Design Lead (Civil)

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

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus up to 15%

Healthcare (single cover)

Pension scheme with 10% company match

36 days annual leave

Holiday purchase scheme

Share Incentive Plan

Job summary

SP Energy Networks, part of the Iberdrola Group, is recruiting a Design Lead for its Transmission Strategic Projects team in Blantyre. You will lead technical reviews, coordinate EPC contractor designs, and mentor Graduate and Senior Design Engineers, delivering major 400kV infrastructure within a £5bn+ programme.

Responsibilities include guiding feasibility through construction, preparing tender specs, and promoting BIM and sustainable solutions.

Qualifications

• Experience in civil/structural design for electrical transmission infrastructure.
• Proven track record delivering large, complex infrastructure projects.
• Strong leadership, communication, and stakeholder management.
• Chartered Engineer status and professional registration.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical review and assurance of EPC civil/structural designs.
• Guide civil/structural activities from feasibility to construction.
• Prepare technical specifications and tender documentation.
• Coordinate design interfaces with EPC contractors.
• Provide specialist civil/structural advice to project teams.
• Ensure designs comply with CDM, safety standards and regulatory requirements.
• Promote BIM and sustainable solutions to reduce carbon.
• Lead and develop Graduate and Senior Design Engineers.
• Represent the Civil Engineering team at meetings.

Skills

Civil & structural engineering

EPC project delivery

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Chartered Engineer

Transmission design up to 400kV

CDM & safety standards

Earthworks & foundations

Engineering degrees

Communication

Education

BSc/BEng/MEng/MSc in Engineering

Chartered Engineer (CEng)

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 that make up the transmission network. The business is investing more than £5.5bn into its transmission infrastructure to support the rapid growth of renewable energy and Scotland's ambition to reach net zero by 2044.

The role

This Design Lead 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, with over £5bn of investment planned by 2030. The role carries line management responsibility for Graduate, Design, and Senior Design Engineers within the Civil Engineering team.

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 comply with 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 within the team.
• 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).
• Significant civil and structural engineering experience within an EPC or major infrastructure environment.
• 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.

Working arrangements

The role is based in Blantyre, UK, and is offered 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; public transport season ticket loans; options to purchase dental insurance, private medical insurance, health cash plan, and annual health assessments; life assurance (4x salary); financial wellbeing support; and discounts on shopping, leisure, restaurants, gyms, and travel insurance.