Lead Structural Engineer

BREEAM Official; Watford; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension 5%

Life assurance 4x salary

Enhanced maternity

Health cashback

Onsite facilities

BRE Academy access

Membership reimbursement

Job summary

BRE in Watford seeks a Lead Structural Engineer to provide technical leadership for structural engineering within BRE's Structural team, delivering high-quality engineering, testing, and assurance services.

You will oversee complex projects, ensure compliance with BS/EN standards, coordinate lab activities, and contribute to business development and client engagement, shaping BRE's technical reputation.

Qualifications

• Chartered Structural Engineer with strong technical authority.
• Proven track record leading complex structural projects.
• Deep knowledge of BS/EN codes and structural testing.
• Experience coordinating engineers, technicians and labs.
• Ability to develop high-quality proposals and reports.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a complex structural engineering function, delivering service against objectives and growth targets
• Oversee delivery of projects, ensure quality and compliance with standards
• Develop and interpret test regimes for static and dynamic behaviour
• Manage laboratory activities to ensure safe testing outcomes
• Coordinate engineers and staff to achieve cohesive delivery
• Provide technical input to business development and client engagement
• Act as technical authority on client enquiries, producing proposals and reports
• Support inspection, assessment, reporting on UK construction methods
• Contribute to strategic development of Structural Technology team and labs

Skills

Chartered Structural Engineer

Technical leadership

BS/EN standards knowledge

Project delivery

Client engagement

Coordinating multidisciplinary teams

Tools

AutoCAD

Microsoft Office

Job description

• Pension scheme - 5% employer-matched contribution

Help BRE make buildings safer and more sustainable!

BRE aims to be the world's leading innovation, science and data hub for the built environment. For more than a century, we have provided government and industry with cutting-edge research and testing. Join us to help deliver products, advice, services, standards and qualifications used around the globe to make buildings better for people and the environment. Through science-led solutions to urgent challenges, we will build a thriving and sustainable world.

Work Location Options

Hybrid - You will be expected to attend our Watford-based office and Science Park 4 times per week.

Your role at BRE

This is a rare opportunity to combine deep technical expertise with strategic influence, working at the forefront of research, standards, and real-world application. If you're passionate about engineering excellence and want your work to make a genuine impact, we'd love to hear from you.

The Lead Structural Engineer provides technical leadership for structural engineering activities within BRE's Structural team, delivering high-quality engineering, testing, and assurance services that support business growth and industry impact.

Key Responsibilities And Tasks

• Lead and manage a complex structural engineering function, delivering a complete technical service against agreed objectives and growth targets
• Oversee the delivery of structural engineering projects, ensuring technical quality, compliance with relevant BS and EN standards, and alignment with client requirements
• Develop and interpret test regimes based on structural design principles, including static and dynamic behaviour
• Manage laboratory-based activities to ensure safe, consistent, and reliable testing outcomes
• Coordinate engineers, technicians, and laboratory staff to achieve cohesive and efficient project delivery
• Provide technical input to business development activities, including client engagement, proposal development, and representation at industry events
• Act as a technical authority on complex client enquiries, producing high-quality technical proposals and reports
• Support inspection, assessment, and reporting activities relating to UK construction methods, materials, and structural fire performance
• Contribute to the strategic development and profile of the Structural Technology team and associated laboratories

What We Are Looking For

• Chartered Structural Engineering expertise with strong technical authority in structural engineering and testing
• Proven capability in leading and managing complex structural engineering activities and technical services
• Strong working knowledge of BS and EN codes and standards, and their application to structural design and test regimes
• Demonstrated understanding of static and dynamic structural behaviour and engineering mechanics
• Experience coordinating multidisciplinary teams, including engineers, technicians, and laboratory staff
• Ability to develop and review high-quality technical proposals, reports, and inspection documentation
• Experience contributing technical input to business development, client engagement, and external representation
• Knowledge of UK construction methods, materials, and historic and modern construction forms
• Experience with structural fire design and assessment in accordance with relevant standards
• Proficiency in relevant engineering and reporting tools, including AutoCAD and standard Microsoft applications
• FEA modelling
• Commercial awareness, with experience contributing to income generation and workload throughput
• Ability to support the technical reputation and profile of BRE and its Structural Technology capabilities

BRE Benefits

At BRE, we offer a competitive salary, reviewed annually, along with a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your financial security, well-being, and career development.

Financial & Security Benefits

• Pension scheme - 5% employer-matched contribution
• Life assurance - 4x your basic salary
• Enhanced maternity package

Health & Wellbeing

• HealthPartners cashback scheme - Reclaim costs on prescriptions, physiotherapy, dental care, and more
• Onsite facilities - Restaurant, nursery, and free parking, including at-cost EV charging points

Career Development

• Learning & development - Free access to BRE Academy and our online learning platform
• Professional membership reimbursement

For full details on our benefits, visit: BRE Employee Benefits

Note to Employment Agencies

At BRE, we value the relationships we have built with our preferred recruitment partners. We do not accept unsolicited CVs from employment agencies. Any CVs submitted directly to a BRE employee or hiring manager without a signed BRE Employment Agency Agreement and an active engagement for the specific role will be considered unsolicited. In such cases, no fees will be payable should the candidate be hired through this or any other means.

Equal Opportunities Statement

BRE is an equal opportunities employer. We assess all qualified applicants based on merit and do not discriminate on the grounds of race, colour, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected characteristics.

BRE contributes to a thriving and sustainable world by developing science-led solutions to built environment challenges. Our vision is to be the world-leading innovation, science, and data hub for the built environment. We're ambitious in terms of quality and global scope. We want governments and commercial markets to recognise us and demand our services, products and solutions. We want to be world-class, innovative, science-led and provide solutions.