The posting
Job Title: Senior Design Engineer (SDE) – Civils within OHL
Reporting to: Principal Design Engineer / Head of Design
Business Unit: Omexom Design
Location: United Kingdom
Purpose of the Position:
The role involves leading and managing projects with full responsibility for delivering to agreed quality, cost, and programme targets. It requires acting as a lead designer on infrastructure projects of varying scale, producing civil and structural designs and collaborating with other engineers to develop these into detailed working drawings as part of a wider design team.
A strong understanding of relevant industry legislation is essential, ensuring compliance is embedded throughout project delivery. The position also demands working independently while supervising and guiding design engineers and graduates, providing appropriate technical input across a range of civil and structural elements in line with project requirements.
In addition, the Senior Design Engineer will contribute to professional development initiatives, including supporting ICE/IET training schemes, mentoring junior staff, and assisting in the growth and development of graduates. This includes actively fostering team capability and ensuring appropriate knowledge transfer across the team.
Key Responsibilities and Duties:
Including but not limited to:
- Act as the technical lead for civil elements on assigned OHL projects, ensuring solutions are safe, robust, technically compliant, and cost-effective.
- Civil elements including access design, geotechnical design, foundation design and temporary works design.
- Be involved with and manage the design process for assigned projects: assemble and lead a team, produce civil and structural design and calculations, maintaining regular engagement to ensure effective delivery.
- Lead technical peer reviews, quality checks, and design audits to maintain a high standard of engineering output.
- Work closely with other members of the design team (including external consultants where necessary) to deliver safe, efficient and buildable solutions.
- Coordinate with site construction teams, Principal Designers (2015 CDM) and temporary works coordinators and support constructability reviews.
- Liaise and manage with subcontractors for civils work related to OHL projects. This will include conducting technical reviews of subcontractor deliverables related to the OHL design.
- Ensure all design deliverables comply with industry standards, regulatory requirements, and company best practices through thorough checking and approval of documents.
- Have responsibility for maintaining calculation and drawing records in accordance with company QA procedures.
- Provide weekly inputs to planners and take ownership of the agreed programme.
- Project Controls: Maintain the change register, Early Warning (EW) register, manage Compensation Events (CEs), and monitor Project Management Instructions (PMIs). On some schemes, the SDE will work alongside an appointed Design Manager, focusing primarily on technical delivery and providing updates as required.
- Support tender and tender preparation for projects of all varying sizes including fee estimates.
- Provide input for HAZID and HACON meetings.
- Provide technical support to other teams (such as Substations, Underground Cables and others) as requested.
- Supervise all relevant design deliverables within a reasonable period from joining; relevant training will be provided by Principal Design Engineers and the Head of Design.
- Support the development of junior engineers through guidance, feedback, and training in best-practice design techniques.
- Promote new technologies, design methods, and continuous improvement within the OHL design discipline.
- Participate in lessons Learnt and knowledge share workshops and share across the organisation and design team.
- Participate in professional forums and maintain up-to-date knowledge of industry trends through organisations such as IET, CIGRÉ, and IEEE.
- Represent Omexom in external project technical meetings, external events and site visits if required.
- Promote Omexom within the industry to assist in developing the business and attracting like-minded individuals who share our values to join our expanding team.
Governance and Stakeholder Interfaces
The Senior Design Engineer will maintain strong relationships and typically interface with:
- Heads of Design (OHL, Underground Cables and Substations)
- Design Managers
- Senior Design Engineers
- Client representatives
- Supplier representatives
- Operations Engineers and Site teams
- Technical Managers
- Internal design teams
Person Specification
The successful candidate shall hold a degree in civil or structural Engineering, or a holder of degrees suitable to be either an Engineering Council (EngC) Incorporated Engineer (IEng) or Chartered Engineer (CEng) with one of the relevant Professional Engineering Institutions (PEI’s) such as Institution of Civil Engineers, Institution of Engineering and Technology, Institution of Mechanical Engineers.
They shall also demonstrate high levels of technical competence, leadership, and a passion for delivering safe and innovative engineering solutions. They will be able to work independently whilst enjoy being part of a friendly, ambitious and growing team.
Essential Qualifications and Experience
- A degree in civil / structural engineering or a related discipline; a master’s degree (MSc/MEng) is advantageous.
- Chartered Engineer (CEng) status or actively working towards chartership with significant relevant experience.
- Membership of professional institutions (e.g. IET, CIGRÉ, IEEE) is highly desirable.
- Strong experience and understanding of relevant British Standards and Eurocodes regarding civil and structural, design and specification.
- 5+ years of experience of civils design including access design, geotechnical design, foundation design and temporary works design areas.
- Advanced proficiency in Tekla Tedds, MS Office and knowledge on AUTOCAD.
- Demonstrated ability to lead complex engineering calculations, simulations, and system assessments.
- Supervision, Technical mentoring and staff development skills.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to convey complex technical concepts clearly and confidently.
- Ability to work accurately and methodically under pressure and strict deadlines, including the ability to manage multiple tasks.
- Keep an excellent team ethic with the ability to work extended hours on occasions when required.
- Ability to work accurately and methodically under pressure and strict deadlines, including the ability to manage multiple tasks.
- Excellent time and cost management skills to ensure cost effective and accurate delivery.
- Effectively manage own time, and others within small teams across multiple projects and prioritise workload.
- Ability to work well within a team of other professionals in delivering designs to satisfy the agreed brief. (e.g. Civil Engineers, OHL, Kelvin Power, Temporary Works Designers).
Desirable Criteria
- Experience working in multidisciplinary project environments within the energy transmission or infrastructure sectors.
- Experience working in National Grid (NG) and Scottish and Southern Energy Networks (SSEN) projects.
- Knowledge of relevant UK standards and regulatory frameworks.
- Ability to challenge and improve existing practices through a proactive, innovation-driven mindset.
Values
In line with Omexom’s values, the jobholder must possess the following qualities:
Team Spirit & Generosity – able to work effectively within and contribute to the Omexom team to deliver results, provide support and drive performance.
Trust and Empowerment – enjoy managing their responsibilities and time to ensure work is completed efficiently and professionally.
Integrity and Responsibility – enjoy taking responsibility for their duties and managing these effectively to ensure efficient high quality results.
Innovation & Entrepreneurship – continually strive to improve processes and introduce new initiatives to improve efficiency.
