Lead Design Engineer (Civil)

Hello! Thanks for stopping by. Let us tell you about all the great reasons to join us here at Yorkshire Water:

•    We offer a competitive salary, depending on experience from £48,249 to £60,314.

•    Annual incentive related bonus (£1000 maximum bonus opportunity for the performance year).

•    Attractive pension scheme (up to 12% company contribution).

•    Development opportunities in line with the Lead Design Engineer progression plan.

•    25 days annual leave plus bank holidays – plus an extra wellness day!

•    Life assurance cover of 4 times pensionable salary.

•    A great benefits package – choose from health cash plan scheme, critical illness insurance, dental insurance, life assurance flex and partner cover.

 
•    Retail savings scheme.

•    Online GP service, cycle to work scheme, gym membership discounts and many more!

Location: This role will initially be based in Bradford but we’re moving our office to Leeds Valley Park in Summer 2026, so you’ll be based there in the future (hybrid working – minimum 1 day per week in the office).

Work type: Permanent. 37 hours per week, Monday – Friday.

What we do!

Everyone has an idea of what a water company does. Here in Yorkshire, we make sure that over 5.4 million people living in the region and the millions of people who visit our region each year, can rely on our services, and have clean and safe drinking water on tap and that their wastewater is taken away. But for us, it’s so much more than this.

We look after communities, protect the environment, and plan to look after Yorkshire’s water, today, tomorrow 24/7, 365 days a year. We provide essential water and wastewater services to every corner of the Yorkshire region, and play a key role in the region’s health, wellbeing, and prosperity.

New environmental legislation, unprecedented levels of investment and changing expectations from customers means that this is an exciting time to discover opportunities within the water industry.  Our Engineering Design team are a key part of how we plan to meet the changing expectations of customers and regulators.

This role is a fantastic opportunity for someone who is passionate about engineering excellence, thrives in a collaborative multi disciplinary environment, and wants to play a central part in shaping the future of water infrastructure.

Our Engineering Design Team sits at the heart of our capital programme. We lead the technical definition, governance and design of projects across water, wastewater, bioresources, nature based solutions, networks, treatment and beyond.

We are building a Design Authority and Engineering centre of excellence that will set the standard for how Yorkshire Water designs and delivers infrastructure.

Where you fit in!

As our Lead Design Engineer (Civil) you will:

•    Bring at least 5 years of civil design experience, with strong technical capability in hydraulic design, wastewater treatment and clean water treatment infrastructure, applying this expertise across multidisciplinary civil engineering projects.

•    Deliver high‑quality civil engineering design for water, wastewater, bioresources and storm overflow programmes within a collaborative, multidisciplinary team.

•    Work closely with the Strategic Planning Partner, Design Partner and Delivery Partners, providing technical oversight and ensuring high‑quality design delivery across the full project lifecycle.

•    Ensure all design work is completed efficiently and in full compliance with Yorkshire Water Engineering Specifications, design guidance, legislation and relevant British and European Standards.

•    Lead on technical reviews of design outputs produced by planning and delivery partners, ensuring accuracy, consistency and strong technical governance throughout the project lifecycle.

•    Contribute to design governance activities including value engineering, constructability reviews, and HAZOP/HAZCON workshops, supporting safe and efficient project outcomes.

•    Develop efficient, cost‑effective and technically robust engineering solutions, aligned with TOTEX and whole‑life cost and carbon principles.

•    Work closely with suppliers, procurement and planning teams to drive standardisation and increase the use of Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) across civil engineering projects.

•    Promote innovation and continuous improvement while providing technical leadership, mentoring and guidance to junior engineers and graduates.

•    Champion a strong safety culture by ensuring excellent standards of health and safety in design, effective risk management and full compliance with the Yorkshire Water Safety Policy.

•    Play a key role in delivering proficient and efficient engineering design support across the full project lifecycle, ensuring all programmes of work are delivered to a consistently high standard.

•    Collaborate closely with senior engineering leads and project partners to ensure seamless coordination, clear communication and consistent multidisciplinary project delivery.

What skills and qualifications you will need:

•    Degree‑qualified in Civil Engineering (or related discipline), ideally Chartered or working toward Chartership (ICE or equivalent).

•    A minimum of 5 years’ civil design experience within the water or wastewater sector, with strong technical capability in hydraulic modelling, treatment processes and pipeline design.

•    Proven experience across key areas including wastewater and/or water treatment works, gravity and pressurised pipelines, earthworks, structural design and site layout development.

•    Strong communicator with excellent written and verbal skills, able to translate complex technical information for non‑technical audiences and collaborate effectively across multidisciplinary teams.

•    Highly organised with experience delivering multiple design outputs to project deadlines, following robust quality procedures and document control processes.

•    Committed to safety, sustainability and high‑quality engineering design, with strong attention to detail and a full valid driving licence with less than 6 points.

You will also benefit from having:

•    Experience in design of nature based and blue/green solutions.

•    Proficiency in design tools such as Civil 3D, MicroDrainage/InfoDrainage, GIS, and hydraulic modelling software.

•    Experience in Ground Investigations.

Although we operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, it’s important to us that we support flexible working patterns and job share options (when we can), to help you make the best of both your work and home life. We know that juggling childcare responsibilities or getting that ideal work/life balance isn’t always easy!

Do we sound like your cup of tea?

If you’ve got experience as a Lead Design Engineer (Civil) and want to help us deliver great service for our customers whilst looking after the environment, then be sure to apply today to find out what a career with Yorkshire Water can offer you.  Please apply online and complete the application process by uploading an up-to-date copy of your CV and cover letter outlining your relevant experience for the role.

If successful for the role, you will be required to undergo pre-employment checks that will include a Basic Disclosure Check, carried out through a Third-Party Company, prior to commencing employment. Depending on the role, you may also be required to go through the security vetting process for either a Counter Terrorist Check or Security Check clearance.

All our roles are subject to a medical questionnaire, and further medicals when required.

We are committed to removing barriers and ensuring our recruitment process is accessible to everyone. We offer a range of adjustments to make your application experience as comfortable and straightforward as possible.

If you have an accessibility need, disability, or condition that requires changes to the recruitment process, please include this information in your application. We will then discuss any reasonable adjustments required.

Kelda Group reserve the right to close this position before the published closing date, should the need occur. We therefore advise that you complete and submit your application as soon as possible.

Closing date for this role is 29th March 2026.

No Agencies please.