Location
Cambridge, East of England, United Kingdom

Hours
Full Time

Salary
Negotiable

About the Role
Arcadis is the world's leading company delivering sustainable design, engineering, and consultancy solutions for natural and built assets. With over 34,000 people across more than 30 countries, we are dedicated to improving quality of life by solving complex challenges together. This is a career-defining opportunity for a recognised technical expert in hydraulic engineering to lead Arcadis's specialist capability in pressure surge (transient hydraulics), Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), and advanced hydraulic modelling across water and wastewater infrastructure in the UK and internationally.

As Associate Technical Director, you will be the technical conscience of the Water business for this discipline, setting standards, leading complex studies, building and mentoring a team of specialist engineers, and positioning Arcadis as the go-to firm for clients requiring rigorous, innovative hydraulic engineering on their most critical assets.

Working within a major AMP8 framework delivery environment and a three-tier delivery structure alongside major contractors and direct clients, you will translate advanced hydraulic modelling into practical, defensible engineering solutions that reduce infrastructure risk, improve asset reliability, and inform investment decisions at programme scale.

Role Accountabilities:
- Act as Arcadis's named technical authority and final reviewer for pressure surge, transient hydraulics, and CFD studies across capital schemes, framework programmes, and operational risk work.
- Direct and technically oversee advanced transient and CFD studies including undulating rising mains, pump-station protection, air entrainment, multiphase flow, priming/draining systems, and treatment plant internal hydraulics.
- Develop, maintain, and embed Arcadis's technical standards, model assurance frameworks, design guidance, and QA protocols for surge and CFD.
- Apply and champion industry-leading modelling platforms such as HAMMER, Wanda, VariSim, ANSYS Fluent, OpenFOAM, and related hydraulic analysis tools like HADES.
- Drive integration of data-driven methods, AI/ML applications, digital twin approaches, and automated workflows into hydraulic modelling practice.
- Provide cross-functional technical leadership to water quality, process, civil, and design teams to improve whole-system outcomes.
- Build and maintain trusted technical relationships with major UK water utilities and contractors.
- Identify, pursue, and win new work, support bid preparation, and develop the pipeline for surge, CFD, and hydraulics services.
- Lead technical delivery within AMP8 framework programmes, managing obligations and quality standards.
- Manage project finances including fee negotiation, earned value tracking, cost control, and variation management.
- Represent Arcadis at industry conferences, contribute to publications, and build external profile.
- Recruit, develop, and lead a high-performing team of hydraulic modelling specialists.
- Provide mentoring and professional review guidance to engineers working towards chartered status.
- Lead technical forums, deliver training sessions, and support knowledge exchange.
- Maintain academic links and industry body relationships to attract talent and stay at the forefront of hydraulic engineering practice.

Experience
- Minimum 12 years of progressive hydraulic engineering experience with substantive specialisation in pressure surge/transient analysis and/or Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) applied to water and wastewater infrastructure.
- Demonstrated technical authority in transient hydraulic modelling including surge assessment, pump-station protection design, and rising main risk analysis using tools such as HAMMER, Wanda, VariSim, or equivalent.
- Proven CFD modelling capability using ANSYS Fluent, OpenFOAM, or comparable platforms applied to water and wastewater treatment plant hydraulics.
- Track record of providing technical governance, authoring assurance frameworks, model QA standards, and design guidance.
- Experience leading, mentoring, and developing specialist engineering teams.
- Experience working with major UK water utilities and understanding of the AMP regulatory framework, capital delivery structures, and client procurement environments.
- Strong commercial acumen with experience managing project fees, supporting bids, and sustaining profitable client relationships.

About You
- Recognised technical expert with the ability to lead and inspire a team.
- Strong communicator capable of building trusted client relationships.
- Innovative thinker with a passion for integrating digital and data-driven methods into hydraulic engineering.
- Committed to professional development and knowledge sharing.
- Comfortable operating within complex multi-party delivery structures and frameworks.

Qualifications
- Chartered Engineer (CEng) status with full membership or fellowship of a relevant professional body such as CIWEM (FCIWEM/MCIWEM), IMechE, ICE, or equivalent.
- Desirable qualifications and experience include:
- Experience applying AI, Machine Learning, or data-driven analytical techniques to hydraulic engineering problems.
- Published author of technical journal articles, design guides, or industry reports.
- Conference presenter or guest lecturer demonstrating recognised authority.
- Experience with digital twin development integrating live telemetry, SCADA data, and hydraulic models.
- Familiarity with high-frequency pressure monitoring and its integration into transient model calibration.
- Experience working in sub-consultant or framework delivery environments.
- IAM Certificate in Asset Management or equivalent qualification.