Design Manager

ESL UK; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company Pension

CPD opportunities

23 days annual leave

Job summary

ESL UK in Manchester is seeking an experienced Design Manager to lead a growing engineering design team. This senior role blends people leadership with hands-on design delivery across regulated infrastructure projects.

You will mentor engineers and CAD technicians, drive design processes, BIM adoption, and ensure safe, coordinated, and compliant outputs while meeting programme and budget requirements. The role offers an opportunity to shape a high-performing team and contribute to the continued

Qualifications

• 10+ years’ experience in engineering design, ideally within a regulated sector such as: Water, Rail, Highways, Bridges, Oil & Gas, Nuclear.
• Degree or HND in an engineering discipline
• Strong IT and digital design capability
• Experience managing multidisciplinary design teams and projects
• Proven ability to develop junior engineers and build team capability

Responsibilities

• Managing, mentoring and developing engineers, CAD technicians and graduates
• Building and growing the design team while maintaining a positive and collaborative team culture
• Leading the design process on multidisciplinary projects within regulated infrastructure sectors
• Ensuring design deliverables are safe, coordinated, compliant and technically robust
• Delivering design packages within agreed timescales and budgets
• Challenging and improving existing design processes and procedures
• Driving the adoption of appropriate design software, BIM and 3D modelling where beneficial
• Ensuring the team works in accordance with relevant standards, best practice and quality requirements
• Managing and recording design changes within project packages
• Supporting project teams with estimating design hours and resource planning

Skills

Engineering design

Team leadership

Multidisciplinary coordination

Mentoring juniors

Digital design tools

Education

Degree or HND in engineering

Tools

BIM

3D modelling

Job description

We’relooking for an experienced Design Manager to lead andshapeour growing engineering design team.

Thisis a seniorroleand will suit anengineer who enjoys leading people as much as solving technical problems.You’lltake ownership of the design function, guiding engineers, CAD technicians and graduates while ensuring high-quality, integrated designs are delivered safely, efficiently and to programme.

You’llalso play a key role in strengthening our design capability — improving processes, introducing the righttoolsand helping develop the next generation of engineers.

Ifyou’resomeone who enjoys building strong teams, improving how things are done, and delivering technically excellent work,we’dlike to hear from you.

As Design Manager, you will lead the delivery of multidisciplinary engineering design across our projects while developing the capability of the team.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Managing, mentoring and developing engineers, CAD technicians and graduates


• Building and growing the design team while maintaining a positive and collaborative team culture


• Leading the design process on multidisciplinary projects within regulated infrastructure sectors


• Ensuring design deliverables are safe, coordinated, compliant and technically robust


• Delivering design packages within agreed timescales and budgets


• Challenging and improving existing design processes and procedures


• Driving the adoption of appropriate design software, BIM and 3D modelling where beneficial.


• Ensuring the team works in accordance with relevant standards, best practice and quality requirements


• Managing and recording design changes within project packages


• Supporting project teams with estimating design hours and resource planning

We’relooking for someone with the experience and confidence to lead a design team while maintaining a strong technical understanding of engineering delivery.

Essential

• Around 10+ years’ experience in engineering design, ideally within a regulated sector such as:


• Water


• Rail


• Highways


• Bridges


• Oil & Gas


• Nuclear


• Degree or HND in an engineering discipline


• Strong IT and digital design capability


• Experience managing multidisciplinary design teams and projects


• Proven ability to develop junior engineers and build team capability

Desirable

• Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle


• Experience working within the regulated water industry


• Chartered Engineer status, or actively working towards chartership

Why ESL?

We’rea growing engineering consultancy where peoplearen’tjust a number. Our teams are small enough for individuals to have realinfluence, butexperienced enough to deliver complex projects for major infrastructure clients.

This is an opportunity to shape a team, influence how design is delivered, and play a key role in the continued growth of the business.

Location & Working Arrangements

Our team is ideally based from our Manchester office, and we encourage regular collaboration in person.

Our office islocatedclose to Old Trafford, with free on-site parking, good public transport links including bus and tram stops within a 10-minute walk, and a range of cafés, pubs,restaurantsand shops nearby.

Our building also offers free access to a fully equipped gym, with showers, changing facilities, hairdryers,towelsand toiletries provided, making it easy to fit exercise around the working day.

Working from home on occasion is permitted.

Benefits & Development

From the moment you join us, your wellbeing and career aspirations will be supportedby;

• Competitive Salary


• Company Pension


• Professional Membership & Chartership mentoring and support for engineers working towards professional accreditation


• Regular Line Management engagement and appraisal to support with your career progression


• 23 days annual leave plus 8 bank holidays


• Additionalannual leave after two years’ service


• Optiontopurchaseadditionalannual leave


• Regular CPD opportunities, including lunch-and-learn sessions with industry specialists


• Cycle to Work scheme


• Free fruit in the office


• Monthly team brunches and quarterly social events

For contractors, we are also able to offer engagements outside IR35.