Senior Civil Design Engineer

Clarkson Owens Recruitment; Glasgow; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading recruitment agency is seeking a Civil Design Engineer Manager in Glasgow to lead the civil engineering function for HV Battery Energy Storage Systems and renewable projects. Responsibilities include team leadership, establishing design standards, and ensuring compliance with UK regulations. Ideal candidates will have significant civil design experience, strong leadership skills, and proficiency in civil design software. The role offers competitive pay and opportunities for professional development.

Benefits

Competitive salary and benefits package

Support for professional development

Collaborative culture encouraging innovation

Qualifications

• 8+ years of civil design experience, ideally in HV substations, BESS, or renewable infrastructure.
• Proven track record building, managing, or significantly growing a technical team.
• Strong leadership, mentoring, and people development skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead the civil design function for HV BESS and renewable EPC projects.
• Define civil engineering design standards and QA/QC processes.
• Implement and manage design workflows using Procore.

Skills

Team Leadership

Civil Design Software Proficiency

Stakeholder Engagement

Problem-solving

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Civil/Structural Engineering

Chartered Engineer (CEng, MICE or MIStructE)

Tools

Civil 3D

AutoCAD

STAAD

Tekla

Job description

Overview

We are looking for a Civil Design Engineer Manager to lead, grow, and develop our civil engineering capability for HV Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) and renewable EPC projects. This role goes beyond design management; it is an opportunity to build a best-in-class civil design function from the ground up, set technical standards for the organisation, and mentor a team of engineers and designers. You will shape how we deliver civil works across our portfolio to ensure solutions are safe, cost-effective, and future-ready.

Responsibilities

Leadership and Team Development

• Team Leadership & Development. Recruit, mentor, and grow a multidisciplinary civil design team (engineers, CAD/BIM technicians). Establish training and development plans to upskill the team in BESS-specific civil design and EPC project delivery. Act as the technical coach for junior engineers, providing guidance on design principles, software, and industry best practice. Foster a collaborative, high-performance culture that emphasises knowledge sharing and innovation.
• Define civil engineering design standards, workflows, and QA/QC processes for consistent delivery across projects.

Design & Delivery

• Lead the civil design function for HV BESS and renewable EPC projects, including site layout and master planning (battery containers, transformers, access roads).
• Foundations and plinths for battery enclosures, switchgear, and fencing.
• Drainage design and surface water management (SuDS compliance).
• Cable trenching and ducting layouts for HV/LV infrastructure.
• Access road and hardstanding design for construction and O&M activities.
• Earthworks and grading plans to optimise cut/fill balance.
• Review and approve civil design packages produced internally or by external consultants.
• Drive innovation in design solutions to improve constructability, reduce cost, and minimise environmental impact.

Process & Systems

• Implement and manage Procore (or equivalent) workflows for civil design review, version control, and approvals.
• Standardise design templates, checklists, and deliverable formats for consistent quality across projects.
• Champion digital tools such as BIM/Civil 3D to improve efficiency and collaboration.

Stakeholder & Project Coordination

• Work closely with electrical and mechanical engineering managers to deliver fully coordinated multidisciplinary designs.
• Support procurement teams in preparing tender documents and evaluating civil contractors.
• Provide technical support during construction, resolving design queries and approving field changes.

Compliance, Quality & Safety

• Ensure all designs meet UK regulatory requirements, Eurocodes, BS standards, and CDM regulations.
• Lead design risk assessments and constructability reviews.
• Promote a strong safety culture in all aspects of design and delivery.

First 12 Months Objectives

• Build the Civil Design Team: Recruit and onboard key civil engineers, CAD technicians, and support staff; define clear roles, responsibilities, and reporting lines within the team.
• Establish Standards & Processes: Develop and implement civil design standards, workflows, and QA/QC checklists; introduce consistent design review and approval processes using Procore; create template deliverables for layouts, foundations, and drainage designs.
• Deliver Civil Design for Early-Stage Projects: Prepare civil design for integration with electrical design; deliver civil design packages for at least 30 MW of BESS projects within budget and programme; lead constructability reviews and support procurement for early EPC contracts.
• Strengthen Multidisciplinary Collaboration: Formalise integration workflows with electrical and mechanical design teams; implement BIM or Civil 3D-based coordination across disciplines.
• Develop Team Capability & Culture: Launch training plans for junior engineers and designers; foster a culture of continuous improvement, collaboration, and accountability.
• Strategic Planning & Innovation: Identify opportunities for cost optimisation in civil works (earthworks, foundations, drainage); propose innovative approaches to improve sustainability and reduce project risk.

Qualifications and Capabilities

• Essential:
• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Civil/Structural Engineering.
• Chartered Engineer (CEng, MICE or MIStructE) or on a fast-track to chartership.
• 8+ years of civil design experience, ideally in HV substations, BESS, or renewable infrastructure.
• Proven track record building, managing, or significantly growing a technical team.
• Strong leadership, mentoring, and people development skills.
• Proficiency with civil design software (Civil 3D, AutoCAD, STAAD, Tekla, etc.).
• Solid understanding of EPC project delivery, multidisciplinary coordination, and design assurance.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement abilities.
• Full driving licence and ability to drive to project site locations UK wide, if necessary.
• Desirable:
• Experience developing in-house design capability from scratch or transitioning from consultant-led design.
• Familiarity with Procore, BIM workflows, and digital collaboration platforms.
• Knowledge of UK DNO/TSO civil design specifications.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary and benefits package.
• The opportunity to build and shape a civil design team in a fast-growing renewable energy business.
• A leadership role with influence across the full EPC project lifecycle.
• Support for professional development, chartership, and leadership training.
• A collaborative culture where innovation and initiative are encouraged.