Engagement
- Attend meetings, workshops, and site visits (driving licence required).
- Communicate proactively with clients, consultants, contractors, and regulators.
- Represent Fairhurst professionally, clearly conveying technical information to varied audiences.
- Build strong, long-term working relationships with partners and stakeholders.
Quality & Compliance
- Ensure all work meets Fairhurst’s quality management processes and industry standards.
- Follow relevant legislation, design codes, and internal governance procedures.
- Maintain accurate records, transparent assumptions, and auditable design outputs.
- Contribute to a culture of continuous improvement and technical excellence.
Leadership & Mentoring
- Support and guide junior team members, sharing knowledge and encouraging professional development.
- Assist in developing skills within the team and contribute to a positive, collaborative working environment.
- Principal Engineers may lead project teams, undertake line management duties, or develop specialist areas of expertise.
Person Specification
Qualifications & Professional Requirements
- Chartered with the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) or Chartered Institution of Water Environmental Management (CIWEM)
- Strong experience in flood risk, water, and infrastructure engineering across varied project types.
- Competence in flood modelling software packages such as Flood Modeller, Tuflow and/or Infoworks
- Full UK driving licence (required for site work and client visits).


Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
What We Offer You
- Competitive salary and benefits, aligned to experience and location.
- Contributory pension, personal health care plan and life insurance
- 33 days annual leave (inclusive of Public Holidays) including annual leave purchase and buy-back scheme
- Bonus Schemes including loyalty bonus and qualifications award
- Access to Staff Health Plan, Employee Assistance Programme including a 24-hour advice line
- BUPA Company Care Scheme
- Life Insurance, Personal Accident and a generous Contributory Pension Scheme
- Interest-free travel loan, Cycle to Work Scheme and Arnold Clark Affinity Scheme
- Payment of professional fees
- Hybrid and flexible working opportunities will be considered
- A collaborative, partner‑led environment with access to multidisciplinary expertise.
- Career and professional development and opportunities on high-profile projects.
- A culture built on responsiveness, flexibility, and sustainable, value-adding engineering.
You can learn more about our staff benefits here.
Ethos
We, at Fairhurst, know that progress within the industry is all about people. That’s why we’re working together to build a better, more inclusive and diverse future for engineers and the engineering industry.
We are committed to providing a workplace that is respectful, fair and inclusive for all employees. We recognise the value of different perspectives and backgrounds, and we are committed to creating an environment where everyone can contribute and succeed.
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Skills