Head of Technical Design

Bimplus; Andover; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Office-based role in Andover

Salary £50,000–£75,000 DOE

Mon-Fri 8am–5pm

Job summary

Bimplus in Andover is seeking an experienced Head of Technical Design to own the technical design function and guide buildable, compliant concepts from early-stage to delivery.

You will lead a hands-on team, coordinate with engineers, ensure regulation compliance, and work with the original concept designer to preserve the creative intent while improving margins and value. Office-based role with some travel.

Qualifications

• Proven ability to lead a technical design team across multiple projects.
• Strong knowledge of compliance, regulations and design assurance.
• Experience coordinating with structural engineers, consultants and suppliers.

Responsibilities

• Lead the technical design function and set priorities for the team.
• Own end-to-end technical design decisions including interfaces and compliance.
• Stay hands-on with design development, detailing and problem-solving.
• Ensure designs meet legislation, regulations and client requirements.
• Coordinate with engineers, consultants and suppliers to resolve interfaces.
• Translate creative concepts into safe, buildable drawings.
• Work with pre-construction teams to optimize options and cost.

Skills

Technical leadership

Project leadership

Regulatory compliance

Cross-disciplinary coordination

Hands-on design

Job description

Salary: £50,000–£75,000 DOE
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8am–5pm
Location: Andover – office based
Travel: Some travel may be required as part of the role

We’re excited to be supporting a creative and forward-thinking design and build company specialising in leisure and family attractions. The business designs, creates and builds exciting building play areas, mini golf courses and complete family attractions in UK, Europe, Africa, Canada, the US and Australasia.

We’re now looking for an experienced Head of Technical Design to take ownership of the technical design function and play a key role in turning ambitious creative concepts into practical, buildable and commercially successful projects.

Purpose of the Role

This is a hands-on opportunity, particularly in the early stages while trust and respect is built amongst the existing team. This will involve developing creative concepts and turning them into working and build-able drawings.

You’ll be responsible for ensuring designs comply with relevant legislation, where applicable, work with structural engineers where required and and developing practical technical solutions. You will also work closely with the original concept designer to ensure the creativity and 'magic' of the designs is retained.

As you establish yourself within the business, the role will naturally develop into the Head of Technical Design, where you’ll continue to be hands-on while taking responsibility for leading the existing technical design team and overseeing any freelance designers.

We’re looking for someone who is driven, self-motivated and practical, with a genuine can-do attitude.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the technical design function. Manage, coach and set clear priorities for the technical designers, creating a culture of accountability, accuracy and timely delivery.
• Take end-to-end ownership. Be the final internal point of accountability for technical design, engineering interfaces, compliance and technical decisions across all projects.
• Stay hands-on. Personally support design development, detailing and problem-solving where needed—not simply review the work of others.
• Assure standards and compliance. Ensure designs meet all relevant legislation, regulations, codes, client requirements and company standards, with robust checking, approvals and records.
• Coordinate engineering. Work effectively with structural and specialist engineers, consultants, suppliers and contractors to resolve interfaces and achieve technically sound, coordinated solutions.
• Design for construction. Bring practical construction thinking into every design so details are safe, straightforward, repeatable and efficient for contractors to build.
• Design for playability. Consider the user experience and playability—how fun and engaging the space will be for kids. Playability is what sets our projects apart and drives client satisfaction and repeat business.
• Partner with pre-construction. Work closely with estimating and pre-con teams to test options, remove unnecessary complexity and develop the most cost-effective compliant solution before and after award.
• Improve project margin. Once a project is won, lead technical detailing and value engineering to protect or improve margin without compromising safety, quality, performance or compliance.
• Control technical risk. Identify design risks early, manage changes and sign-off gates, answer site queries promptly and capture lessons learned to prevent rework and repeat issues.

What Success Looks Like

• Clear ownership: the team and wider business know who is accountable, with decisions made promptly and issues resolved effectively.
• Right first time: Designs that are compliant, coordinated and buildable, reducing rework, delays and site-led redesign.
• Commercially stronger projects: technical decisions simplify construction, support procurement and deliver measurable protection or improvement of margin.
• Highly playable spaces: our clients' spaces create memorable experiences that keep kids coming back again and again, turning first-time users into loyal, repeat clients.

About You

We’re looking for someone who combines strong technical expertise with a practical, commercially aware approach.

You’ll ideally have

• Proven technical leader experience in a senior technical design, engineering or construction role, with the confidence to own final decisions.
• Strong working knowledge of technical detailing, compliance, design assurance and multidisciplinary engineering coordination.
• A construction-minded and commercially aware approach, balancing technical quality with buildability, programme, cost and margin.
• Strong, practical and collaborative, comfortable working across design, pre-construction, estimating, procurement, delivery teams and the supply chain.
• A decisive, organised and accountable approach, with high standards, sound judgement and a genuine willingness to get stuck in.