Principal Design Manager

Costain Group PLC; Greater London; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading engineering firm in Greater London is seeking a Principal Design Manager to lead design efforts for the HS2 HRS02 project. The role involves managing a design team, ensuring technical compliance, and promoting a program-led delivery culture. Candidates should have significant experience in infrastructure design and proven leadership skills. The position offers a chance to work on innovative engineering solutions and manage design quality across multiple disciplines.

Qualifications

• Extensive design and engineering experience in infrastructure.
• Authority in multiple design and construction process models.
• Experience with design processes on rail systems projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design team and manage all designers for HS2 HRS02.
• Establish and maintain Engineering Management plans and processes.
• Implement quality control and technical assurance processes.

Skills

Team leadership

Analytical skills

Creative problem-solving

Negotiation skills

Education

Bachelor's degree or engineering/management apprenticeship

Chartered membership of a professional institute

Master’s or postgraduate degree

Job description

This is a key engineering leadership role alongside the Systems Integration and Assurance Manager and the Quality and Business Improvement Manager. As Principal Design Manager, you are accountable for all design on the HS2 HRS02 Works Information project. You will lead our design team and manage all designers, including internal and subcontracted designers, ensuring design delivery on time, within budget, and technically compliant with HRS02 specifications. The design scope includes construction tunnel ventilation systems, permanent tunnel ventilation, M&E (LV distribution, lighting, signage, CMS, fire main, drainage, CCTV, PAVA), SCADA systems, open‑route LV and lighting, and all associated engineering tasks such as CAT checks, noise and vibration, EMC, and earthing and bonding. All our designs must be safe, sustainable (meeting HS2 carbon reduction targets), and efficient to construct.

Responsibilities

• Establish collaborative working relationships with HS2, design organisations, delivery team and supply chain, and oversee all design and engineering related management on behalf of the Lead Engineering Manager.
• Set up and maintain all required Engineering Management plans and processes, ensuring clear definition, understanding, and adherence by the design team.
• Develop a programme‑led design delivery culture with integrated design programmes, short‑interval control methods, and weekly/monthly progress metrics.
• Establish MDIP and specific TDIPs, defining outputs at each design stage and integrating progressive checking and earned‑value measurement into reporting and contractual mechanisms.
• Implement quality control and technical assurance processes to guarantee designs meet the required level of detail for each lifecycle stage and are fit for assurance, procurement, and installation.
• Manage designer accounts, reporting of design account management, and overall design progress.
• Manage design change, influence HS2 and other rail systems contractors to prevent unnecessary or disruptive changes, and draft technically oriented correspondence.
• Ensure designs are constructable, follow safe‑by‑design principles, achieve sustainability goals, and integrate Production Thinking / MMC principles.
• Provide judgment and advice, bringing in wider corporate expertise as required, to optimise solutions (including off‑site fabrication and robotics) and meet HS2 requirements and commercial aims.

Qualifications

• Demonstrable ability to work with delivery teams, HS2, other alliance rails systems contractors, and other stakeholders.
• Significant post‑graduate design, engineering or management experience in infrastructure or a related industry with a proven track record of achievement.
• Authority in multiple design and construction process models, especially M&E such as BSRIA.
• Practical, logical thought process and a methodical way of working.
• A creative and innovative approach to problem‑solving.
• Be a thought leader in design and design management, capable of horizon‑scanning for new technologies that influence HS2 delivery.
• Experience of design and assurance processes on rail systems projects.
• Experience of technical management, understanding and reviewing design deliverables, and producing detailed reports across multiple disciplines (structural, mechanical, electrical).
• Experience of drafting effective contractual correspondence and facilitating collaborative solutions (strong understanding of NEC4 PSC).
• Experience in developing and implementing procurement and contract strategies for design.
• Negotiating and team‑working skills with the ability to motivate and lead a team.
• Strong analytical skills.
• Demonstrable legal, contractual, and detailed construction knowledge.
• Experience in implementing and delivering strategic objectives and managing change.
• Confidence and ability to assert influence.

Desirable Qualifications

• Competency to discharge the Principal Designer role under the CDM regulations, on behalf of Costain, with a bachelor's degree or engineering/management apprenticeship and industry experience.
• Chartered membership of a professional institute (MICE, IMechE, MCIOB, etc.).
• Project Management training or skills.
• Other secondary professional qualifications and training desirable (e.g., MAPM, MCIarb, MICW).
• Experience of multiple infrastructure markets/sectors.
• Master’s or postgraduate degree (preferred).

A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that discloses they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. The employer may limit the overall number of interviews offered to both disabled and non‑disabled people during high‑volume recruitment periods. For more details, please visit the Disability Confident website: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/disability-confident-campaign.