Principal Civil Maritime Engineer

Job Description

Overview

Shape the Future of our Ports and Maritime environment.

Are you a Civil Maritime Engineer driven to make a lasting impact on the performance, resilience, and sustainability of port and maritime infrastructure? Are you ready to take a leading role in some of the UK’s most complex and high-profile maritime engineering challenges?

Join AtkinsRéalis and help shape the future of our ports, harbours, and maritime environment.

We are seeking an experienced and motivated Principal Civil Maritime Engineer to join our Ports and Maritime capability. You will be part of a highly skilled, multidisciplinary team delivering innovative and technically challenging maritime engineering solutions across the UK, Ireland, and the Middle East.

Our work spans the full lifecycle of maritime infrastructure — from early feasibility and optioneering through to detailed design and construction support. We operate across a diverse portfolio of projects, supporting clients in a range of operational, environmental, and regulatory contexts.

This includes:

• Planning, design, and delivery of port, harbour, and maritime infrastructure across a range of scales and project stages.
• Structural design of maritime assets, including quay walls, jetties, berths and coastal infrastructure.
• Assessment and engineering appraisal to inform maintenance, upgrade, and future use of existing infrastructure.
• Supporting clients in developing asset strategies, capacity improvements, and long-term investment planning.

As a key member of the team, you will play a central role in leading the technical delivery of projects across multiple geographies, bringing consistency of approach while adapting to local challenges. You will work closely with clients to develop practical, evidence-led engineering solutions that balance performance, risk, and investment.

You will also contribute to the continued growth of our ports and maritime capability — shaping project approaches, mentoring and developing junior engineers, and supporting the development of innovative solutions to industry challenges.

We operate in a highly collaborative environment, working across disciplines and regions to bring the best expertise to each project. Whether delivering new infrastructure, enhancing existing assets, or responding to climate and resilience challenges, your work will have a direct and measurable impact.

At AtkinsRéalis, we are committed to creating an inclusive environment where diverse perspectives are valued and where people are supported to thrive. We recognise that everyone’s priorities are different, and we provide the flexibility and support needed to help you succeed both professionally and personally.

Your role

The role will offer a challenging and rewarding opportunity to apply knowledge, experience, and problem-solving skills whilst providing great opportunities for career development.

As a Principal Maritime Engineer, the successful candidate would have the following responsibilities:

• Coordinate or manage a team of engineers in the delivery of technical design work on complex multi-disciplinary maritime engineering projects following relevant national and project specific design codes and standards, and to high-quality levels.
• Responsible for producing and reviewing technical deliverables such as design reports, drawings, calculations, and scopes of work.
• Provide technical input into project design deliverables for maritime aspects of complex multi-disciplinary projects and work with the project management team to successfully manage time and budgets to key project milestones and programmes.
• Collaborate with client, operational, project, or service activities within your immediate team and other related AtkinsRéalis teams.
• Provide mentorship to less experienced colleagues and help grow our Ports and Maritime capability within the local team and nationally.
• Work independently with minimal technical guidance and exercise personal judgement to solve difficult problems where appropriate and provide guidance to junior team members. 
• Provide technical support for bid proposals.
• Work closely with a multi-disciplinary team in the UK and overseas to deliver integrated design solutions.
• Adhere to quality assurance standards in design including check and review of own work as well as others.

About you

• A degree in Civil Engineering or equivalent.
• Chartered Civil Engineer.
• Proven experience in coordinating or managing an engineering design delivery team for a design consultancy including within a multi-disciplinary environment.
• Takes broad perspective to identify innovative solutions to design problems. 
• Strong knowledge and practical experience in design such as berthing structures, dolphins, quay walls, port infrastructure and construction logistics.
• Practical knowledge of current design codes and standards as well as industry best practices, including CDM Regulations.
• Proficiency in applicable analytical software and related tools such FEA and mooring analysis.
• Demonstrates strong communication skills, with the ability to convey technical concepts clearly and effectively within diverse multi-disciplinary teams.
• A proactive, highly motivated mindset with a collaborative approach to drive teamwork and shared success across projects.

Meet some but not all of the criteria? We’d still love to hear from you!

Please submit your CV along with a cover letter letting us know your motivation for applying and highlighting how your skills and experience align with the role.

Rewards & benefits

Explore the rewards and benefits that help you thrive – at every stage of your life and your career. Enjoy competitive salaries, employee rewards and a brilliant range of benefits you can tailor to suit your own health, wellbeing, financial and lifestyle choices. Make the most of a myriad of opportunities for training and professional development to grow your skills and expertise. And combine our hybrid working culture and flexible holiday allowances to balance a great job and fulfilling personal life.

Be rewarded. Find out more.

About AtkinsRéalis

We're AtkinsRéalis, a world-class engineering services and nuclear organization. We connect people, data and technology to transform the world's infrastructure and energy systems. Together, with our industry partners and clients, and our global team of consultants, designers, engineers and project managers, we can change the world. We're committed to leading our clients across our various end markets to engineer a better future for our planet and its people.

Find out more.

Additional information

Security clearance

This role may require security clearance and offers of employment will be dependent on obtaining the relevant level of clearance.  If this is necessary, it will be discussed with you at interview. The vetting process is delivered by United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) and may require candidates to provide proof of residency in the UK of 5 years or longer. If applying to this role please do not make reference to (in conversation) or include in your application or CV, details of any current or previously held security clearance. 

We are committed to creating a culture where everyone feels that they belong - a place where we can all be ourselves, thrive and develop to be the best we can be. So, we offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements and employee resource groups to support all employees. As an Equal Opportunities Employer, we value applications from all backgrounds, cultures and ability.

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Worker Type

Job Type

At AtkinsRéalis, we seek to hire individuals with diverse characteristics, backgrounds and perspectives. We strongly believe that world-class talent makes no distinctions based on gender, ethnic or national origin, sexual identity and orientation, age, religion or disability, but enriches itself through these differences.