Senior Design Engineer
Join the Balfour Beatty plc Ground Engineering team on the Sizewell C project and help build infrastructure you can be proud of.
Role Purpose
The Senior Design Engineer is responsible for executing and coordinating geotechnical and structural design activities to support project delivery. The role ensures design quality, compliance with industry standards and client requirements, and effective risk management. It also mentors and guides junior team members, liaises with internal teams, clients, and supply chain partners, and provides technical support to the site team. Safeguarding organisational interests by evaluating and communicating design and project risks while promoting best practices in design management is a key focus.
What you'll be doing
* Assist the Design Manager in planning and scheduling design activities to meet project requirements and monitor progress against the programme.
* Review and check design work produced by the team, providing technical guidance and mentoring to Junior Designers.
* Deliver routine geotechnical and structural designs – including guide walls, reaction piles for pile testing, D‑wall trench stability, and temporary works for D‑walls and pile cages (lifting points, bands, trapping beams) – and produce all associated design deliverables (design reports, certificates, risk assessments, and CAD drawing management).
* Coordinate design between appointed cage supplier and the design team; check fabrication drawings against the design drawings and carry out cage inspection on site or at their yard.
* Assist the site team in preparing design briefs for temporary works undertaken by third parties (e.g., piling platforms, bentonite farm slabs), and review external designs to ensure alignment with the brief and project standards.
* Review design documents and submission requirements, ensuring all technical information is complete, code‑compliant, and meets client expectations.
* Identify and evaluate project and technical risks, ensuring they are managed, mitigated, or incorporated into pricing strategies.
* Provide design support for site‑based change requests and non‑conformance reports (NCRs).
* Prepare designer risk assessments.
* Carry out site visits and technical audits to ensure compliance.
* Build effective client relationships and strong relationships with external structural designers.
* Safeguard Balfour Beatty’s interests by ensuring risks are fully captured and communicated to relevant stakeholders.
* Ensure compliance with Balfour Beatty procedures.
Who we're looking for
* Qualified to degree level in civil engineering or similar, or have substantial experience in piling and ground engineering operations and design.
* Minimum 5 years working in the piling industry or the geotechnical industry.
* Ability to carry out specific risk assessments on the design risk assessment report and list any residual risks on the appropriate drawings.
* Proficient in Eurocodes, ICE SPERW 3rd edition, execution of bored piling and diaphragm walling and any other relevant codes or standards.
* Proficient in CDM regulation 2015.
* Ability to read, understand and implement drawings, sketches and specifications.
* Working towards or achieved Chartered Status of ICE or similar.
* Must have a valid CSCS card.
* Experience designing geotechnical foundations (load-bearing pile and retaining walls).
* Some experience in the use of WALLAP and OASYS software is preferable.
* Able to meet tight deadlines.
* Capable of communicating effectively to own team and external stakeholders.
* Sound presentation skills.
* Demonstrate focus and determination to achieve successful outcomes, be a self-starter, and take initiative.
* Learns quickly and adapts to changing customer demands.
* Proactively builds knowledge capability through sharing knowledge, ideas and expertise with others.
* Clearly communicates ideas, plans and priorities to others. Makes communication a priority to avoid surprises.
Why work for us
Our people are our biggest asset. We focus on recruiting, training and developing people who can apply innovation to deliver the infrastructure of the future. We nurture talent, offer a great benefits package, a competitive base salary and continually invest in skills development at every level.
Some of our key benefits
* Attractive negotiated salary
* Company car
* 25 days annual leave + bank holidays
* Pension savings schemes
* Enhanced maternity/paternity and family-friendly policies
* Access to our Refer and Earn scheme
* Discretionary annual salary reviews
About Us
Balfour Beatty Ground Engineering is one of the UK’s leading specialist geo-technical contractors, providing innovative piling and ground improvement solutions across all sectors.
Our comprehensive ground engineering capabilities, equipment and experience provide the solid foundations for infrastructure and buildings of any height, ranging from city skyscrapers to cross-country rail and road projects.
Our reputation is earned through delivery of ground engineering solutions on some of the UK’s largest and most prestigious projects including HS2, The Shard, Wembley Stadium, Reading Station Viaduct, Marble Arch Place, Battersea Power Station redevelopment and the A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon improvement project.
Diversity and inclusion
At Balfour Beatty, we believe that diversity and inclusion are essential components of any successful, happy workplace. Through our Value Everyone D&I Strategy and Action Plan, we are growing our diverse workforce and developing our inclusive culture where everyone is able to thrive and reach their full potential, regardless of their identity or background.
We are a Gold Award holder in the Ministry of Defence ‘Employer Recognition Scheme’ and actively encourage applications from Armed Forces personnel, veterans and reservists.
As a Disability Confident Employer, we are committed to working with people who have disabilities and long-term health conditions to remove barriers for them in obtaining employment. We are also committed to offering applicants with a disability an interview if they meet the minimum requirements for the role. For more info, visit: https://disabilityconfident.campaign.gov.uk/
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