WSP
Senior / Principal Drainage Engineer
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Senior Drainage Engineer – Leeds or Belfast
At WSP, your career can be as unique and dynamic as you are. Explore new challenges, work with diverse teams, and expand your professional horizons through our global opportunities.
The Opportunity
We’re seeking a Senior Drainage Engineer based in Leeds or Belfast to specialise in Water, Drainage, and Environmental Engineering for transportation infrastructure projects. You’ll help expand our expertise and technical capabilities, delivering drainage designs from concept to detail for high-profile rail, highway, local authority, and aviation projects across the UK.
Key Responsibilities
Your role will involve:
Core Delivery Tasks:
- Delivering a variety of civil engineering projects, including highway, rail, infrastructure, and site development schemes.
- Managing projects from concept to completion, ensuring they meet:
- High technical standards
- Timely delivery
- Commercial success
- Providing a broad range of drainage services for the UK’s most significant transport and infrastructure projects.
Senior-Level Leadership (at higher grades):
- Leading client relationships and attending client progress meetings.
- Managing a team of drainage engineers, supporting their technical development and ensuring they are effectively resourced on projects.
About Your Team
Joining WSP means becoming part of one of the world’s leading engineering consultancies. Our national sustainable water management team is dedicated to:
- Creating innovative, future-ready solutions.
- Delivering lasting impact on high-profile challenges for our clients.
- Culture built on curiosity and collaboration, with a focus on progress and paradigm-breaking ideas.
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Our clients include HS2, Network Rail, National Highways, and Local Authorities. We offer work across projects of every scale—from strategy and concept to detail design and construction support.
This role presents a chance to shape the future of WSP’s drainage team and leave your mark on evolving industry standards.
What We’re Looking For
We’re seeking a candidate with:
- Chartered or Incorporated Engineer status (or degree qualification, depending on the role).
- Extensive post-degree experience in designing sustainable drainage solutions.
- Deep knowledge of drainage design principles and the ability to manage infrastructure drainage systems.
- Proficiency in Civil 3D and/or Causeway Flow software/MicroDrainage.
- Technical expertise in relevant standards, including:
- UK Building Regulations
- Codes of Practice
- Health & Safety regulations
- Proven ability to lead projects and teams, consistently delivering against both quality and commercial targets.
- Technical experience in one or more of the following:
- Highway drainage
- Rail drainage
- Airport drainage
- Asset management
- Foul water systems
- Sustainable foul and surface water drainage design
- Drainage modelling (e.g., Causeway Flow, Microdrainage).
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Why Join Us?
We’re committed to making a positive, lasting impact on the communities we serve—through innovation, integrity, and inclusion.
Work-Life Balance
Flexibility is core to our culture:
- Hybrid working (2 days off-site, 3 in the office).
- Modern offices across the UK, encouraging collaboration.
- "WSP My Hour"—one daily hour for personal activities, with flexible recovery time.
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Inclusivity & Belonging
We actively foster an environment where every individual feels valued:
- Encouraging authentic, whole-selves culture—celebrating diversity in background and experience.
- Employee Resource Groups connecting people with shared identities, promoting a sense of belonging.
- Employee Wellbeing Months and opportunities to thrive at work.
Health & Wellbeing
Support for your physical and mental health:
- Thrive Programme to improve health and wellbeing.
- Virtual GP service (NHS/Irish Medical Council) for immediate access to medical advice.
- Access to menopause support and workplace adjustments when needed.
- Gymflex scheme (up to 40% off annual gym memberships).
Flexible Arrangements
Enhancing professional growth and personal life through options like:
- Part-time and flexible working.
- Extra leave through bespoke bank holidays.
- Customisable annual leave.
Your Development
Investment is at the heart of our commitment to you:
- Training programmes tailored to career progression.
- Mentoring and Chartership opportunities.
Pride in Difference
WSP values diversity and encourages applications from suitably qualified candidates regardless of:
- Sex
- Race
- Disability
- Age
- Sexual orientation
- Gender reassignment
- Religion or belief
- Marital status
- Pregnancy/maternity or paternity
As a Disability Confident leader, we guarantee interviews to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria. Please let us know if you require workplace adjustments to assist your application.
Apply today and become part of a workplace where you can immerse yourself in landmark projects, inspire communities, and create a lasting legacy.
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