Principal Water Network Engineer - Cork, County Cork

At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting-edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into ...

Job description

At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting-edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good.

Your impact

Shape the Future of Water – Opportunities for Water Network Engineers (Ireland)

The water sector in Ireland is undergoing a major transformation. Unprecedented investment and technological advancement is creating a once-in-a-generation opportunity to redefine water and wastewater infrastructure.

We're proud to be at the forefront of this transformation, partnering with large companies across Ireland to deliver water and wastewater services and better manage water related risks. From strategic planning and flood management at various stages of the project lifecycle - from concept through to commissioning, we bring together exceptional talent and expertise to deliver success.

We've secured multiple long-term frameworks and programmes with leading clients across Ireland, including Uisce Éireann (Irish Water), Northern Ireland Water, and the Northern Ireland Department for Infrastructure (DfI). These major initiatives span water, wastewater, flood management, and environmental protection—delivering critical infrastructure that makes a real difference to communities.

This is more than just a job, it's a once-in-a -lifetime opportunity to leave a lasting legacy. You will be part of a multidisciplinary team designing new infra and non-infra assets that will serve communities for decades, even centuries. You'll be at the forefront of shaping how water is moved, stored, and managed across the UK.

Your responsibilities will include

• Undertake hydraulic modelling of water network including build, verify and use of hydraulic models in capital projects.
• Develop innovative and cost-effective solutions for whole life cycle capital schemes from feasibility, optioneering, outline design, detailed design and commissioning of new assets including pipelines, service reservoirs, pumping stations, and control valves.
• Develop control philosophies for the operation of new assets.
• Develop system level control and operation for the entire schemes.
• Integrate new schemes with existing network to ensure efficient future operation with minimal customer impact.
• Manage your own workload and that of your team, including defining scope and overseeing delivery.
• Provide technical leadership and quality assurance across your team.
• Oversee schemes through all stages including feasibility, optioneering, design, construction, commissioning, and operation.
• Develop best practices and templates.
• Collaborate effectively with other disciplines and stakeholders.
• Act as a technical lead within a multidisciplinary team.
• Attend regular in-person meetings with project teams as needed.
• Driving health and safety through everything we do.

Here's what you'll need

• Deep understanding of water network operations, hydraulic modelling, optioneering, and engineering design.
• Proficiency in at least one modelling software Synergi Water/Liquid, InfoWorks WS Pro, or EPANET.
• Experience in water quality modelling including chlorine decay, discolouration risk, water age, and PODDS modelling.
• Expertise in developing control philosophies for complex strategic networks.
• Proven experience in managing and developing diverse teams.
• Strong communication skills to convey technical information clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Excellent writing skills for engineering reports, guidance documents, and proposals.
• Strong problem-solving mindset with the ability to address complex challenges.
• Demonstrated ability to lead project delivery within budget and programme.
• Experience in developing innovative solutions.
• Highly motivated and able to work independently.
• Strong collaboration skills to lead and facilitate stakeholder engagement.
• Experience working within multidisciplinary teams.
• Ability to translate client needs into a clear scope of work with budget and timeline estimation.
• Chartered engineer or working towards chartership.

Desirable Skills and Knowledges

• Experience in GIS packages.
• Experience in visualization such as Power BI, Tableau, Esri etc.
• Experience in coding and tool development.
• Project management and financial experience.
• Experience working in a global delivery or consultancy environment.

This is your chance to influence the future of water. Join us and be part of the transformation. Together, we will make it happen.
Joining Jacobs not only connects you locally but globally. Our values stand on a foundation of safety, integrity, inclusion and belonging. We put people at the heart of our business, and we truly believe that by supporting one another through our culture of caring, we all succeed. We value positive mental health and a sense of belonging for all employees.

With safety and flexibility always top of mind, we've gone beyond traditional ways of working so you have the support, means and space to maximize your potential. You'll uncover flexible working arrangements, benefits, and opportunities, from well-being benefits to our global giving and volunteering program, to exploring new and inventive ways to help our clients make the world a better place. No matter what drives you, you'll discover how you can cultivate, nurture, and achieve your goals – all at a single global company. Find out more about life at Jacobs.

We aim to embed inclusion and belonging in everything we do. We know that if we are inclusive, we're more connected and creative. We accept people for who they are, and we champion the richness of different perspectives, lived experiences and backgrounds in the workplace, as a source of learning and innovation. We are committed to building vibrant communities within Jacobs, including through our Jacobs Employee Networks, Communities of Practice and our Find Your Community initiatives, allowing every employee to find connection, purpose, and belonging. Find out more about our Jacobs Employee Networks here.

Jacobs partners with VERCIDA to help us attract and retain talent from a wide range of backgrounds. For greater online accessibility please visit to view and access our roles.

As a disability confident employer, we will interview disabled candidates who best meet the criteria. We welcome applications from candidates who are seeking flexible working and from those who may not meet all the listed requirements for a role.

We value collaboration and believe that in-person interactions are crucial for both our culture and client delivery. We empower employees with our hybrid working policy, allowing them to split their work week between Jacobs offices/projects and remote locations enabling them to deliver their best work.

Your application experience is important to us, and we're keen to adapt to make every interaction even better. If you require further support or reasonable adjustments with regards to the recruitment process (for example, you require the application form in a different format), please contact the team via Careers Support.