Senior Design Manager

Knights Brown; Maidstone; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Knights Brown is seeking a Senior Design Manager to lead the development, management and assurance of engineering solutions for challenging civil, marine, coastal and infrastructure projects. You will shape projects from tender through delivery, ensuring safe, buildable and sustainable designs that deliver best value for clients and teams.

You will provide technical leadership across the project lifecycle, drive value engineering, and mentor graduates and junior engineers while coordinating

Qualifications

• Experience in marine, coastal, river and civil projects.
• Practical site experience and buildable solutions.
• Strong communication and leadership for multidisciplinary teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the design process from development to construction delivery.
• Provide technical leadership on design, build projects and complex temporary works.
• Support bid teams with design strategy and technical submissions.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary design teams for integrated, cost-effective solutions.
• Ensure designs comply with industry standards and statutory obligations.
• Lead design risk management and engineering assurance activities.
• Drive value engineering for affordability, performance and sustainability.
• Champion CDM compliance and design-related health and safety risk management.
• Oversee external consultants and partners to ensure high-quality outputs.
• Support operations during project delivery with technical problem-solving.
• Promote right-first-time design quality and continuous improvement.
• Contribute to Knights Brown sustainability objectives and goals.
• Mentor graduates and junior staff.

Skills

Marine engineering

Coastal engineering

Civil project delivery

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Design coordination

Value engineering

CDM Regulations

Job description

Location: Ringwood or Maidstone (predominantly office-based, with occasional travel to projects/sites)

Division: Southern & South East

Sector: Civil Engineering & Infrastructure

Role Type: Design Management Shape the coastlines, rivers and infrastructure that protect communities and leave a lasting legacy.

Role Overview

Knights Brown is an independent civil engineering contractor delivering complex projects across energy, water utilities, infrastructure, coasts & ports, and buildings.

We are looking for a Senior Design Manager to lead the development, management and assurance of engineering solutions across some of the UK's most challenging civil engineering, marine, coastal and infrastructure projects.

You will play a pivotal role in shaping projects from tender stage through to delivery, ensuring solutions are safe, buildable, sustainable and represent best value for both our clients and project teams. Working closely with pre-construction and operational teams, you will ensure designs are safe, buildable, sustainable and deliver best value for both our customers and project teams. You will provide technical leadership throughout the project lifecycle, from tender development through to project delivery, ensuring engineering excellence and successful project outcomes.

What You'll Be Doing

• Lead and manage the design process from project development through to construction delivery
• Provide technical leadership on design and build projects, contractor-designed elements and complex temporary works
• Support bid and work-winning teams with design strategy, consultant appointments, technical submissions and construction methodologies
• Coordinate multidisciplinary design teams to deliver integrated, buildable and cost-effective solutions
• Ensure designs comply with relevant industry standards, client requirements and statutory obligations
• Lead engineering assurance activities and manage design risk throughout project delivery
• Drive value engineering and innovation opportunities to improve affordability, performance and sustainability
• Champion compliance with CDM Regulations and proactively manage design-related health and safety risks
• Oversee the performance of external consultants and construction partners to ensure high-quality design outputs
• Support operational teams in resolving technical challenges during project delivery
• Promote right-first-time design quality and continuous improvement across projects
• Contribute to Knights Brown's sustainability objectives and support achievement of Goal13 commitments.
• Mentor graduates and junior staff members

What We're Looking For

• A strong background and genuine passion for marine, coastal, river and civil engineering projects
• Experience gained within a contractor environment, or a consultancy background with a desire to become more involved in project delivery and construction
• Practical site experience and a strong understanding of buildable, safe and efficient engineering solutions
• Proven experience managing design on major infrastructure or civil engineering projects
• Strong understanding of design and build procurement and contractor-led design management
• Ability to coordinate multidisciplinary teams, design consultants and key stakeholders
• Strong knowledge of construction methodologies, engineering assurance and risk management
• Experience identifying and implementing value engineering opportunities
• Sound understanding of CDM Regulations and design risk management principles
• Excellent communication, leadership and stakeholder management skills
• Commercial awareness with the ability to balance technical excellence with project objectives
• A proactive, solution-focused approach and the confidence to lead teams through complex engineering challenges

Desirable

• Chartered Engineer status or actively working towards this
• Experience within the water, energy, coastal, marine or infrastructure sectors
• Temporary Works design or coordination experience
• Experience leading design on NEC-based contracts
• Knowledge of low‑carbon and sustainable design approaches

Why Join Knights Brown

• Work on unique projects – help deliver landmark marine, coastal, river and infrastructure schemes across the UK
• Influence outcomes – shape engineering solutions from concept through to construction
• Engineering‑led delivery – work alongside experienced operational and technical teams who understand construction
• Make an impact – drive innovation, buildability, sustainability and value across major projects
• Develop future talent – mentor graduates and developing engineers, helping build the next generation of industry professionals
• Career progression – join a growing business that values technical excellence and promotes from within
• A place you belong – collaborative teams, straightforward communication and a culture built on trust, respect and shared success

Location & Travel

• Based in either our Ringwood or Maidstone office
• Predominantly office-based, with occasional travel to project sites, client offices and meetings as required
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements available depending on individual circumstances and business needs

Our Commitment

We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone is treated with respect, valued for their contribution and given equal opportunity to succeed. We welcome applications from all backgrounds, including members of the Armed Forces Community