Principal C&I Engineer

Principal Control & Instrumentation Engineer

Nuclear Sector | FEED Project | Leading Engineering Consultancy | Hybrid | Long-term Contract | Outside IR35 | Competitive Rate

The Opportunity

We're recruiting a Principal Control & Instrumentation Engineer to deliver key design elements on an exciting Front End Engineering Design (FEED) project in the nuclear sector. You'll combine technical leadership with hands-on design production, managing technical resources, driving project delivery, ensuring compliance and quality, and acting as the contact for the C&I discipline team and end client.

Contract Details: Outside IR35 | Competitive rate | Hybrid working | Long-term contract | Nuclear FEED project

This is a senior technical role. You'll execute hands-on design work, and interface with delivery teams, clients and stakeholders. You'll drive progress on complex technical challenges, maintain quality standards, and ensure projects deliver on company and client promises. You're equally comfortable designing safety systems and mentoring engineers as you are managing project budgets and risk.

What You'll Be Doing

Technical Design Delivery

Lead and execute key elements of C&I design across the full engineering lifecycle (tendering through close-out)
Specify and design Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS) in line with IEC 61511 and IEC 61508
Conduct Safety Integrity Level (SIL) assessments and functional safety case development
Produce control system designs, instrumentation specifications, P&IDs and technical documentation
Check, approve and ensure quality of all C&I design deliverables
Ensure all designs meet regulatory requirements, standards and client specifications
Support technical problem-solving and resolution on complex challenges
Project & Team Leadership

Act as single point of contact for C&I discipline team on projects
Hold budget and resource responsibility for allocated scope
Line manage team members and drive career development
Provide technical mentoring and support to junior engineers
Manage discipline workload, schedules and delivery
Interface with project management, delivery teams and clients
Project Management & Governance

Manage project reporting (KPIs, progress, change management)
Track and report on risk/opportunity registers
Support carbon tracking and sustainability reporting
Participate in change control processes
Maintain project compliance and quality standards
Ensure regulatory and standards compliance
Technical Compliance & Regulatory

Ensure competence in ATEX requirements and potentially explosive area installation
Manage CE marking compliance (ATEX, PED, Low Voltage Directive, Machinery Directive, EMC)
Support CDM regulations and design responsibility requirements
Contribute to risk identification, quantification and management
Maintain HSE awareness and safety compliance across work
Stakeholder & Client Management

Manage technical interfaces between delivery teams
Engage with clients on technical and project matters
Communicate progress, risks and issues to project leadership
Collaborate across disciplines to drive integrated delivery
Build and maintain strong client relationships

About You

Essential Qualifications & Experience

Degree in relevant engineering discipline (ideally 2:1 or better) or equivalent professional experience
Chartered Engineer (CEng) or Incorporated Engineer (IEng) status with a relevant professional body
Valid safety passport or equivalent industry qualification
Minimum 12+ years' C&I engineering experience across full project lifecycle
Extensive engineering design experience from tendering through to close-out and handover
Competence in Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS) design to IEC 61511 and IEC 61508
Proven line management and mentoring experience with demonstrated ability to drive career development
Expert-level knowledge of:

Control system design and specifications
Safety Instrumented Systems and functional safety
ATEX and potentially explosive area requirements
CE marking compliance and regulatory requirements
UK regulatory framework and CDM regulations
Industry standards and best practice

Proven ability to:

Deliver high-quality technical design work
Lead and manage engineering teams
Manage budgets and resources effectively
Drive projects and resolve complex technical challenges
Balance hands-on delivery with management responsibilities
Produce and interpret project KPIs and reporting data

Strong organisation and time-management skills
Excellent communication skills - confident engaging with teams, clients and stakeholders
Collaborative approach - comfortable working across disciplines and functions
Highly motivated - takes ownership of delivery, quality and team development
Desirable

Track record on nuclear sector projects
Experience on FEED (Front End Engineering Design) projects
Experience on major infrastructure or process plant projects
Experience in oil & gas, chemicals, water or similar sectors
Knowledge of safety-critical system design and assurance
Experience with risk and opportunity management
Familiarity with BIM and integrated project delivery
Understanding of carbon tracking and sustainability in design
Commercial awareness and project margin management

The Role in Practice

You'll take technical and management responsibility for C&I scope on assigned projects. Day-to-day activities combine design production (specifications, calculations, drawings, compliance assessments), team management (mentoring, work allocation, performance), and project management (reporting, budgets, risk management, client engagement).

You'll report to senior project leadership and work collaboratively across engineering disciplines, construction teams, and client organisations. You'll be the technical authority on C&I matters whilst also responsible for team capability, project performance and commercial delivery.

This is a demanding role that requires equal competence in technical delivery and people/project management. The right person thrives on both the technical challenge and the responsibility of leading delivery and developing talent.

Why This Role

You'll be working on an exciting FEED project in the nuclear sector - strategically important work at a critical stage of major infrastructure development. This is senior C&I engineering where your technical expertise, project management capability and leadership skills are genuinely valued. You'll have scope for progression, responsibility for significant scope and budgets, and the opportunity to support the next generation of C&I engineers on a major national infrastructure programme.

The role offers competitive rates for principal engineers with proven project delivery track record, long-term engagement on a major nuclear FEED project, hybrid working flexibility, genuine technical authority and management responsibility, and career development opportunities on critical infrastructure