Summary

Languages: Dutch: fluent/native (mandatory) | French: good working level (required) | English: asset

Location: Brussels, Belgium

Work mode: Hybrid – minimum 2 days per week on-site; remainder remote

Contract type: Contract

Start date: 31/08/26

Duration: 1.5 year

Compensation: Competitive

Right to work / visa: Valid Belgian/EU work authorisation required

Client: Confidential – Belgian electricity transmission system operator

About the client

One of Europe's leading electricity transmission system operators, responsible for the reliability and development of the Belgian high-voltage grid. The client manages a large portfolio of infrastructure projects spanning the full transmission voltage range (380, 220, 150, 70 and 36 kV), with a multidisciplinary project organisation that combines electrical, civil, and project management expertise across all phases of substation delivery.

Role overview

The Civil Works Project Engineer is the civil engineering lead within multidisciplinary project teams responsible for the delivery of high-voltage substation infrastructure. The role owns the full civil engineering scope from the definition phase through to project close-out, spanning technical study management, permitting, design coordination, external partner oversight, and on-site technical support during execution. The engineer acts as the primary technical civil engineering reference for the project team and is accountable for the quality of all civil engineering studies produced internally and by external partners.

Key responsibilities

Design and technical studies

- Develop technical civil engineering solutions during the design phase of substation projects; evaluate options and propose alternatives to ensure project feasibility and quality
- Provide technical inputs for project budgets and planning; contribute to resource and schedule estimation for the civil engineering scope
- Manage, coordinate, control, and follow up on permitting and execution studies, including environmental impact studies, structural stability studies, and architectural/execution drawings




- Brief designers during the detailed study phase on technical project requirements; verify that the scope is correctly interpreted and executed

External partner and contractor management

- Steer and control external study partners (engineering consultancies, design offices, structural engineers); review deliverables and ensure quality and schedule compliance
- Prepare technical tender dossiers for the contracting of civil works contractors; define scope, technical specifications, and evaluation criteria
- Provide technical support during tendering: answer contractor queries, evaluate bids, and make technical recommendations

Execution phase support

- Provide technical civil engineering support during the construction and execution phase: review RFIs, assess derogations, validate changes, and resolve technical issues on site
- Coordinate the civil engineering scope with the broader multidisciplinary project team (electrical, project management, HSE) throughout execution

Quality, reporting, and continuous improvement

- Act as the quality owner for civil engineering studies; ensure all deliverables meet the client's technical standards and applicable regulations
- Collect feedback and organise post-study evaluations; contribute to continuous improvement of civil engineering study processes and standards
- Report and coordinate regularly with the multidisciplinary project team; maintain clear and up-to-date project documentation for the civil engineering scope

Requirements

Education

- Master's degree in civil engineering, structural engineering, or equivalent – or equivalent level of expertise acquired through relevant professional experience
- Strong technical affinity with civil engineering techniques, soil mechanics, and structural stability concepts

Experience

Must-have:





- Experience in civil engineering studies and/or site supervision in a construction or infrastructure context
- Exposure to or interest in multidisciplinary infrastructure projects: ability to interface across electrical, structural, and project management disciplines

Nice-to-have:

- Experience in civil works for electrical substations, energy infrastructure, or similar critical infrastructure
- Experience managing external design offices or engineering subcontractors
- Familiarity with Belgian permitting processes (urban planning, environmental studies) for infrastructure projects
- Experience preparing technical tender dossiers and participating in contractor selection

Technical skills

- Civil engineering design and study management: structural stability, soil mechanics, foundations, architectural execution plans
- Environmental and permitting studies: understanding of Belgian regulatory context for infrastructure construction
- Technical documentation: study coordination, tender dossiers, execution plans, design reviews
- MS Office (Word, Excel) and familiarity with engineering design tools

Languages

- Dutch: fluent/native – mandatory (primary working language)
- French: good working level – required for internal coordination in a bilingual Belgian environment
- English: an asset for technical documentation and international contacts

Soft skills

- Quality-driven: strong attention to detail and personal accountability for the quality of civil engineering deliverables
- Organised and able to manage multiple projects simultaneously without dropping quality
- Solution-oriented and proactive: identifies obstacles early and proposes concrete alternatives to keep projects moving
- Strong communicator with a team-oriented approach; able to brief technical and non-technical stakeholders clearly

Additional information

For non-EU candidates: a valid work permit authorising employment in Belgium and a valid Belgian residence permit are required before any assignment can commence.

Full-time engagement. The client provides a structured onboarding and internal training environment for candidates joining with strong technical foundations.

📌 Civil works project engineer – high voltage substations (España)
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