Design Manager - Civils & Geotechnical - Power Sector (4998)

Laing O'Rourke; Flackwell Heath; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

An innovative company is seeking a Civils & Geotechnical Design Manager to lead design management for a significant infrastructure project. This role involves overseeing the design lifecycle, ensuring compliance with quality standards, and driving digital engineering principles. You will collaborate with experts to deliver robust design solutions while fostering a culture of continuous improvement. If you are passionate about engineering excellence and have a strong background in civils and geotechnical engineering, this opportunity offers a platform to make a meaningful impact in the industry.

Qualifications

• Experience in contractor-side design lifecycle from engagement to handover.
• Strong understanding of civils and geotechnical engineering.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with consultants for efficient design solutions.
• Drive safety and quality in design deliverables.

Skills

Civils Engineering

Geotechnical Engineering

Design Management

Digital Engineering

DfMA Principles

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering

Bachelor's Degree in Geotechnical Engineering

Job description

Are you driven by great design and even better delivery?

Do you thrive at the intersection of engineering, innovation, and collaboration?

Have you led design management from concept through to handover on contractor-side projects?

Wondering what's next in your career?

We've got an opportunity worth exploring.

Laing O'Rourke is looking for a Civils & Geotechnical Design Manager to join our project team for the Letchmore Substation, part of the National Grid framework. This role will start from our King's Cross, London office and transition to site at Letchmore Heath, Hertfordshire in early 2026.

Why join us?

At Laing O'Rourke, Design Managers don't just manage drawings — they shape outcomes. You'll lead the coordination of critical design deliverables, driving safety, buildability, and quality into every stage. You'll be part of a culture that values technical excellence, digital innovation, and engineering-led delivery.

You'll work within our Engineering Enterprise, maximising the potential of design to bring greater certainty, creativity, and performance to every project.

What you'll be doing:

• Collaborating with consultants to deliver integrated, efficient, and technically robust design solutions

• Ensuring alignment with programme goals, client requirements, and Laing O'Rourke's quality standards

• Driving DfMA, safety, maintainability, and digital engineering principles across the design process

• Managing information flow, design compliance, and change control from pre-construction through delivery

• Supporting continuous improvement by embedding lessons learned and best practice into future work

What we're looking for:

• Experience across the full design lifecycle — from early engagement to handover — in a contractor-side environment

• A solid understanding of civils and geotechnical engineering in the power or infrastructure sector

• Prior exposure to National Grid, DNO, or large utility frameworks

• A relevant engineering degree (Civil or Geotechnical preferred) and a passion for design excellence

• Approximately 5+ years' experience in a similar role, across different procurement routes and delivery models

You don't tick every box?

That's okay. If you bring transferable skills and a mindset for learning, we still want to hear from you.

About Laing O'Rourke

We're an international engineering and construction company, delivering bold infrastructure and building projects across the UK, Middle East, and Australia. With over 150 years of experience, we combine certainty, quality, and innovation to transform the built environment.

We're proud to be part of the Disability Confident scheme, and we're committed to making our recruitment process accessible and inclusive. If you need any adjustments during the process or at work, just let us know. #LI-KW1