Associate Civil Engineer - Development Infrastructure

Associate Civil Engineer – Development Infrastructure (Drainage Lead) | London / Hybrid £Our client is a progressive engineering consultancy seeking an experienced Associate Civil Engineer with strong building drainage expertise to help lead and shape a growing development infrastructure team. This is a senior, influential position where you’ll combine technical leadership, project ownership and team development — shaping both the work we deliver and how the discipline evolves. You’ll be working on the systems that determine whether a site is viable in the first place: drainage, flood risk, attenuation and infrastructure strategies that unlock complex and high-profile developments. You’ll lead drainage strategy from the earliest feasibility and pre-planning stages, through detailed design and onto construction support — acting as a key technical authority on some of the most challenging development projects in the UK. At the same time, you’ll help shape team direction, mentor engineers, and contribute to how the civils function grows. Leading development infrastructure and building drainage design across major projects Defining drainage strategies that unlock planning approvals and site viability Designing complex foul and surface water systems, including basement drainage solutions Delivering stormwater attenuation and SuDS-based drainage strategies Providing expert input on flood risk and drainage constraints at early design stages Overseeing technical quality, governance and delivery standards Contributing to team growth, capability development and technical leadership Significant UK experience in development infrastructure and building drainage Proven ability to lead drainage design from concept through to delivery Strong understanding of planning processes, drainage approvals and constraints Experience across both small-scale and major mixed-use developments You’ll lead drainage strategy on complex, high-impact developments Your work will directly influence planning outcomes and project viability You’ll help shape the growth and direction of a developing civils function You’ll work alongside highly capable engineers on challenging, meaningful projects You’ll operate in a culture that values design quality, sustainability and thinking differently Hybrid and flexible working in London Private healthcare and well-being support Employer pension contribution Discretionary bonus scheme Enhanced parental leave Strong learning, development and leadership progression support This is a role for someone who wants to move beyond being a project contributor — and become a technical leader, shaping drainage strategy, influencing design outcomes, and helping build something bigger than individual projects