Principal Designer

SYSTRA UK & Ireland; York and North Yorkshire; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

SYSTRA UK & Ireland is seeking a Principal Designer (Rail) to lead the CDM 2015 commitments across major railway projects. You will guide the pre‑construction design team, ensure safety and compliance, and coordinate with clients, designers and contractors to meet regulatory standards.

The role demands Chartered membership, NEBOSH Diploma or equivalent, and strong experience in design risk management within railway environments.

Qualifications

• CDM 2015 duties in a railway major project environment.
• Senior Designer/Lead Engineer level railway experience.
• Chartered membership with a relevant institution (e.g. IOSH, ICE, APS).
• Strong knowledge of UK rail design standards and risk management.

Responsibilities

• Ensure CDM 2015 compliance during the pre-construction phase and lead Principal Designer duties.
• Oversee design teams to ensure safe, compliant design outputs.
• Liaise with client, designers, and principal contractor to meet CDM requirements.
• Regularly report project developments and CDM compliance to the client.
• Promote Design Risk Management best practices across projects.
• Provide input to design risk workshops and continuous improvement initiatives.

Education

NEBOSH Diploma

Tools

CDM 2015 compliance

Job description

Around the world, SYSTRA’s specialists plan, design, integrate, test, commission, project manage and deliver mass transit and mobility solutions that are relied on by more than 50 million people every day.

For more than 60 years, the Group has been committed to helping cities and regions contribute to their development by creating, improving and modernising their transport infrastructure with sustainability, accessibility and innovation at the heart of our designs. With over 10,300 colleagues globally and around 1,000 in the UK & Ireland we are growing significantly and seeking out the very best talent to join the SYSTRA signature team and be part of leading the way in infrastructure design.

Context

SYSTRA is one of the world’s leading engineering and consulting groups, specialising in infrastructure and mobility solutions. In the UK & Ireland, SYSTRA has been creating, improving and modernising infrastructure for more than 50 years.

SYSTRA works in partnership with clients to deliver outstanding infrastructure solutions. We solve challenges with our multi‑disciplinary expertise in design, consultancy, project management, engineering and construction supervision – supporting the delivery of major infrastructure projects across the transport, energy, environmental and built‑environment sectors. Our work creates inspirational places and systems that connect people seamlessly, enhance well‑being, stimulate economies, and provide a sustainable legacy for future generations.

Missions / Main Duties

Principal Designer (Rail)

Join the System Safety team to support the delivery of the Principal Designer duties (under an organisational capacity).

Main Duties

• Work with SYSTRA and client projects to ensure compliance with the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 throughout the pre‑construction phase, delivering the Principal Designer duties (Regulation 11).
• Oversee and support the design team to ensure the design work in the pre‑construction phase contributes to the delivery of positive health and safety outcomes.
• Liaise with key duty holders including the client, designers, principal contractor, as well as other parties, to ensure CDM requirements are met.
• Regularly report to the client on project developments and issues related to CDM 2015 compliance.
• Attend and provide input to client projects or Systra forums as required, promoting Design Risk Management best practices.
• Implement and maintain hazard management assurance processes to ensure the highest standards of CDM compliance.
• Undertake regular monitoring and inspection of company projects from a CDM perspective to report on levels of compliance, identify lessons learned, and highlight opportunities for improvement.
• Provide input to SYSTRA focus groups where requested, including the Technical Board or Safe by Design Group.
• Promote effective design risk management throughout the company as well as client projects.
• Facilitate hazard identification, hazard review, constructability reviews, and other design focussed workshops.
• Assist the company with business development and continual improvement through collaboration with other disciplines to enhance SYSTRA’s service delivery and processes.
• Provide guidance and management on issues involving CDM and general construction activities, as well as other regulatory requirements relating to SYSTRA’s portfolio of works.

Profile / Skills

• Highly knowledgeable and experienced in the successful application and management of CDM 2015, especially in duties relating to the Principal Designer role within a multi‑disciplinary railway major project environment.
• Significant experience in the railway industry working at a similar level (Principal Designer/ Senior Designer/ Lead Engineer).
• Chartered member of a relevant professional institution (e.g. IOSH, ICE, APS).
• Holder of a NEBOSH Diploma (or equivalent) and/or Design Certification.
• Strong experience and knowledge of engineering design and construction principles and standards (rail industry experience advantageous).
• Good knowledge of engineering design standards for the UK Rail Network and for British and European Standards.
• Highly skilled in risk assessment and design risk management processes and techniques.
• Effective communicator, capable of chairing and controlling multi‑disciplinary meetings.
• Able to manage and plan workload effectively.
• Able to foster high levels of cooperation and coordination between project teams and individual members.
• Able to perform effectively on both complex multi‑disciplinary and simpler projects while working alongside design teams.
• Experienced in auditing projects and processes.
• Solid understanding of the General Principals of Prevention and their application and promotion throughout the design phase.