Senior Drainage Design Engineer (Highways)

Lancashire County Council · Preston · £42,123–£47,665 (stated in the posting)

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Salary £42,123 to £47,665 per annum | Permanent, Full Time 37 hours per week | Preston

Please note that we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role

Shape Lancashire’s Future Infrastructure

Are you an experienced Drainage Engineer with a passion for drainage design and sustainable infrastructure including SuDS? Join our team and play a key role in delivering major highway, property, regeneration and sustainable travel projects that will make a lasting impact across Lancashire and provide opportunities to develop your career.

This is an exciting opportunity to lead the drainage design and delivery of high-profile schemes, provide specialist expertise across council services, and help create safer, greener, and more resilient communities.

What You'll Be Doing

As our Senior Drainage Design Engineer (Highways), you'll take a leading role in the design, development and delivery of a diverse range of infrastructure projects. Your responsibilities will include:

• Leading the design and construction supervision of drainage elements for major highway and infrastructure schemes, including our school building programme.
• Producing Flood Risk Assessments and supporting planning applications.
• Reviewing external drainage submissions to ensure compliance with national and local standards, including Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS).
• Taking responsibility for managing, mentoring and developing engineering staff.
• Preparing innovative design solutions, technical drawings, schedules and engineering documentation.
• Working closely with contractors, stakeholders and partner organisations to ensure projects are delivered safely, efficiently and on programme.

Projects You'll Be Part Of

You'll contribute to an ambitious capital programme and your work will include:

• Drainage design for capital highway improvements and new build.
•  Drainage design to satisfy planning permission conditions for new-build and extension projects across Lancashire schools, including SuDS elements.
• Public realm enhancement schemes in partnership with district councils.
• Drainage input to the Safer Roads Fund schemes. 
• Rural cycling infrastructure projects.
• Section 278 Highway works.
• Varied other smaller projects including packaged wastewater treatment plants, land drainage schemes and investigations.

What We're Looking For

We're looking for someone who combines strong technical expertise with excellent leadership and collaboration skills.

You'll have:

• A proven background in drainage design and delivery, with excellent AutoCAD and hydraulic modelling skills (preferably using Causeway Flow). 
• A Bachelor's or Masters Degree in Civil Engineering or a related subject/ a professional qualification (or working towards) / extensive and detailed knowledge of UK drainage design and legislation. 
• Experience managing projects successfully to budget and programme.
• The ability to lead, mentor and support junior engineers.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Eligibility to work and be based in the UK.
• A full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle.

Ready to Make an Impact?

If you're looking for a role where your expertise will shape the future of Lancashire's infrastructure, we'd love to hear from you.

Apply today and help us deliver the next generation of highways, drainage and sustainable transport improvements across the county.

Closing Date:  13/11/2026                                       Interview Date: w/c 23/11/2026

Why Join Us?

This is your opportunity to work on some of Lancashire's most significant infrastructure and regeneration projects while developing your career within a supportive and forward-thinking team. You'll have the chance to influence schemes that improve connectivity, support economic growth and deliver long-term benefits for local communities.

In return for your passion and expertise, we offer a generous benefits package, which includes: 

• A competitive salary and Local Government Pension Scheme with generous employer contributions.
• Support and mentoring from a highly experienced team together with a dedicated leadership development programme. Links to ICE training. Opportunities for modern apprenticeships are available.
• Flexible/ Hybrid working – currently working from our office base in Preston 3 days per week.
• A great holiday entitlement of 26 days annual leave, which increases with length of service. You will also be entitled to 8 Bank Holidays, 2 additional statutory Bank Holidays, and have the option to buy additional leave each year.
• Our staff discount scheme in partnership with Vivup, allowing you to access discounts with a range of UK retailers, saving on everything from weekly food shops to white goods and cars. 
• Access to fantastic development and career opportunities. 
• Relocation package

How to Apply

For an informal discussion, contact Rina Housbey, Highway Design Manager, on 01772 533763.

Please ensure you upload a supporting statement demonstrating how you meet the criteria for the role.

We reserve the right to close down a vacancy early, before the closing date, if we receive sufficient applications.

Local Government Reorganisation

The Government has confirmed that local government across Lancashire will be reorganised, with the current 15 councils being replaced by four new unitary councils covering North, South, East and West Lancashire from April 2028.

If you are successful in your application, you will initially join Lancashire County Council. However, as part of the planned transition, your employment will transfer to one of the new unitary councils from April 2028, subject to the implementation of the reorganisation and relevant employment legislation.

Throughout this period, our focus remains on delivering excellent services to our communities. By joining us now, you'll play an important role in shaping the future of local government and helping to build a strong new organisation that will serve residents for years to come.

Job Description and Person Specification

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