Principal Maritime Civil Engineer

Tilt Ed; Portsmouth; Hybrid; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A dynamic maritime engineering consultancy in Portsmouth seeks a Principal Maritime Civil Engineer to lead engineering design and client engagements across diverse coastal projects. You will manage projects from concept through construction and mentor junior engineers while ensuring quality and compliance with regulations. Strong experience in maritime engineering and proficiency in AutoCAD are essential. Join a supportive team offering growth opportunities and an innovative environment.

Benefits

25 days annual leave

Discretionary Christmas shutdown

Pension contributions

Life insurance

Critical illness cover

Qualifications

• Degree-qualified in Civil, Structural, Marine, or Coastal Engineering.
• Chartered with ICE or IStructE.
• Experience in maritime or coastal engineering design and delivery.

Responsibilities

• Lead engineering design and technical delivery for marine projects.
• Manage projects from concept through to construction.
• Oversee design risk assessments and quality assurance.

Skills

Maritime engineering design

Communication

Project management

Problem-solving

Team leadership

Education

Degree in Civil, Structural, Marine, or Coastal Engineering

Tools

AutoCAD

Structural analysis software

Job description

Employer: TILT Engineering & Design Ltd

Location: Port Solent (Full time with a minimum 3 days/week office-based)

Salary: Competitive (dependent on experience)

Benefits: 25 days holiday + 3 days discretionary Christmas shutdown, Pension Contributions, Life Insurance, Critical Illness Cover

Closing date: 27 Dec 2025

Applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK. We are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role.

About The Opportunity

This isn’t a role where you inherit someone’s desk and quietly pick up where they left off.

At TILT Engineering & Design, we’re a fast‑growing, specialist maritime civil engineering consultancy working across marinas, harbours, ports, and waterfront infrastructure internationally. We’re looking for a Principal Maritime Civil Engineer who wants to take lead, shape the direction of our marine capability, and grow as part of a dynamic, ambitious team.

If you want bureaucracy, layers of approvals, and doing the same thing every day - this isn’t it.

If you want autonomy, variety, responsibility, and the chance to genuinely influence the future of a startup consultancy with big plans - read on.

The Role

As our Principal Maritime Civil Engineer, you will take the lead on engineering design, technical delivery, and client‑facing work across a diverse portfolio of coastal and marine projects. You’ll play a pivotal role in driving technical quality, mentoring junior engineers, and helping us expand our maritime offering.

Key Responsibilities

Engineering Design & Technical Delivery

• Lead the design of coastal and maritime infrastructure: pontoons, jetties, quay walls, slipways, berthing facilities, breakwaters, flood defences, and waterfront structures.
• Produce and review engineering drawings, calculations, and detailed design reports.
• Undertake stability, structural, and geotechnical assessments for floating and fixed assets.
• Oversee design risk assessments, technical reviews, and quality assurance processes. Champion innovative, practical, and commercially efficient solutions for clients.

Project Leadership

• Manage projects from concept through detailed design, consenting, construction and handover, reporting directly to the Managing Director.
• Be client‑facing and build our client base.
• Prepare and contribute to tenders, bids, and technical proposals.
• Conduct site inspections, investigations, and construction support visits.
• Monitor progress against programme and budget, proactively managing risks.
• Serve as a trusted technical advisor to clients, contractors, and partners.
• Mentor our team and lead in continuous improvement.

Regulatory, Consenting & Environmental Compliance

• Lead or support MMO licence applications and marine consents.
• Ensure all designs meet relevant legislation, standards, and best practice (CDM, BS6349, Eurocodes, PIANC, etc.).
• Contribute to environmental assessments and sustainability‑driven design approaches.
• Support and implement ISO 9001 & 14001‑aligned management systems and EMS activities.

What We’re Looking For

You don’t need to tick every box — but you must be hungry to grow, lead, and take responsibility.

• Degree‑qualified in Civil, Structural, Marine, or Coastal Engineering.
• To be Chartered with ICE IStructE.
• Strong experience in maritime or coastal engineering design and delivery.
• Proficiency with AutoCAD and structural analysis software (STRAP, Robot, STAAD, or similar).
• Confident communicator who can work directly with clients and multidisciplinary teams.
• Full UK driving licence and comfortable travelling to sites when required.

