Design Lead / Principal Design Engineer
Location:Manchester (Hybrid Working)
Employment Type: Permanent
Overview
An opportunity has arisen for an experienced Design Lead / Principal Design Engineer to take a senior technical leadership role within a multidisciplinary engineering environment.
You will lead design delivery across regulated infrastructure programmes, providing technical direction, ensuring design quality, and supporting the development of engineering teams.
Why This Role
- Lead a multidisciplinary engineering team across major infrastructure projects
- Influence technical standards and design quality
- Long-term pipeline of infrastructure work
- Opportunity to shape design capability and best practice
- Senior leadership position with real impact on delivery
Key Responsibilities
- Lead, mentor, and develop engineers, technicians, and junior staff across multiple disciplines
- Act as technical authority for design delivery and approvals
- Oversee production of integrated design packages to quality, cost, and programme requirements
- Ensure compliance with relevant standards, regulations, and client requirements
- Drive safe, efficient, and value-engineered design solutions
- Support use of digital engineering tools including BIM and 3D modelling
- Interpret and apply technical standards and updates
- Manage design change control and documentation
- Support planning and estimation of design activities
- Promote continuous improvement in design processes
Requirements
- Strong experience in multidisciplinary engineering design in regulated environments
- Experience leading engineering teams and design delivery
- Understanding of civil, mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, control, and process interfaces
- Chartered Engineer or working towards chartership
- Experience in structured engineering design environments
- Strong leadership and communication skills
- Ability to mentor and develop engineers
- Degree, HND, or equivalent engineering qualification
- Full UK driving licence preferred
Additional Information
- Experience in water, utilities, or infrastructure sectors is preferred
- Experience with BIM and digital design tools is advantageous
- Strong focus on quality, safety, and engineering excellence