Engineering Design Manager
Leading Engineering Consultancy | Energy Sector | Manchester-based | Hybrid Working | Long-term Contract | Outside IR35 | Competitive Rate
The Opportunity
We're recruiting an Engineering Design Manager to manage design delivery and engineering coordination on a major National Grid 400kV substation EPC project. You'll oversee design team briefing, subcontractor design packages, design assurance and technical approvals, reporting to the Transmission Design Lead.
Contract Details: Outside IR35 | Competitive daily/monthly rate | Hybrid working (2-3 days office-based in Manchester) | Remaining days remote | Long-term contract
This role requires extensive, recent experience on National Grid substation projects and in-depth knowledge of National Grid's Supplier Requirements and Technical Specifications. You'll manage design delivery across M&E elements, coordinate with 3rd parties and novated design teams, and ensure all deliverables meet customer specifications, safety requirements and contractual obligations.
What You'll Be Doing
Design Management & Coordination
1. Manage and brief the design team across M&E elements and packages
2. Manage subcontractor design packages and technical approvals
3. Coordinate with 3rd parties and novated design teams, ensuring they meet specifications and quality standards
4. Assess competence and resources of incumbent design teams and external parties
5. Ensure effective design team coordination and collaboration across all disciplines
Design Deliverables & Programming
6. Lead development and management of the design deliverables programme
7. Establish and maintain clear schedules for design deliverables
8. Lead gate review activities, ensuring timely and appropriate sign-off at each project gate
9. Coordinate production of design data, reports and documentation essential to project and contractual requirements
10. Report progress against design deliverables programme to project management and principal design manager
Technical Assurance & Standards
11. Provide technical guidance on design buildability to design and construction teams
12. Manage design assurance processes ensuring compliance with company procedures and systems
13. Ensure all designs comply with National Grid requirements and UK legislation and standards
14. Support the Safety by Design & Engineering forum, representing the business stream
15. Maintain relentless focus on safety by design throughout all deliverables
Stakeholder & External Liaison
16. Liaise with statutory bodies and authorities including town planning, building control and utility services
17. Support change control processes
18. Lead value engineering activities
19. Engage with clients and stakeholders on design matters and approvals
Project Integration & Improvement
20. Support BIM protocols, data management and collaboration during delivery
21. Support BIM requirements during bid stage, ensuring supply chain awareness
22. Consider application of Lean construction techniques to reduce waste and optimise delivery
23. Contribute to Risk and Value Management processes
24. Capture learning and best practice for sharing across the business
About You
Essential Qualifications & Experience
25. Degree in relevant engineering discipline (Electrical or Electronic Engineering)
26. Chartered or Incorporated Engineer status with a relevant professional body
27. Minimum 20+ years' engineering experience in energy sector or similar infrastructure environments
28. MUST HAVE: Extensive knowledge of National Grid Supplier Requirements and Technical Specifications
29. MUST HAVE: Recent experience on National Grid substation projects
30. In-depth knowledge of UK legislation and standards for high-voltage electrical infrastructure
31. Strong understanding of: 400kV substation design and constructionEPC project delivery and design managementDesign assurance and quality control processesBIM protocols and integrated design managementSafety by design principles
32. Awareness of risk identification, quantification and management and HSE requirements
33. Strong communication skills — confident engaging with colleagues, clients and stakeholders
34. Safety and risk management focused — work with safety and risk at the forefront
35. Customer focused — commitment to meeting National Grid specifications and requirements
36. Highly motivated — takes ownership of design delivery and coordination
Desirable
37. Experience with other utility company substation projects (ESO, DNOs)
38. Knowledge of transmission system requirements and constraints
39. Experience implementing BIM on large infrastructure projects
40. Familiarity with Lean construction principles
41. Track record of leading value engineering on major projects