Associate Director - Lead Contractor Design Approval Engineer

slihrms; Leeds; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Atkins’Réalis is seeking a Lead Contractor Design Approval Engineer (LCDAE) to provide senior technical leadership and independent design assurance on Transmission and Distribution projects in the UK. You will act as LCDAE for nominated schemes, ensuring designs meet National Grid procedures, CDM Regulations and Atkins’Réalis governance.

Facilities include hybrid working with travel to office sites around the UK (3 days per week).

Qualifications

• Degree and professional registration required for LCDAE role.
• Demonstrable competence to act as LCDAE per National Grid procedures.
• Strong knowledge of CDM Regulations and UK safety standards.

Responsibilities

• Act as LCDAE for allocated transmission and distribution projects.
• Lead interdisciplinary design reviews and risk assessments.
• Review and approve key deliverables (calculations, drawings, risk assessments).
• Ensure design risks are identified, assessed and mitigated per CDM Regulations.
• Collaborate with project managers, engineers and clients to resolve technical issues.
• Provide technical direction and approval conditions, ensuring traceability and closure.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Technical judgment

Education

Degree in electrical or civil engineering

Chartered Engineer status

Job description

Job Description

Overview

Let’s secure the future of energy.

Atkins’Réalis specialises in all aspects of Transmission and Distribution engineering within the UK and internationally. We provide industry-leading design and engineering solutions across the Transmission and Distribution sector, including substations, overhead lines, underground and subsea cable systems, offshore wind, solar, BESS and HVDC interconnectors.

We are seeking Lead Contractor Design Approval Engineers (LCDAEs) with the competence, judgement and experience to provide formal design approval in accordance with National Grid procedures, relevant technical standards and UK Construction (Design and Management) Regulations.

Become part of a team where every voice matters, and together we can tackle our clients’ toughest challenges. We foster a diverse and inclusive environment where world-class talent thrives without boundaries. For us, collaboration is not a buzzword. We value the different perspectives our people bring and recognise everyone for their contributions equally. We also know that different people have different priorities, which is why we’re here to support you with whatever you need.

We offer hybrid working, which involves travel/office-based working 3 days per week. This position can be based at any of our key locations: Epsom, London, Bristol, Leeds, Birmingham, Manchester, or Glasgow. Other locations will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Your role

You will provide senior technical leadership and independent design assurance on Transmission and Distribution projects, acting as LCDAE for nominated schemes, disciplines or asset areas. You will confirm that design deliverables are properly developed, checked, reviewed and approved in line with National Grid procedures, relevant standards, CDM Regulations and Atkins’Réalis governance requirements.

Key responsibilities include:

• Act as LCDAE for allocated projects, providing assurance that designs are developed, checked and reviewed by competent persons and comply with applicable National Grid procedures, Atkins’Réalis engineering standards, safety legislation and project governance arrangements.
• Lead or contribute to interdisciplinary design reviews, hazard reviews, technical risk reviews and approval meetings, ensuring decisions, assumptions, departures, concessions and residual risks are recorded and closed out.
• Review and approve key deliverables, including calculations, specifications, drawings, design risk assessments, technical submissions and assurance evidence.
• Ensure design risks are identified, assessed, mitigated and communicated in accordance with CDM Regulations, demonstrating how hazards have been eliminated, reduced or controlled.
• Work collaboratively with project managers, design managers, CDAEs, engineers, construction teams, clients, asset owners, suppliers and other stakeholders to resolve technical issues and support timely design acceptance.
• Provide clear technical direction, assurance comments and approval conditions, ensuring comments are proportionate, traceable and closed out before design release or construction implementation.
• Support continuous improvement of design assurance processes, approval workflows, technical standards and quality arrangements across the practice.
• Mentor CDAEs, design engineers and reviewers, strengthening technical capability, assurance consistency and succession planning for approval roles.
• Act as a senior point of escalation for complex design assurance matters, supporting safe, compliant and commercially balanced outcomes.

About you

You will bring recognised technical authority, sound engineering judgement and demonstrable competence to act as an LCDAE on complex Transmission and Distribution projects. You will be confident providing formal approval, constructive challenge and clear technical leadership, helping teams deliver safe, compliant, practical and high-quality design solutions.

Essential skills and experience include:

• Degree qualified in electrical engineering, civil engineering or another relevant engineering discipline, with Chartered Engineer status or equivalent professional registration.
• Demonstrable competence to act as an LCDAE in accordance with National Grid procedures, including formal design approval for nominated disciplines, assets or project areas.
• Significant experience in the design, review, checking, assurance or delivery of Transmission and Distribution infrastructure across one or more relevant asset areas.
• Strong understanding of CDM Regulations, UK safety legislation, technical standards, client procedures, engineering specifications, design risk management and quality requirements.
• Ability to review and approve complex technical deliverables, including calculations, drawings, specifications, design risk assessments, technical submissions, departures, concessions and interface information.
• Strong leadership and communication skills, with the ability to provide technical direction, challe