Principal Design Engineer (Temporary Works)

Principal Design Engineer – Temporary Works

Location: Cumbernauld, Scotland

Contract: Full-time

About AmcoGiffen

AmcoGiffen delivers essential engineering services across the UK, supporting major civils, rail and infrastructure programmes. Our in‑house design team brings together specialists at all levels, and we are expanding our Temporary Works capability in Scotland. This is a key opportunity to help shape a growing team and influence the future direction of our design function in the region.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary (dependent on experience)
• Company car or car allowance
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays (increasing with service)
• Up to 3 volunteering days
• Company contributory pension scheme
• Life insurance
• Medicash Health Cash Plan & Rewards
• Private Medical Insurance
• Professional and personal development opportunities
• A safe, inclusive and supportive working environment
• Employee forums for open feedback and discussion
  
  

The Opportunity

As Principal Design Engineer for Temporary Works, you will lead the development of technical solutions across a diverse portfolio of rail and non‑rail infrastructure projects. You will play a central role in strengthening and developing the Temporary Works design presence in Scotland, ensuring safe, innovative and high‑quality engineering outcomes for our clients.

This senior leadership role combines technical authority with team development, project oversight and client engagement, contributing directly to the success and growth of the Cumbernauld design office.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide authoritative technical leadership on Temporary Works engineering solutions.
• Lead compliance with CDM Regulations and ensure robust design governance.
• Define project briefs and drive the development of clear, innovative engineering solutions from feasibility through to detailed design.
• Establish and maintain design philosophies and ensure appropriate documentation is in place.
• Act as CRE (Design) on Network Rail schemes across a varied project portfolio, including multi‑disciplinary works.
• Check and approve design deliverables, including Designer’s Risk Assessments and Decision Logs.

Represent the design team at internal and external meetings with clients and stakeholders.

Ensure delivery against financial, quality and programme targets.

Provide strong leadership, including performance reviews, coaching and development of team members.

Support succession planning and contribute to the long‑term growth of the design function.

Maintain proactive communication with clients regarding cost, scope changes and emerging issues.

Assist the Head of Design with departmental management and continuous improvement.

Champion a culture of excellence across AmcoGiffen Design & Engineering.

About You

You will bring significant experience as a Principal Design Engineer specialising in Temporary Works, ideally within a rail environment. You will be confident leading teams, shaping technical direction and engaging with clients at a senior level.

Essential Requirements

• IEng/CEng qualification (or equivalent).
• Chartered membership of a relevant professional body (e.g., ICE, IStructE).
• Sentinel PTS competence (AC and DC).
• Strong civil engineering design experience (bridges, structures, stations, platforms etc.).

Extensive experience delivering Temporary Works designs for rail and civils projects.

Background in client, contractor or consultancy environments will be considered.

Full UK Driving License

Apply Now

If you’re an experienced Temporary Works Principal Design Engineer looking to take the next step in your career, we’d be delighted to hear from you. Please submit your application to join our growing team in Scotland.

The Company

Why AmcoGiffen?

You will be joining a reputable and firmly established, engineering contractor operating nationally in rail, civils and engineering markets. AmcoGiffen are renowned in the market as a specialist civil, building, mechanical and electrical renewals and maintenance business with ongoing and successful projects and frameworks across the country, you will become part of our expert outfit.

AmcoGiffen has a wealth of experience working on sensitive, live assets in highly regulated environments, we deliver exceptional peace of mind for our customers, creating and maintaining assets across a growing range of high-quality public and private sectors. These include rail, power generation, electricity distribution, flood defence, aviation, waterways and much more.

Diversity & Inclusion at AmcoGiffen

We value collective expertise, but also the spark that one person can bring. As one of us, you can be you, because your individuality is an asset to our business and the communities in which we work and represent.

We are working hard as part of the civil engineering and construction industry, to improve diversity & inclusion. Our Diversity and inclusion journey at AmcoGiffen, is constantly evolving and is designed to break down barriers and promote the principles of a diverse workforce through multiple channels. This includes delivering training, raising awareness, regular forums and sharing our engagement calendar of activities and events to encourage participation at all levels throughout our organisation.

Diversity & Inclusion is embodied throughout our SPIRIT core Business values and lies at the heart of our culture of Safety, Professionalism, Innovation, Respect, Integrity and Teamwork.

AmcoGiffen is an Equal Opportunities Employer, offering challenging, worthwhile careers to everyone and is pro-actively committed to improving our understanding year on year to foster a diverse and inclusive environment for all employees as well as for the customers and communities in which we serve and operate within. It doesn’t matter to us what your age, disability, employment status, gender, health, marital status, sexual preference, membership or non-membership of a trade union, nationality, race, religion or social class are, or indeed any other personal characteristics not directly related to the relevant job. Anyone who meets the requirements of the job is eligible for employment with AmcoGiffen.

Health & Wellbeing

Operating from a people first perspective we support safety and wellbeing in the workplace as a priority. We have large number of colleagues that are trained and qualified mental health first aiders to support and listen where appropriate. We enrol all of the AmcoGiffen family onto an employee assistance programme which provides 24 hour, 7 days a week counselling and advice services.

Is AmcoGiffen your next career challenge? If so, apply now!

For more information or to arrange a private and confidential discussion about AmcoGiffen career opportunities, please contact our Recruitment Team:

tom.peach@amcogiffen.co.uk

Recruitment Manager