Head of Engineering

Kier Group; Bole; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Kier Group is seeking a Head of Engineering for the STEP Fusion Programme, based in Culham/West Burton with hybrid working and programme travel. You will lead the IPT4 Tokamak Complex and Plant Integration, guiding multidisciplinary teams to deliver safe, compliant, integrated designs for a prototype fusion energy plant.

You will oversee engineering across RIBA Stages 1–4, coordinate civil, structural, architectural, mechanical, electrical and building-services disciplines, and liaise with

Qualifications

• Degree in civil engineering and Chartered Engineer with ICE membership.
• Significant senior leadership experience on major infrastructure, nuclear, defence, energy, or similarly regulated projects.
• Experience leading complex multidisciplinary design across concept to developed design (RIBA Stages 1–4).
• Deep expertise in civil/structural engineering, reinforced-concrete/shielded structures, major industrial facilities, and foundations.
• Strong communication and stakeholder-management to advise senior directors across boundaries.

Responsibilities

• Lead IPT4 engineering organisation and act as principal adviser on strategy, priorities, performance, and risks.
• Deliver integrated designs for Tokamak Complex buildings and major civil facilities.
• Coordinate civil, structural, architectural, mechanical, electrical and building-services engineering into a single design.
• Manage interfaces with other IPTs, Design Authority and site teams; weekly liaison with Chief Architect Engineer and Civil Engineering Manager.
• Ensure solutions are safe, compliant, buildable, operable and maintainable while preserving design intent.

Skills

Engineering leadership

Civil engineering

Nuclear/regulated projects

Multidisciplinary design

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelors in Civil Engineering

Chartered Engineer (CEng/MICE)

Job description

We're looking for a Head of Engineering to join our STEP Fusion Programme team based in Culham / West Burton / hybrid, with programme travel.

Location:

Culham / West Burton / hybrid, with programme travel

Hours:

Full time - some flexibility on hours available if desired, just let us know when you speak to us.

We are unable to offer certificates of sponsorship to any candidates in this role.

This is an exceptional opportunity to lead engineering delivery for the UK's pioneering STEP fusion programme. As Head of Engineering for IPT4 Tokamak Complex and Plant Integration, you'll be at the forefront of designing and building a prototype fusion energy power plant. Working as part of ILIOS, the Construction Partner led by Kier and Nuvia, you'll lead multidisciplinary engineering teams to create safe, compliant, and integrated solutions for this world-leading programme. You'll work across organisational and technical boundaries, maintaining close alignment between teams and the Design Authority to deliver complex buildings, structures, and infrastructure that will house cutting-edge fusion technology.

What will you be responsible for?

As a Head of Engineering, you'll be working within the IPT4 Tokamak Complex and Plant Integration team, supporting them in delivering engineering design activities across RIBA Stages 1 to 4. Your day to day will include:

• Leading the IPT4 engineering organisation and acting as principal engineering adviser to the IPT4 Director on strategy, priorities, performance, and risks
• Delivering coherent, integrated engineering designs for Tokamak Complex buildings, heavy civil structures, waste-management facilities, and building systems
• Integrating civil, structural, architectural, mechanical, electrical, control, process, and building-services engineering into a single coordinated design
• Managing engineering interfaces with other IPTs, the Design Authority, site development teams, and maintaining weekly liaison meetings with the Chief Architect Engineer and Civil Engineering Manager
• Ensuring engineering solutions are safe, compliant, buildable, operable, and maintainable whilst preserving approved design intent and promoting engineering excellence

What are we looking for?

This role of Head of Engineering is great for you if:

• You hold a degree in civil engineering or a closely related discipline and are a Chartered Engineer with membership of the Institution of Civil Engineers
• You have significant senior engineering leadership experience on major infrastructure, nuclear, defence, energy, or similarly regulated projects
• You have demonstrable experience leading complex multidisciplinary engineering design across concept and developed-design stages, including RIBA Stages 1 to 4 or equivalent
• You possess deep civil and structural engineering expertise, including reinforced-concrete structures, shielded structures, major industrial facilities, and foundations
• You have excellent communication and stakeholder-management skills with the credibility to advise senior directors and collaborate effectively across organisational boundaries

Rewards and benefits

We're proud to be able to offer our brilliant people a wide variety of benefits that you can tailor to your needs. You can see more information of benefits here.

Diversity and inclusion

Making Kier a diverse and inclusive place to work is a huge priority for us.

We're proud of the steps we've taken so far, but we know we must always do more.

Our employees are key in shaping Kier's diversity and inclusion initiatives and our people have made a huge impact on how we work, by using their experiences to shape our policies.

You can see our D&I action plan here.

As a Disability Confident employer, we will ensure that a fair and proportionate number of disabled applicants that meet the minimum criteria for this role will be offered an interview.

Due to the nature of this role, you will also be required to complete a BPSS Disclosure and Barring Service Check (applicantswith convictions will be treated on a case‑by‑case basis. We do not discriminate based on an applicant's conviction history or the details of any convictions disclosed to us). Some roles may also be subject to further pre-employment checks.