Principal Highways Engineer - Manchester
About this role
SLR is a global leader in sustainability solutions, working with clients to help make sustainability happen, within a collaborative, people-first culture.
Due to continued growth, we are seeking an experienced Principal / Associate Highway Engineer to join our established Transport Planning and Engineering team in Manchester, delivering high-profile projects across the residential, commercial, energy, infrastructure and built environment sectors.
You'll lead the delivery of highways and development-related projects from concept through to detailed design, working closely with clients, local authorities and multidisciplinary teams. The role includes:
- Technical leadership and project management of highways and infrastructure projects
- Preparation and review of General Arrangement Plans and highway designs
- Design and delivery of S278/S171 Highway Schemes and S38 Highway Adoption Schemes
- Development of highway layouts for new developments, including site access junctions, roundabouts and active travel measures
- Client management, business development and proposal support
- Mentoring, coaching and supporting the development of junior engineers and technicians
- Collaboration with drainage, lighting, infrastructure and environmental specialists across multidisciplinary projects
You’ll collaborate with colleagues across Environmental and Earth Sciences, Planning, Infrastructure, Advisory and Engineering disciplines, delivering complex and impactful projects across a range of sectors. The role also offers opportunities to contribute to the strategic growth of the Transport Planning and Engineering team through business development, recruitment and team development initiatives.
Rewards & Benefits
SLR's ‘One Team’ culture is at the heart of our business, providing a collaborative and supportive environment where people can develop and grow. Through a structured career framework, regular performance reviews, and support towards professional development, we offer excellent opportunities for long-term career progression. Our flexible benefits and reward package includes:
- Competitive salary with discretionary bonus
- Company pension
- Private medical insurance
- Life, income and travel insurance
- Salary sacrifice car lease and cycle-to-work schemes
- Volunteering and Community Giving
- Flexible, hybrid and agile working
- 25 days’ annual leave plus flexible public holidays
- Buy or sell leave options
- Core working hours
- Cross-border remote working and sabbatical opportunities
- Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave pay
- Workplace Nursery benefit
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Specialist support for mental health, stress and menopause, supporting our people both professionally and personally
About You
- Substantial experience delivering UK highways and infrastructure projects
- A degree in Civil Engineering or a related discipline
- A strong track record of managing projects, clients and multidisciplinary teams
- Demonstrable knowledge of UK highway design guidance, standards and approval processes
- Experience designing development-related highway infrastructure, including junctions and access arrangements
- Experience preparing highway designs for S278/S171 and S38 schemes
- Strong project management, organisational, communication and stakeholder engagement skills
- Experience mentoring, managing and developing engineers and technicians
- Strong technical problem-solving, reporting and design capabilities
Culture & Inclusion
Inclusion is fundamental to who we are. We are committed to equal opportunities and foster a workplace where everyone can thrive, supported by active Culture & Inclusion Committees and Employee Networks. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds and are a Disability Confident Committed employer. If you require any adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know and we will be happy to support you.
If this Principal / Associate Highway Engineer role feels like a great fit for your experience and ambitions, we'd love to hear from you.
Company at a glance
SLR is a committed partner in our clients’ sustainability journeys.
We help them move from influence to impact, turning intent into purposeful, practical action that delivers real-world results.
Guided by our philosophy of Rational Sustainability, we focus on what truly drives long-term value. By viewing decisions through the lenses of risk, reward, and resilience, we help clients act with confidence, balancing environmental and social responsibility with commercial and strategic success.
Our purpose - Making Sustainability Happen - means delivering outcomes that are grounded in evidence, shaped by experience, and built to last.
SLR has been advising clients for over 30 years at every point of their project life-cycle. Starting as a UK business, we now operate as a global company with more than 4,500 people delivering client solutions across six regions. We have grown both organically and through welcoming other like-minded businesses with a similar One Team culture into the SLR group. We are ably supported by our principal investor, Ares Management, and will continue to build a balanced, successful and growing business.
We’ve designed working life at SLR to look a little different. Because we know talented people often feel restricted by the rigid systems, lack of cross-functional collaboration and limited options for growth on offer elsewhere.
Our One Team culture promotes meaningful professional and personal growth, our flat management structure provides many opportunities to progress, and our collaborative approach means you’ll get the chance to work on projects you care about and make a real difference.
If you’re purpose-driven, self-motivated and keen to make an impact on a global scale, we want to hear from you.
Top Benefits
- Discretionary bonus
- Company pension
- Private medical insurance
- Life insurance
- Income insurance
- Travel insurance
- Salary sacrifice car lease
- Cycle-to-work scheme
- Volunteering and community giving
- Flexible working
- Hybrid working
- Agile working
- 25 days annual leave
- Flexible public holidays
- Buy or sell leave options
- Cross-border remote working
- Sabbatical opportunities
- Enhanced maternity leave
- Enhanced paternity leave
- Enhanced adoption leave
- Workplace nursery benefit
- Employee assistance programme
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