Design Engineer

Total Connect div of AEC; Havant; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading civil engineering contractor in the South East of England is seeking a Design Manager for Civil Infrastructure. In this role, you will lead the design lifecycle, ensuring compliance with NEC4 and CDM regulations while managing multifaceted design inputs. Ideal candidates will have proven experience in civil infrastructure projects, particularly in water and reservoir environments. This role requires excellent communication skills and the ability to interface with various stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Experience in water, flood, or reservoir environments is ideal.
• Skilled in programme review, risk management, and technical assurance.

Responsibilities

• Manage the design process from early concept to construction delivery.
• Coordinate inputs from internal teams and external consultants.
• Ensure compliance with NEC4 contract obligations.
• Uphold CDM 2015 regulations across all design activities.
• Facilitate design reviews and technical assurance.

Skills

Proven experience managing design for civil infrastructure projects

Strong working knowledge of NEC4

Knowledge of CDM 2015

Familiarity with the Reservoirs Act 1975

Confident communicator

Job description

Design Manager Civil Infrastructure

Location: South East England

Contract Type: Permanent

Sector: Civil Engineering / Water Infrastructure / Reservoir Safety

About The Role

We’re recruiting on behalf of a long‑established civil engineering contractor with a turnover exceeding £50M. Known for delivering complex infrastructure schemes across coastal defence, flood risk management, reservoirs, and water treatment, they operate as principal contractor on nationally significant projects. Their collaborative approach and technical depth have earned them repeat frameworks and strong relationships with regulatory bodies.

As a Design Manager, you’ll lead the full design lifecycle from concept through to construction, ensuring coordinated, compliant, and buildable solutions across multi‑disciplinary inputs. This is a key interface role between design, construction, client, and statutory stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage the design process from early concept to construction delivery.
• Coordinate inputs from internal teams and external consultants.
• Ensure compliance with NEC4 contract obligations including submissions, TQs, early warnings, and change control.
• Uphold CDM 2015 regulations across all design activities.
• Facilitate design reviews, technical assurance, and constructability assessments.
• Align design outputs with programme milestones; identify and resolve design‑related risks.
• Promote value engineering and innovation to optimise outcomes.
• Support development of Flood Plans, Emergency Drawdown Procedures, and Reservoir Safety Reports.
• Liaise with qualified Panel Engineers to ensure statutory oversight and certification.

Oversee Dam‑specific Design Elements Including

• Hydraulic and hydrological modelling
• Geotechnical and earthworks stability
• Spillway and outlet works
• Instrumentation and monitoring systems
• Maintain accurate records of design decisions, approvals, and changes.

Candidate Profile

• Proven experience managing design for civil infrastructure projects, ideally within water, flood, or reservoir environments.
• Strong working knowledge of NEC4 and CDM 2015.
• Familiarity with the Reservoirs Act 1975 and engagement with Panel Engineers.
• Skilled in programme review, risk management, and technical assurance.
• Confident communicator with experience interfacing between design, construction, and client teams.