Senior Design Engineer

NRL Recruitment; Watford; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

26 days annual leave + BH

Pension scheme with 8% match

Share plan (buy one, get one)

Life assurance from day one

Volunteer days

Wellbeing programmes

Cycle to Work

Eyecare

Flu vaccinations

Long-service awards

Job summary

NRL Recruitment is seeking a Senior Design Engineer to lead the design of temporary works and infrastructure projects from Watford, with hybrid working after an initial office-based induction.

You will manage design output, mentor junior engineers, ensure BS5975 compliance, and liaise with clients and contractors to deliver safe, efficient solutions across multiple streams. Degree in Civil/Structural Engineering and chartered status preferred.

Qualifications

• Degree in Civil or Structural Engineering.
• Experience in structural or civil design including temporary works.
• Understanding of BS5975 and temporary works procedures.
• Experience delivering and checking complex engineering designs.

Responsibilities

• Provide design authority and lead delivery of complex temporary works projects.
• Manage project-based teams, ensuring timely and technically compliant outputs.
• Undertake and approve design calculations, design checks, and risk assessments.
• Supervise and mentor junior engineers.
• Ensure compliance with BS5975 and other relevant standards.
• Represent the design team in client and stakeholder meetings.
• Manage workloads, budgets, and technical progress across multiple concurrent projects.
• Support innovation and continuous improvement of engineering methods.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Stakeholder management

Design authority

Communication

Mentoring

BS5975 awareness

Education

Civil or Structural Engineering degree

Chartered (CEng/IEng) or working towards

Tools

AutoCAD

Revit

Tekla Tedds

STAAD

Job description

An excellent opportunity for a Senior Design Engineer to join an experienced engineering design team based in Watford. This role suits engineers who enjoy leading complex projects and providing technical authority across diverse temporary works and infrastructure schemes.

Depending on level of experience

Location and Working Pattern

Based in Watford. Hybrid working is available, with a minimum of three days per week in the office. The induction period requires full‑time office attendance for the first three months.

Client Overview

Our client delivers major civil engineering and infrastructure projects across the UK, with a technical design team specialising in temporary works. The business supports multiple workstreams for industry‑leading contractors and partners, providing safe, efficient, and sustainable engineering solutions.

Responsibilities

• Provide design authority and lead delivery of complex temporary works projects.
• Manage project-based teams, ensuring timely and technically compliant outputs.
• Undertake and approve design calculations, design checks, and risk assessments.
• Supervise and mentor junior engineers.
• Ensure compliance with BS5975 and other relevant standards.
• Represent the design team in client and stakeholder meetings.
• Manage workloads, budgets, and technical progress across multiple concurrent projects.
• Support innovation and continuous improvement of engineering methods.

Must-have Requirements

• Degree in Civil or Structural Engineering.
• Plenty of experience in structural or civil design, including temporary works.
• Demonstrated understanding of BS5975 and temporary works procedures.
• Experience delivering and checking complex engineering designs.
• Background with a main contractor or temporary works consultancy.
• Strong leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to commute to Watford.
• Experience in major infrastructure projects.
• Knowledge of AutoCAD, Revit, Tekla Tedds, STAAD, or similar software.
• Chartered (CEng/IEng) or currently working towards professional registration.
• Commercial and programme management awareness.
• 26 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays, rising to 29 with service. Options to carry over up to 5 days and buy or sell holidays annually.
• Competitive pension scheme with matching contributions up to 8% after 6 months’ service.
• Opportunity to invest in company shares with favourable ‘buy one, get one free’ terms after 6 months.
• Life assurance from day one, increasing with length of service.
• Two paid volunteering days annually.
• Access to retail discounts, wellbeing programmes, and employee support.
• Additional perks including flu vaccinations, eyecare, Cycle to Work, and long‑service awards.