Project Engineer (Street Lighting)

Contract to start ASAP until 31-03-27 with a possible extension.

Project Engineer - Street Lighting

Derby City Council

Category: Engineering and Surveying

Hours: Full-time, 37 hours per week

Contract: Temporary - 19 October 2026 to 31 March 2027

Pay Rate: £28.13 per hour

Positions Available: 1

Location: The Council House, Corporation Street, Derby, DE1 2FS. derby.gov.uk

Support the Delivery of Safe, Reliable, and Efficient Street Lighting

We're recruiting an experienced and proactive Project Engineer - Street Lighting to support Derby City Council with the planning, coordination, and delivery of street lighting projects and associated improvement works.

This role combines engineering expertise, project coordination, contractor monitoring, and asset management. You'll help ensure projects are delivered safely, meet agreed specifications, and achieve the required standards of quality, cost, and programme.

You'll work closely with Council colleagues, contractors, utility providers, and other stakeholders, providing technical input and helping resolve issues throughout project delivery.

About the Role

As a Project Engineer - Street Lighting, you'll support the development and delivery of lighting schemes, from initial assessment and planning through to monitoring works and project handover.

You'll review technical information, coordinate activities, monitor progress, and maintain accurate project records. The role requires a practical approach to engineering challenges, strong organisational skills, and the ability to communicate clearly with both technical and non-technical audiences.

What you'll be doing:

• Planning and coordinating street lighting projects, establishing work requirements, delivery priorities, milestones, and resource needs.
• Providing technical input into lighting schemes, supporting the preparation or review of designs, drawings, specifications, and schedules of work.
• Undertaking site assessments and monitoring works where required, identifying constraints, checking progress, and reporting defects or departures from agreed specifications.
• Monitoring contractor performance and workmanship, helping ensure works meet agreed quality standards and delivery requirements.
• Tracking project budgets and programmes, identifying potential delays, cost pressures, and other issues requiring action.
• Liaising with contractors, utility providers, and Council teams, coordinating activities and helping resolve technical or operational challenges.
• Supporting safe project delivery, reviewing relevant documentation within your responsibilities and escalating safety concerns appropriately.
• Maintaining accurate project and asset records, documenting progress, decisions, completed works, outstanding actions, and handover information.
• Identifying opportunities to improve lighting performance and efficiency, contributing practical recommendations for maintenance, replacement, or improvement schemes.
• Responding to technical enquiries, providing clear information and helping colleagues and stakeholders understand project requirements and progress.

Requirements

We're looking for a technically capable, organised, and delivery-focused engineer with experience in street lighting, external lighting, or a closely related engineering environment.

You'll be confident interpreting technical information, coordinating contractors, and balancing competing priorities. Attention to detail, sound judgement, and a commitment to safe working practices will be important.

You'll ideally have:

• Experience working on street lighting, external lighting, or highways electrical projects.
• A relevant engineering or lighting qualification, or equivalent practical experience.
• Experience supporting projects from planning through to completion, including monitoring progress, quality, and costs.
• The ability to interpret engineering drawings, specifications, and technical documentation.
• Experience working with contractors and delivery partners, identifying issues and coordinating appropriate action.
• An understanding of relevant lighting, electrical safety, and highway working requirements, with the ability to apply approved procedures within your responsibilities.
• Good IT and record-keeping skills, including experience using project, asset management, mapping, or technical design systems.
• Strong communication and problem-solving skills, with the ability to explain technical matters clearly and work effectively across teams.

Experience working within a local authority, highways service, or public-sector engineering environment would be beneficial.

Applicants should have the right to work in the UK, be available for the stated assignment period, and be able to meet the Council's confirmed office and site attendance requirements. Relevant references and any required pre-employment checks will need to be completed.

Why Apply

This is an opportunity to apply your engineering experience to practical infrastructure projects, contributing to the upkeep and improvement of street lighting.

The role offers varied work across technical assessment, project coordination, site monitoring, and contractor liaison. You'll have the opportunity to work with a range of stakeholders and help deliver projects that support the effective operation of the local highway network.

Additional Information

Customer: Derby City Council

Job Title: Project Engineer - Street Lighting

Grade: J

Job Category: Engineering and Surveying

Employment Type: Temporary

Positions Available: 1

Job Location: The Council House, Derby, DE1 2FS

Hours: 37 hours per week

Target Start Date: Monday, 19 October 2026

Target End Date: Wednesday, 31 March 2027

Pay Rate: £28.13 per hour

Payment Basis: PAYE or Umbrella to be confirmed

Working Pattern: Working days, daily hours, and any hybrid arrangements to be confirmed

Driving and Site-Access Requirements: To be confirmed

Job Types: Full-time, temporary

Pay: £28.13 per hour

Application Questions

• Please describe your experience in street lighting, external lighting, or related engineering projects, including your responsibilities for technical delivery.
• Can you provide an example of coordinating contractors and monitoring a project's quality, budget, and progress?
• Please confirm your current location and your ability to attend The Council House, Derby, and project sites as required.
• Are you available to start on 19 October 2026 and remain available throughout the assignment, ending 31 March 2027?

Experience

Street lighting, external lighting, or related engineering: Desirable.

Project coordination, contractor monitoring, and technical assessment: Desirable.

Local authority or highways service experience: Desirable.

Licence/Certification

Relevant engineering or lighting qualification, or equivalent practical experience: Desirable.

Any mandatory professional, electrical, or site-access certifications: To be confirmed.

Work Authorisation

United Kingdom: Required.

Pre-screening question:

• Do you have knowledge of street lighting and exterior lighting in the built environment?

Disclaimer: On applying for this vacancy, you agree that your personal details will be passed onto our client for their consideration of your suitability for the role. I acknowledge that it is my responsibility to notify iWork Recruitment Limited of any hirer who I do not want my details to be passed onto.

5305968-10-26