Highways technical lead / associate director (uk wide)

Market Transportation

At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting-edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good.

Your impact

Shape the future of transport. Lead the engineering that moves nations.

As a Highways Technical Lead at Jacobs, you’ll be at the forefront of delivering some of the most complex and high‑profile civil engineering projects in the UK and across the world. This is a role for someone who wants to elevate technical excellence, influence major programmes, and drive innovation in how modern highway infrastructure is designed and delivered.

What You'll Lead

You’ll take responsibility for the technical direction and successful delivery of highways design solutions—balancing engineering rigour, safety, innovation, and efficiency. You’ll champion new ways of working, from digital tools to automation, identifying smarter processes that enhance quality and accelerate delivery.

About the opportunity

Jacobs is a market leader in the transportation sector, working with major clients such as National Highways, Transport Scotland, the Welsh Government, and global contractors. Internationally, we contribute to some of the world's mega projects, including NEOM The Line and King Khalid International Airport. Domestically, we collaborate with councils and transport authorities in major towns and cities, offering you the chance to work on impactful local projects.

In the North, we are delivering schemes for Manchester Airport Group, United Utilities, Cheshire East Council, and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority. In the Midlands and South-West, we are engaged in frameworks for Worcestershire County Council, Birmingham City Council, Derbyshire County Council, and the West of England Combined Authority.

Key deliverables: (not limited to)

Guide and inspire a multidisciplinary team of designers and engineers to deliver outstanding highways solutions.

Lead technical delivery within programme, quality, and budget requirements.

Drive innovation, bringing forward digital, automated, and efficient design practices.

Collaborate globally with discipline leads to embed best practice across our project portfolio.

Forecast, manage scope and risk, and ensure projects are set up for successful delivery.

If leadership is your passion, opportunities exist to take on line management and play an active role in developing our talented people.

Here's what you'll need

Experience in managing engineering design solutions in a Transportation setting

Relevant professional qualifications, such as a degree in engineering, CEng/IEng, or equivalent qualifications

Technical experience in delivering local and/or major highways projects or landside alignment elements in adjacent markets such as Water or Aviation

Thorough understanding of commonly used design standards such as DMRB or international equivalents

Sound knowledge of UK H&S legislation and a passion for fostering safety and wellbeing

Ability to work independently and effectively within a global multi-disciplinary team

#UKTransportation #LI-DC1

Joining Jacobs not only connects you locally but globally. Our values stand on a foundation of safety, integrity, inclusion and belonging. We put people at the heart of our business, and we truly believe that by supporting one another through our culture of caring, we all succeed. We value positive mental health and a sense of belonging for all employees.
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