Help Deliver a Next‑Generation R&D Campus
Laing O'Rourke is supporting the creation of a world‑class research and technology environment at the Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT) in Oxford - a highly collaborative campus blending laboratories, teaching spaces, clinical/innovation suites, and advanced workplace environments.
We're seeking a Deputy Design Manager with an Mechanical Engineering background to drive coordination and assurance across complex MEP systems and specialist lab infrastructure. If you're an experienced electrical engineer (or early‑stage design manager) ready to step into broader design leadership on a flagship UK science & technology project, this is your platform.
What You'll Do Design Coordination & Technical Assurance
Lead the coordination and review of electrical and MEP design packages for buildability, compliance, maintainability, and safety.
Integrate specialist requirements typical of laboratories and research facilities (e.g., resilient power, life‑safety systems, containment, structured cabling/data, UPS/backup, controls integration).
Track client, statutory, and contractual requirements and maintain robust design assurance records.
Programme, Delivery & Interfaces
Develop design programmes, dependencies, and reporting—keeping multidisciplinary teams aligned to key milestones.
Chair or contribute to design reviews, technical workshops, and interface meetings (architectural, structural, MEP, specialist vendors).
Support onsite delivery: respond to technical queries (TQ/RFI), collaborate on QA, and enable commissioning and handover.
Governance, Risk & Compliance
Contribute to risk and opportunity management for electrical and integrated building systems.
Ensure alignment with statutory compliance and external assurance (e.g., Building Regulations, British Standards, HTMs/ISO where applicable).
Evidence compliance with Laing O'Rourke governance, procedures, and digital tools.
People & Collaboration
Partner with the Design Manager to drive project‑wide design strategy.
Coach and support apprentices/trainees/graduate design managers and foster a collaborative culture with consultants and specialist supply chain partners.
What You'll Bring Qualifications (Recommended)
Degree in Mechanical Engineering (or closely related discipline).
Chartered or working towards chartership with a recognised professional body.
Experience & Mindset
Multidisciplinary design coordination experience; comfortable working with consultants and specialist subcontractors.
Exposure to science/technology/healthcare or other complex building types is beneficial.
Strong communicator who enjoys problem‑solving, structured planning, and stakeholder engagement.
Digital‑first mindset; comfortable using modern design management and BIM‑enabled workflows.
Commitment to safety, sustainability, and delivering high‑performance, future‑ready buildings.
Why Join This Project?
Impact: Help deliver a cutting‑edge environment that accelerates research, teaching, and innovation.
Growth: Step beyond single‑discipline engineering into end‑to‑end design leadership on a landmark UK project.
Culture: A supportive team that values collaboration, innovation, continuous learning, and high performance.
Flexibility: Hybrid working with time split across Oxford site offices and other LOR locations as needed.
Ready to make an impact?
Apply now and help us shape a transformative science & technology campus in Oxford.
About Us
Laing O'Rourke are an international engineering and construction company delivering state-of-the-art infrastructure and buildings projects for clients in the UK, Middle East and Australia.
Certainty, reliability, quality – this is what our clients want. And at Laing O'Rourke, we have more than 150 years of experience delivering it. Laing O'Rourke's story is one of energy, passion, ambition, people and teamwork. We harness the power of our experience, stretching back over a century and a half to deliver certainty for our clients.
As part of the Disability Confident scheme, we would like to enable access to candidates with long term conditions and disabilities through the 'Offer an interview scheme'. This supports applicants that meet the essential criteria by offering an interview for the advertised position. Please let us know if you would like to opt in to this scheme and let us know if you require any adjustments for the interview process.
We want to ensure our recruitment process is accessible to all. If you need the application form in an alternative format or you would like to know more about our recruitment process, please email