Design Lead

Hard Problems; Blantyre; Hybrid; GBP 63,000 - 79,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Up to 15% bonus

Healthcare cover

Pension scheme

36 days leave

Share incentive

Job summary

SP Energy Networks, part of the Iberdrola Group, is recruiting a Design Lead (Civil) for its Transmission Strategic Projects team in Blantyre, Scotland. This permanent hybrid role will lead a team of engineers and liaise with EPC contractors across feasibility to construction stages.

You will drive technical reviews, prepare specifications, promote BIM, and ensure CDM and safety standards. Chartered Engineer status and a degree in engineering are required, with experience on high‑voltage

Qualifications

• Strong civil and structural engineering experience within transmission or EPC environments.
• Experience designing or reviewing earthworks, platforms, drainage, foundations, structures, and buildings.
• Knowledge of CDM, health and safety, and design standards.
• Experience delivering multiple large and complex infrastructure projects.
• Chartered Engineer status is required.

Responsibilities

• Lead the technical review and assurance of EPC contractor civil and structural designs, calculations, models, and reports.
• Lead civil and structural engineering activities from feasibility and tender development through detailed design and construction.
• Prepare and approve technical specifications and tender documentation.
• Act as the technical interface with EPC contractors, coordinating design deliverables and engineering interfaces.
• Provide specialist civil and structural advice to Project Development and Delivery teams.
• Ensure designs meet legislation, CDM requirements, technical standards, and operational requirements.
• Promote innovative engineering solutions, including BIM, to improve sustainability, reduce whole-life carbon, and accelerate delivery.
• Lead and develop Graduate, Design, and Senior Design Engineers.
• Support engineering standards, processes, competency development, and regulatory activities.
• Represent the Civil Engineering team at project, industry, and stakeholder meetings.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder Management

Civil/Structural Design

BIM

Project Delivery

Technical Review

Education

Degree-level engineering qualification

Job description

SP Energy Networks is part of the Iberdrola Group, one of the world's largest integrated utility companies and a global leader in wind energy. It keeps electricity flowing to homes and businesses across central and southern Scotland, North Wales, and the North West of England, operating over 4,000km of cables and lines in the transmission network. The company is investing more than £5.5bn into its transmission network to support the rapid growth of renewable energy and Scotland's ambition to be Net Zero by 2044.

The role

This Design Lead (Civil) position sits within the SP Transmission Strategic Projects team and reports to the Principal Civil Engineer. The team is responsible for delivering major transmission infrastructure projects across central and southern Scotland. The role carries line management responsibility for Graduate, Design, and Senior Design Engineers within the Civil Engineering team, and involves close collaboration with EPC contractors across the full project lifecycle from feasibility through detailed design and construction.

What you would do

• Lead the technical review and assurance of EPC contractor civil and structural designs, calculations, models, and reports.
• Lead civil and structural engineering activities from feasibility and tender development through detailed design and construction.
• Prepare and approve technical specifications and tender documentation.
• Act as the technical interface with EPC contractors, coordinating design deliverables and engineering interfaces.
• Provide specialist civil and structural advice to Project Development and Delivery teams.
• Ensure designs meet legislation, CDM requirements, technical standards, and operational requirements.
• Promote innovative engineering solutions, including BIM, to improve sustainability, reduce whole-life carbon, and accelerate delivery.
• Lead and develop Graduate, Design, and Senior Design Engineers.
• Support engineering standards, processes, competency development, and regulatory activities.
• Represent the Civil Engineering team at project, industry, and stakeholder meetings.

What they are looking for

• Strong civil and structural engineering experience within transmission, electrical infrastructure, or a comparable EPC environment.
• Experience designing or reviewing earthworks, platforms, drainage, foundations, structures, and buildings.
• Strong understanding of CDM, health and safety, and engineering design standards.
• Experience delivering multiple large and complex infrastructure projects.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and make sound engineering decisions in complex environments.
• Strong leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Degree-level engineering qualification (BSc, BEng, MEng, MSc, or equivalent relevant experience).
• Proven experience of civil and structural design for electrical transmission infrastructure, ideally up to 400kV.
• Knowledge of Transmission Operator technical, health and safety, and compliance requirements.
• Chartered Engineer status is required.

Working arrangements

The role is based in Blantyre, United Kingdom, on a permanent hybrid basis.

Pay and benefits

The salary range is £63,200 to £79,000, reviewed annually, plus up to 15% annual bonus and single cover healthcare.

Additional benefits include:

• a pension scheme with double-matched contributions up to 10% company contribution
• 36 days annual leave
• holiday purchase scheme
• Share Incentive Plan and Sharesave Scheme
• payroll giving and charity matched funding
• technology vouchers
• electric vehicle schemes
• cycle to work scheme and public transport season ticket loans
• options to purchase dental insurance, private medical insurance, health cash plan, and annual health assessments
• life assurance (4x salary)
• access to financial wellbeing support
• and shopping, leisure, restaurant, and gym discounts.