Structural Design Engineer (Career Grade)

About Us

North Somerset Council is committed to providing high-quality services to our community. We are committed to creating a fair, green, and more inclusive environment for all our residents. Join us and contribute to making a positive impact on our community.

The Role

We are seeking a dedicated and experienced individual who has a bachelor’s degree (BEng, MEng or MSc) in Civil Engineering with minimum 3-5 years experience in relevant Civil/Structural Engineering discipline and a member of the ICE or IStructE working towards Incorporated (IEng) or Chartered Engineer (CEng) status. This role is also open to individuals who are educated to a minimum HNC level (NVQ level 4) or HND (NVQ level 5) with 5-10 years of experience in Civil/Structural engineering discipline and construction industry.

In this role, you will lead on the delivery of capital projects and the relevant structural design works, as well as supporting the Team Manager on the review of technical documents and the proposals as part of the AIP approval procedures for the external projects.

Key Responsibilities:

• Structural Design and production of works specifications in accordance with national standards such as The Manual of Contract Documents for Highway Works (MCHW).
• Structural assessments of highway structures and bridges.
• Conducting Principal Inspections / Special Inspections to highway structures.
• Reviewing of design drawings and calculations.
• Development of engineering solutions and presentation of engineering options.
• Preparation of design concepts, design details, drawings, specifications, contract documents and other technical documents.
• Supporting development of junior members of staff.
• Prepare technical reports (e.g. Feasibility/Options Reports, Assessment Reports, and other technical reports).
• Assist in the preparation and monitoring of the budget for projects including the planning, monitoring, and reporting of project resources.
• Ensure innovation and best practice are highlighted and adopted where practicable.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant technical standards.
• Develop safe, sustainable and value for money solutions to meet technical and project requirements.
• Drive effective Health, Safety & Welfare practices within the team. Also, compliance with relevant environmental legislation, particularly the CDM regulations.

Valid driving licence and own transport, or be able to provide an alternative, suitable method of travel is an essential condition for this role.

This position is currently based at our Castlewood offices in Clevedon. Please be advised that this office will be closed by 2025. Consultation is currently underway to determine the new location for colleagues based in Castlewood. This will be at Weston-super-Mare or within North Somerset.

Work Style

At North Somerset Council, we offer a hybrid working environment based on four distinct work styles. Depending on the role and personal circumstances, you will fall into one of these categories. However, please note that during the induction period, it may be necessary to spend more time in the office to support your learning and development. We are flexible and open to discussions about your preferred working style, and if you wish to be in the office more frequently, this can be negotiated.

This role falls into the category of Flexible Worker which means you can expect to work in the following way:

• Flexible Worker
  • 2-3 days in the office
  • Works both from home and the office, depending on the task at hand.
  • Training is provided to help balance work-life and manage time effectively, with an emphasis on communication for team touchpoints and planning in-office days for collaboration.

About You

We are looking for an individual who is passionate about modern Civil/Structural Engineering design & construction methods and who possesses the following skills and experience:

Essential Criteria:

• The post holder should be educated to a minimum BEng, MEng or MSc in Civil Engineering or minimum HNC level (NVQ level 4) or HND (NVQ level 5) with significant years of experience in Civil/Structural engineering discipline.
• Practical knowledge and experience of using all parts of relevant industry Codes and Standards for highway works such as BS, Eurocodes, DMRB and MCHW, references, as well as procedures and practices of verification and validation applicable to civil engineering design, construction and structural assessments.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Software experience such as MasterSeries, Tekla, AutoCAD etc.
• Proficient in Microsoft office applications.

Desirable Criteria:

• Understanding and practical experience of using NEC3 or NEC4 contract principles.
• Experience in the management of highway structures/assets using electronic asset management systems such as AMX or equivalent.
• Incorporated (IEng) or Chartered Engineer (CEng) professional qualifications from ICE or IStructE.

Please see attached document for the post holder’s typical activities, performance measures and competencies.

What We Offer

At North Somerset Council, we value our employees and provide a supportive and inclusive work environment.

We offer:

• Competitive salary and benefits
• Flexible working arrangements
• Local Government Pension
• Opportunities for professional development
• Inclusive Staff groups including Carers, Disabled, LGBTQ+, REACH (Race, Ethnicity, and Cultural Heritage), and Young Staff Forums
• Opportunity to purchase up to an additional 10 days annual leave each year.
• Dedicated in house Wellbeing Team
• Salary sacrifice Cycle to Work and Electric Vehicle schemes.

Further details of our excellent rewards package can be found in our Benefits booklet.

How to Apply

If you share our vision and values and are ready to make an impact to North Somerset, please select the apply online button below. If you are interested in this exciting opportunity, please submit your application by 11:59pm on the application closing date. When completing our online application form, please detail how you meet the essential criteria for the role.

Contact Information

For further information about the role, please contact Chandan Bhumpelly, Highway Structures Manager at chandan.bhumpelly@n-somerset.gov.uk or 07776 170 223.

Important Information

As a Disability Confident Leader, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the job role.

Interview Date: Friday 02 May 2025.

Please note: We are currently only able to accept applications from candidates who have full permission to work in the UK.

Equal Opportunities

At North Somerset Council we want all our employees to feel valued and appreciated. We aim to ensure equality of opportunity and prevent discrimination irrespective of your sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion or belief, race, age, disability, including neurodiversity, if you are married or in a civil partnership or are pregnant or currently on maternity leave. We strive to create a workplace that reflects the communities we serve and where everyone feels empowered to bring their full, authentic selves to work.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment.