Senior Design Manager

Downer; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

ASX-listed employer

Health & wellness benefits

EAP Beyond Blue

Retail discounts

Structured career paths

Job summary

Downer is seeking an experienced Senior Design Manager for its Energy and Utilities Power business in Melbourne, VIC. You will lead multidisciplinary design delivery across HV transmission, substations, renewables and battery energy storage projects, guiding engineering teams from tender through to handover.

As the primary engineering interface, you will ensure safe, compliant and cost-effective design outcomes, while aligning with client requirements, schedules and commercial objectives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical, Civil, Structural or related discipline.
• Chartered Professional Engineer status preferred; RPEQ/NER registrations highly regarded.
• 10+ years of experience in power transmission and substations, with major HV projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead multidisciplinary design teams across HV transmission lines, substations, renewables, and energy storage.
• Develop design management plans, delivery strategies, budgets and schedules.
• Manage consultants, subcontractors and delivery partners to ensure safe, buildable and cost-effective outcomes.
• Lead design reviews, governance and verification processes; monitor progress and risks.
• Provide engineering support through construction, commissioning and energisation; drive design changes when needed.

Skills

Leadership

Design management

Stakeholder management

Risk management

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical/Civil/Structural)

Job description

Downer is seeking an experienced Senior Design Manager to join our Energy and Utilities Power business located Melbourne VIC.

The opportunity

An exciting opportunity has become available for an experienced Senior Design Manager to join Downer's Energy & Utilities business unit, leading multidisciplinary design delivery across major power transmission, substation, renewable energy and battery energy storage projects.

In this influential role, you will lead and coordinate multidisciplinary engineering design services across high voltage transmission line, substation, renewable energy and battery energy storage system projects. You will oversee design delivery throughout the complete project lifecycle, from tender development and procurement through to construction support, commissioning and handover.

As the primary engineering interface between project teams, clients, contractors and key stakeholders, you will provide the leadership and governance required to deliver safe, compliant, buildable and cost effective design outcomes. You will also ensure engineering activities align with client requirements, project schedules, quality standards and commercial objectives.

Your key responsibilities will include

• Leading the planning, coordination and management of multidisciplinary design teams across primary systems, secondary systems, protection and control, telecommunications, SCADA, civil, structural, building services, transmission lines, geotechnical and environmental disciplines.
• Developing project design management plans, engineering delivery strategies, budgets, resource plans and design schedules.
• Managing engineering consultants, subcontractors and delivery partners while promoting collaboration between engineering disciplines and project teams.
• Leading design reviews, interdisciplinary reviews, constructability reviews and appropriate verification, validation and independent checking processes.
• Maintaining configuration control and technical governance while identifying engineering risks and ensuring suitable mitigation measures are implemented.
• Supporting tender development, bid submissions, procurement activities, technical evaluations and vendor document reviews.
• Monitoring design progress, cost performance and resource utilisation while identifying schedule, technical and commercial risks.
• Providing engineering support during construction, testing, commissioning and energisation activities.
• Managing design changes and the resolution of technical queries throughout project delivery.
• Building strong relationships with clients, network operators, delivery partners and suppliers, while facilitating technical workshops, design reviews and stakeholder meetings.
• Leading Safety in Design workshops and ensuring safety, environmental and sustainability requirements are incorporated into design outcomes

What we offer

• Competitive remuneration with a significant ASX-listed company
• Structured career paths with the opportunity to work in different areas of the Utilities business, supported by a robust Commercial Operating Model
• A suite of health and wellness benefits and initiatives, including EAP Beyond Blue
• Retail discounts with major retailers, Dell, Good Guys, Samsung, Specsavers & ANZ
• We are a Tier 1 ASX listed company with in-house capabilities that far exceed traditional contractor environments

What we're looking for

• You will bring a Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical, Civil, Structural or a related discipline, along with a current drivers licence. Chartered Professional Engineer status is preferred, while RPEQ, NER or equivalent registration will be highly regarded.
• You will have more than ten years of experience in power transmission and substations, including demonstrated delivery of major high voltage transmission line and substation projects.
• Your experience will include leading multidisciplinary engineering teams, managing external consultants and delivery partners, and supporting projects through design, procurement, construction and commissioning.
• A strong understanding of EPC and design and construct delivery models is essential.
• Experience delivering projects for major Australian Transmission Network Service Provider (TNSP) or Distribution Network Service Provider(DNSP), is highly regarded
• You will be a clear and confident communicator with strong organisational and time management skills.
• You will have the ability to interpret and manage design deliverables, drawing registers, quality systems and assurance processes. Equally important will be your ability to build productive relationships, work effectively under pressure and maintain close attention to detail in a changing project environment.
• Your commitment to Zero Harm, Safe Design principles, quality and environmental responsibility will be central to your success in this role.

About Energy & Utilities

Downer's Energy & Utilities business unit is an integrated trans-Tasman team, providing services and solutions that connect communities to essential networks and infrastructure. We design, build, operate and maintain today's critical assets and networks, delivering complete services across the water, electricity, telecommunications, industrial and power generation sectors. Our expertise spans in-house technical smarts, specialist engineering, integrated OEM partners, and dedicated crews of qualified tradespeople.

Downer Group is an employer that acknowledges and embraces the importance of our people's diverse experiences, talents, and cultures. As an inclusive employer, we welcome applications from everyone.