At Canterbury City Council, we’re committed to shaping a district that is well-connected, sustainable, and resilient. From the vibrant city centre to coastal towns and rural landscapes, our infrastructure plays a vital role in supporting economic growth, enhancing quality of life, and delivering on our environmental ambitions.
Our Engineering Team delivers a broad portfolio of civil engineering schemes – including highways improvements, public realm enhancements, drainage and flood alleviation, coast protection works, and more recently the delivery of several complex LUF projects to enhance the city centre. We’re looking for an experienced and dynamic Principal Engineer to join us and lead on the successful delivery of these diverse projects.
The salary for the post starts at £53,416, rising to £61,030 for candidates with exceptional experience. Annual car allowance of £3,621. The post offers flexible working with 26 days annual leave plus an additional three days allocated at Christmas.

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS

Relevant academic and/or professional qualification from the Institution of Civil Engineers; Chartership with ICE is desirable.
Demonstratable experience of all types of civil engineering processes, including highways, contract procurement and contract law.
The post requires you to have a full driving licence and access to a car.
Interviews are planned to take place in the week commencing 8th September 2025.
If this Principal Engineer job opportunity in Canterbury looks right for you, please apply today! Simply click the “Apply Online” button and create your account to begin your application form.
For an informal discussion about this post please contact Liam Wooltorton, Head of Engineering at liam.wooltorton@canterbury.gov.uk

THE ROLE

As a Principal Engineer, you will manage the end-to-end delivery of complex civil engineering schemes, ensuring they are completed on time, within budget, and to a high standard. You will provide technical leadership across a variety of disciplines, ideally with a specialist experience in highway engineering.
Working in a forward-thinking and supportive environment, you’ll collaborate with councillors, colleagues across the council, local communities, contractors, and partner organisations to deliver projects that make a visible difference across the district.

MAIN DUTIES

Lead and manage the design and delivery of multi-disciplinary civil engineering projects, including highways, drainage and public spaces.
Provide expert technical advice on civil engineering, highway engineering and all other engineering matters for the Council
Oversee procurement, contract management, project governance, and risk mitigation.
Ensure projects comply with CDM, health and safety legislation, and council procedures.
Mentor junior engineers and support the development of in-house technical expertise.
Engage with residents, stakeholders, and councillors to ensure transparency and community alignment.