Lead Design Engineer

Matchtech; Havant; On-site; GBP 73,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading engineering firm in Havant is seeking a Lead Design Engineer to support critical infrastructure development in water management. You will manage design reviews, collaborate with experts, and ensure compliance with safety standards. The role requires broad experience in civils and M&E, focusing on high-value projects. Benefits include a competitive salary of £73-90k, 27 days holiday, and company bonuses. Hybrid working options will be discussed.

Benefits

Salary in line with experience circa £73-90k

27 days holiday plus bank holidays

38 hour working week

Enhanced company benefits

Company bonus scheme up to 6%

Excellent pension contributions up to 15%

Medical/Healthcare options

Qualifications

• Broad, multi-disciplinary experience across civils and M&E is desirable.
• Experience on high-value projects in Water or Water adjacent sectors.

Responsibilities

• Chair regular meetings with the Design Guardians.
• Manage the response to Technical Queries and Design Submissions.
• Oversight of Specific Engineering Work Packages.
• Monitor Design Guardian performance against KPIs.
• Coordinate requests from and to contractors on engineering matters.
• Participate in collaborative planning with Contractors.

Skills

Strong communication and presentation skills

Effective stakeholder engagement skills

Understanding of the design process

Team player with good interpersonal skills

Ability to manage inputs from multiple parties

Ability to work to deadlines

High competency in Excel/PowerPoint/Word/Teams

Experience of design management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Job description

Our Water company client is seeking a Lead Design Engineer to join their Havant Thicket Reservoir team on a permanent basis in Havant.

You will provide critical support to the Engineering Manager in delivering a landmark infrastructure development. The role involves managing design reviews and technical queries in collaboration with experts, ensuring compliance with reservoir safety standards and contractual timelines.

The reservoir is an environmentally‑led project with that will help to safeguard internationally‑rare rivers in Hampshire by providing an alternative, sustainable source of water.

As well as well as protecting some of the county's rare river habitats, it will also provide a new green, leisure facility for local communities, wetland habitats for local rehomed wildlife and visitor centre. It will be the first new reservoir to be built in the South East since the 1970s.

The project will be mainly delivered through a main reservoir contract and two pipeline contracts, with some additional related contracts. The candidates will join the existing project office working directly with the FutureWater joint venture and other project partners. The project is due to run until at least 2030 with extensions expected.

The Lead Engineer will oversee specific engineering work packages, act as the technical lead on smaller project components, and ensure the availability of accurate data for contractors. Additionally, the role requires engagement with internal teams and stakeholders to secure alignment on solutions, as well as contributing to the development of improved engineering assurance systems and processes.

Broad, multi‑disciplinary experience across civils and M&E is desirable with the candidate having a background working on high value projects in Water or Water adjacent sectors.

Responsibilities

• Chair regular meetings with the Design Guardians to discuss the lookahead, open actions and ongoing issues
• Manage the response to Technical Queries and Design Submissions by the main works contractors and manage the liaison, input and expectations of all stakeholders
• Wholistic oversight of Specific Engineering Work Packages (The Pipelines, Process & MEICA or Reservoir)
• Monitor and assess the performance of the Design Guardian against KPIs and regularly review this with them and provide feedback
• Coordinate general requests from and to contractors on engineering matters
• Participating in collaborative planning with Main Works Contractors.
• Chair weekly meetings with PW Operations to discuss, answer and resolve outstanding queries and issues
• Chair technical workshops between PW Operations, mains works contractors and the Design Guardian to ensure alignment and buy‑in of proposed solutions
• Provide engineering representation at Early Warning meetings to assist in either responding to them or take them away for later resolution
• Provide regular updates and reports to the HTR Engineering Manager, on progress, forecasts and issues
• Undertake monthly reviewers of the Contractors Programme to inform resource forecasting
• Manage and or produce Engineering led papers to support stakeholder engagement and governance processes
• Attend regular meetings with the HTR Engineering Manager

Skills, Qualifications & experience

• Strong communication and presentation skills
• Effective stakeholder engagement skills
• Good understand and appreciation of the "design process" and its commercial implication
• Strong team player with good communication, interpersonal and presentation skills
• The ability to manage and coordinate inputs from multiple parties
• Ability to work to deadlines with a focus on results and quality
• High competency in Excel/Powerpoint/Word/Teams
• Bachelor's degree in an Engineering related field of study
• Experience of design management

Benefits

• Salary in line with experience circa £73-90k
• 27 days holiday plus bank holidays
• 38 hour working week
• Must be able to work on site 4 days with local flexibility as and when required
• Enhanced company benefits
• Hybrid working will be discussed but 3/4 days on site/PW offices will be expected
• Company bonus scheme up to 6%
• Excellent pension contributions up to 15%
• Medical/Healthcare options