Ports Technical Design Lead - Ireland

Jacobs; Belfast City District; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working policy

Well-being benefits

Volunteer program

Job summary

Jacobs is seeking a Design Lead for Coastal Engineering & Flood Risk to drive sustainable infrastructure across Ireland, including Belfast. You will lead multidisciplinary teams, deliver technically rigorous designs, and integrate climate resilience into project delivery.

The role offers exposure to high-profile frameworks, collaboration with Jacobs' global network, and opportunities for mentorship and career progression within a supportive, hybrid-working environment.

Qualifications

• BEng or MEng in Civil Engineering required.
• Chartered status with ICE, CIWEM or similar, or actively working towards chartership.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary design teams.
• Experience delivering flood risk management or coastal engineering projects.
• Knowledge of flood defences, embankments, hydraulic structures and construction planning.

Responsibilities

• Lead multidisciplinary teams to deliver sustainable flood risk and coastal engineering solutions.
• Deliver high-quality technical designs in accordance with relevant standards and best practice.
• Integrate environmental, sustainability and climate resilience objectives into project delivery.
• Mentor and develop junior engineers and emerging technical leaders.
• Identify, communicate and manage project risks and opportunities.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Communication

Analytical thinking

Contract management

Education

BEng/MEng in Civil Engineering

Job description

At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting-edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good.

Your impact

Help Shape the Future of Climate Resilience - Dublin, Cork, Belfast

Flooding and coastal change are among the most significant challenges facing communities today. At Jacobs, you'll help design the solutions that protect people, infrastructure and the environment while creating a more resilient future.

As a Coastal Engineering & Flood Risk Design Lead, you'll play a key role in delivering major infrastructure and environmental programmes across Ireland, leading projects that make a tangible difference to communities for generations to come.

What's In It For You

This is an opportunity to combine technical leadership with meaningful, purpose-driven work.

You’ll benefit from

• Working on some of Ireland's most significant flood risk and coastal resilience programmes
• Leading multidisciplinary teams on projects that deliver real community and environmental value
• Exposure to innovative tools, technologies and industry-leading expertise
• Clear opportunities for career progression at Senior or Principal level
• A flexible and supportive working environment that empowers you to thrive
• The chance to develop your leadership skills through mentoring and team development
• Access to diverse projects spanning flood alleviation, coastal protection, river engineering and nature-based solutions
• Opportunities to collaborate with specialists across Jacobs' global network

Your Impact

As a Design Lead, you'll help communities become more resilient to climate change, flooding and coastal erosion.

Your work will

• Protect homes, businesses and critical infrastructure from flood risk
• Support sustainable development and long-term environmental resilience
• Deliver solutions that balance engineering excellence with environmental stewardship
• Improve community safety and climate adaptation
• Drive innovation in flood risk management and coastal engineering
• Help clients make informed decisions on future infrastructure investment

The projects you lead will create lasting benefits for people, places and the environment.

About The Opportunity

Our Coastal Engineering and Flood Risk team is growing rapidly, creating exciting opportunities for experienced engineers who are passionate about delivering sustainable, innovative solutions.

You’ll join a highly collaborative multidisciplinary team working on high-profile frameworks and projects throughout Ireland. From feasibility studies and optioneering through to detailed design and construction support, you'll have the opportunity to influence projects across the full lifecycle.

In this role, you'll

• Lead multidisciplinary teams to deliver sustainable flood risk and coastal engineering solutions
• Deliver high-quality technical designs in accordance with relevant standards and best practice
• Integrate environmental, sustainability and climate resilience objectives into project delivery
• Ensure designs are practical, safe and buildable
• Develop technical scopes and support successful project planning and delivery
• Identify, communicate and manage project risks and opportunities
• Mentor and develop junior engineers and emerging technical leaders
• Contribute innovative ideas that challenge traditional approaches and improve outcomes for clients and communities

Whether your expertise is in flood risk management, coastal protection, river engineering or nature-based solutions, you'll play an important role in shaping the future of resilient infrastructure.

Here’s what you’ll need

• BEng or MEng in Civil Engineering
• Experience leading multidisciplinary design teams
• Experience delivering flood risk management, coastal engineering or related infrastructure projects
• Knowledge of flood defences, flood walls, embankments, reservoirs, hydraulic structures, culverts, scour protection and construction planning
• Understanding of current Irish and UK design standards, guidance and industry best practice
• Experience delivering both traditional engineering and environmentally focused solutions
• Strong commercial, contractual and programme management awareness
• Chartered status with ICE, CIWEM or a similar professional institution, or actively working towards chartership
• Excellent communication, analytical and stakeholder management skills

An interest or experience in one or more of the following areas would be particularly valuable

• Coastal engineering
• River engineering
• Flood risk management
• Flood resilience and climate adaptation
• Natural Flood Management
• Surface water management and SuDS
• Catchment-based solutions

#VF

Joining Jacobs not only connects you locally but globally. Our values stand on a foundation of safety, integrity, inclusion and belonging. We put people at the heart of our business, and we truly believe that by supporting one another through our culture of caring, we all succeed. We value positive mental health and a sense of belonging for all employees.

With safety and flexibility always top of mind, we’ve gone beyond traditional ways of working so you have the support, means and space to maximize your potential. You’ll uncover flexible working arrangements, benefits, and opportunities, from well-being benefits to our global giving and volunteering program, to exploring new and inventive ways to help our clients make the world a better place. No matter what drives you, you’ll discover how you can cultivate, nurture, and achieve your goals – all at a single global company. Find out more about life at Jacobs.

We aim to embed inclusion and belonging in everything we do. We know that if we are inclusive, we’re more connected and creative. We accept people for who they are, and we champion the richness of different perspectives, lived experiences and backgrounds in the workplace, as a source of learning and innovation. We are committed to building vibrant communities within Jacobs, including through our Jacobs Employee Networks, Communities of Practice and our Find Your Community initiatives, allowing every employee to find connection, purpose, and belonging.Find out more about ourJacobs Employee Networks here.

Jacobs partners with VERCIDA to help us attract and retain talent from a wide range of backgrounds. For greater online accessibility please visit https//www.vercida.com/uk/employers/jacobs to view and access our roles.

As a disability confident employer, we will interview disabled candidates who best meet the criteria. We welcome applications from candidates who are seeking flexible working and from those who may not meet all the listed requirements for a role.

We value collaboration and believe that in-person interactions are crucial for both our culture and client delivery. We empower employees with our hybrid working policy, allowing them to split their work week between Jacobs offices/projects and remote locations enabling them to deliver their best work.

Your application experience is important to us, and we’re keen to adapt to make every interaction even better. If you require further support or reasonable adjustments with regards to the recruitment process (for example, you require the application form in a different format), please contact the team via Careers Support.