Why Join TILT?

Because you want more than a job — you want influence.

Here, you won’t be siloed. You’ll be involved in design, strategy, client development, site work, and shaping our growth. You’ll build systems, improve processes, and help us develop the next generation of engineers.

You’ll make the role your own, and we’ll give you the autonomy to do it.

What We Offer

• Genuine progression — shape your role as we scale.
• 25 days annual leave + 3 days discretionary Christmas shutdown.
• Pension, life insurance, critical illness cover.
• A fast‑paced, ambitious environment where your voice matters.
• The chance to build something, not just maintain it.

Ready to Lead?

If you want responsibility, ownership, and the opportunity to leave your mark on a growing maritime consultancy, we want to hear from you.

Company

Join TILT Engineering & Design

Build the future of maritime infrastructure with a consultancy where your impact is visible, your growth is real, and your ideas genuinely matter.

Who We Are

TILT Engineering & Design is a specialist maritime civil engineering consultancy working across marinas, harbours, ports, coastlines and waterfronts throughout the UK. We support clients in solving the real challenges facing coastal communities and marine infrastructure — from ageing assets and climate‑related pressures to sustainable waterfront development and resilient design.

We’re engineers, designers, problem‑solvers, and collaborators. What we’re building isn’t another large, faceless consultancy. It’s a tight, ambitious, high‑calibre team where technical excellence meets practical, real‑world thinking.

Our Mission Is Simple

Deliver smarter, safer, sustainable solutions for the marine environment — and do it with integrity, innovation, and a relentless focus on quality.

Why We Exist

Marine and coastal infrastructure is under more pressure than ever — rising tides, extreme weather, increased operational demands, and ageing structures across the UK’s waterways.

Clients need partners who can move quickly, think differently, and offer the depth of expertise normally found only in large firms — without the bureaucracy.

That’s where TILT is different.

We Combine

• Specialist maritime expertise.
• Agile delivery.
• Direct senior‑level involvement.
• A startup mindset that challenges outdated industry norms.

For clients, that means sharper insights, better solutions, and a more personal, responsive partnership.

For our people, it means you get to do meaningful, visible work that matters — not disappear into a giant organisation.

Why Join TILT

If you want a career where you can hide in a huge department, this isn’t the place.

If you want to influence, progress fast, and play a real role in shaping a growing consultancy, TILT is where you’ll thrive.

At TILT, You’ll Experience

• Real Responsibility Early
• Clear Career Progression
• Work That Matters
• A Collaborative, High‑Performance Team
• Support for Your Professional Development
• ICE Chartership pathways
• Mentoring from senior engineers
• External training
• CPD opportunities
• Exposure across the full project lifecycle
• A Culture Built on Trust, Ownership and Autonomy

What We Work On

Our team works on a wide variety of coastal and marine engineering projects, including:

• Marina and harbour developments
• Waterfront structures and upgrades
• Pontoons, jetties, quays and berthing structures
• Coastal protection and flood defence
• Pile design, inspections, and asset management
• Marine licensing and MMO applications
• Barge stability and marine temporary works
• Complex refurbishment and repair schemes
• Sustainable and innovative coastal design

Who Thrives At TILT

We look for people who are:

• Curious and ambitious
• Good communicators as well as good engineers
• Practical, pragmatic problem‑solvers
• Eager to grow and take ownership
• Collaborative and grounded
• Passionate about the coast, waterways and marine environment

You don’t need the “perfect CV.” You need ability, potential and the mindset to build something meaningful.

Life at TILT

We’re a growing team, but we’re intentional about keeping the culture supportive, ambitious, and human.

You Can Expect

• A minimum of 3 days/week in our Port Solent office for real collaboration and team work
• 25 days annual leave + discretionary Christmas shutdown
• Pension contributions
• Life insurance & critical illness cover
• Flexible professional development
• A team that actually enjoys working together
• A startup pace, with real stability

Ready to Build Your Future with Us?

Whether you're an experienced maritime engineer looking for a more influential role, or an emerging en.gineer ready to accelerate your growth, we’d love to meet you.

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