Disicpline Head - Structural Design

Barhale Ltd; Manchester; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Barhale Ltd. is seeking a Discipline Head/Principal Engineer – Structural in Manchester to lead complex design work for regulated infrastructure. You will act as a technical authority, mentor engineers, and shape how engineering is delivered within Barhale Design Services.

You will set and maintain structural standards, supervise resources, and ensure governance across live projects, with senior accountability for design quality and compliance.

Qualifications

• Senior/Principal structural engineer role delivering complex design across regulated infrastructure.
• Chartered Engineer status and degree in structural engineering required.
• Experience in water, rail, highways/bridges, oil & gas or nuclear sectors is preferred.
• Ability to mentor engineers, lead design reviews and ensure governance standards.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of practical, buildable structural design solutions.
• Review design deliverables, DRAs, reports and specs for quality and compliance.
• Direct and support engineers, CAD technicians and graduates.
• Lead design reviews with clients and project teams.
• Ensure design changes are recorded in documentation and meet standards.
• Provide technical guidance for projects and tenders.

Skills

Leadership

Structural design

Technical governance

Mentoring

Client communication

CAD supervision

Education

Chartered Engineer

Degree in Structural Engineering

HND in Structural Engineering

Tools

RC software

BIM / CDE workflows

IT tools

Job description

Barhale Design Services is Barhale’s in‑house design specialists, delivering innovative engineering solutions across major infrastructure projects. Combining deep industry expertise with practical construction knowledge, we provide design support from concept through to detailed delivery.

Our collaborative approach combines value engineering, digital innovation, and sustainable design principles to create buildable solutions that deliver best value, reduce carbon impact, and meet our clients' objectives.

As part of the Barhale Group, we work at the forefront of industry developments, helping shape the future of critical infrastructure while delivering lasting benefits for clients, communities and the environment.

About Barhale Design Services

Discipline Head/Principal Engineer – Structural

Discipline Head/Principal Structural Engineer to take a leading role in delivering complex engineering design across regulated infrastructure sectors.

This is a senior position suited to a Chartered Engineer who enjoys combining technical excellence with leadership — someone who can guide design solutions, mentor engineers, and play a key role in shaping how engineering is delivered within a growing consultancy.

You will act as a technical authority for structural design, supporting both project delivery and the continued development of our engineering capability. The role combines hands‑on principal‑level design and checking work with discipline‑wide technical standards, competency and governance responsibilities.

Key Responsibilities

Design Delivery & Technical Assurance

• Leading the development of practical, efficient and buildable structural design solutions
• Reviewing and approving design deliverables, design risk assessments (DRAs), reports and technical specifications
• Developing efficient and practical engineering solutions based on scopes, site visits and client requirements
• Communicating design solutions clearly to clients and project teams
• Directing and supporting engineers, CAD technicians and graduates
• Guiding design work to ensure compliance with technical standards, professional guidance and water company specifications
• Ensuring design changes are properly implemented and recorded within project documentation
• Working within established design processes and procedures to maintain quality and consistency
• Attending and leading design reviews, client meetings and technical discussions
• Reviewing, or appointing competent checkers for structural designs produced in‑house or by subcontracted designers, to ensure compliance with required technical standards

Discipline Leadership & Technical Governance

• Setting, communicating and maintaining structural engineering technical standards across all live projects
• Verifying the technical competency of structural engineering staff before they are allocated to projects
• Monitoring the discipline engineers' performance and utilisation
• Identifying training needs and supporting CPD planning for the structural engineering team
• Coordinating with other discipline leads on cross‑discipline interface items to ensure clear ownership where scope overlaps
• Estimating structural design hours at tender stage, and supporting resource forecasting and capacity planning across active projects
• Championing safety‑in‑design principles within structural engineering, ensuring CDM 2015 designer duties are embedded across all design and checking activity
• Providing key technical guidance for both projects and tenders
• Supporting the continuous improvement of engineering standards and design practices
• Extensive structural design experience at Senior or Principal level
• Degree or equivalent HND in Structural Engineering or a related discipline
• Chartered Engineer status
• Background within one or more regulated sectors, such as: water, rail, highways/bridges, oil & gas, nuclear
• Understanding of engineering standards, design practices and construction methods
• Worked within multidisciplinary engineering teams
• Proficient IT and digital design capability
• Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle

Desireable

• Previous experience in a Discipline Lead, Technical Authority or Principal Engineer role
• Experience using structural design and RC software ideally within the Water and/or rail sectors
• Ability to support tenders and technical proposals
• Familiarity with client‑specific technical standards across multiple frameworks
• Proven experience as an independent checker across multiple projects
• Conversant with BIM/common data environment workflows
• Contribute to recruitment, onboarding or competency framework development
• Exposure to design‑centre and framework consultancy model

Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme

Company Website:

https://www.barhale.co.uk/

Company Showcase Video:

https://youtu.be/uf_RG5xgM8M

Disiccline Head - Structural Design

Company: Barhale

Salary: Competitive

Hours: Full‑time

Location: Manchester, M32 0RS

Job type: Permanent