Date: 22 Jun 2026
Location: Taunton, GB, TA1 4DY
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Company: Somerset Council
Closing date: 6 July 2026
Salary: £41,771 - £46,142 per annum
Role summary:
We’re looking for a professionally qualified bridge engineer to coordinate and manage the delivery of a wide range of bridge, retaining wall and highway structure improvement and maintenance projects.
Somerset Council is responsible for the management and maintenance of the County’s Highway bridge, culvert and retaining wall stock which stands at over 2500 structures. This stock contains a wide variety of asset types in respect of their form, construction, material, span, and location including road over rail, road over watercourse, road over road, subways, tunnels, underpasses, footbridges, retaining walls and some other more obscure structures.
You will be overseeing all related projects while managing a small team. You’ll provide advice, guidance and support to both internal and external parties, including private developers, on a wide range of highway structure issues, including technical design standards, current highway legislation, and legal / environmental agreements. You will be required to undertake roles associated with the County’s Technical Approval Authority
You will ensure that the statutory requirements of the Council as the highway authority are met and that all works are completed efficiently and effectively to standards or as approved departures require.
What you’ll do - key responsibilities:
Initiate, develop, manage and deliver structures projects and works programmes (both individual and multi-structure) to time and budget.
Co-ordinate, directly manage and supervise in-house and external project teams engaged on structures work as team leader, either for individual projects or for sub area of structures work: eg asset management.
Undertake inspections, investigations and surveys to bridges and structures as principal. Collate findings and prepare inspection reports in written or electronic formats.
Co-ordinate and supervise on-site works to highways structures, including liaison with statutory bodies, affected parties, consultants and contractors.
Procure and manage payment and settling claims through Somerset Council’s existing Structure Framework Contractors.
Manage a small team of up to 6 people.
The ability to work with understanding and knowledge of CDM legislation
Attend conferences and/or seminars, organise training for the Service and act as a mentor and professional support to new starters, colleagues and those working towards professional status
Update and help support the maintenance and development of the Structures Management System (SMS) and Services Structures’ Records electronic resource.
What we’re looking for – knowledge, experience & skills:
Essential
Hold relevant professional qualification (i.e Chartered Engineer status).
Hold membership of a relevant professional institution or organisation (i.e. ICE, IStructE etc.).
Degree or higher qualification in civil engineering or a related relevant disciplinerelevant standards including Eurocodes, British Standards, DMRB, Codes of Practice and Interim Advice Notes
Technical highway/bridge design (including TAA), highway legislation and agreements, best practice and health and safety.
Proven wide experience of highway structures engineering.
Proven wide experience of project management.
Proven wide experience of financial administration.
Proven wide experience of general contract management (NEC3 & NEC4).
Advanced IT skills (SMS, Microsoft Office package and/or similar applications)
Good knowledge and understanding of CDM legislation.
Ability to communicate effectively and in an appropriate and concise manner, at all levels both orally and in writing, including reports and costs estimates.
Ability to prioritise tasks and cope with competing deadlines and demands.
Good numeracy skills – ability to interpret statistical and financial information
An understanding of and commitment to client/stakeholder needs.
An understanding of and commitment to equality and diversity in employment and service delivery.
A full UK driving licence is essential for this role.
Desirable
Ideally have relevant experience/qualifications/training in
Structural engineering,
Structures management systems
Bridge inspection.
Streetworks
Confined spaces
Highway/construction industry
Additional Information:
This is a full-time, permanent position working 37 hours per week.
A full UK driving licence is essential for this role.
30 days of annual leave (additional to bank holidays)
Flexible working / flexitime arrangements
The opportunity to work from home Regretfully, we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role. We are only able to proceed with candidates who already have the right to work in the UK without the need for visa sponsorship
For an informal chat about the role, you can contact Paul Tucker, Service Manager - Structures, via email at
[email protected] or phone on 07824 460 548.
A full job description can be found here: Senior Bridge Engineer & Team Leader - Job Description - AG0313
