Senior Structural Engineer (Bridges) – Connect Plus Services | M25 Network

BALFOUR BEATTY; Dartford; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Smart working options

25 days paid annual leave

Family-friendly policies

Job summary

An infrastructure management firm seeks a Senior Structural Engineer (Bridges) in Dartford to lead structural assessments and manage design reviews for bridge projects across the M25 network. This role requires an experienced engineer with strong knowledge in bridge design, excellent stakeholder management skills, and the ability to oversee projects within budget and standards. A relevant degree and experience in leading design work are essential. Flexible working options are available, including remote work.

Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of bridge design and assessment within the highways environment.
• Experience managing structural design work, overseeing deliverables from consultants.
• Excellent communication skills to work effectively with teams and clients.

Responsibilities

• Lead the structural assessment of substandard structures across the network.
• Manage delivery of design work from external consultants and internal resources.
• Coordinate with project managers to develop cost-effective engineering solutions.

Skills

Bridge design and assessment

Stakeholder management

Health and safety legislation knowledge

Education

BEng, MEng, HNC, HND or equivalent

Job description

About the role

At Connect Plus Services, we manage and maintain the strategic infrastructure of the M25 motorway, one of the busiest and most complex road networks in Europe. Working in partnership with Connect Plus and National Highways, we are responsible for maintaining and improving critical infrastructure assets to ensure the network remains safe, reliable and efficient for the millions of drivers who use it every day.

We are looking for a Senior Structural Engineer (Bridges) to join our Engineering Design Team. In this role, you will take a leading position in the structural assessment, design review and strengthening of bridges and other highway structures across the M25 network. You will oversee technical delivery from external framework consultants while supporting the development of in-house capability and ensuring that designs meet the required standards, programme and budget.

You will work closely with internal teams including asset management, project management and construction, as well as external partners such as National Highways and design consultants, helping to deliver safe, efficient and innovative solutions for complex structures assets across the network.

What you'll be doing

You will lead the structural assessment of substandard structures such as bridges and viaducts across the network, prioritising assets for assessment and overseeing the design and delivery of strengthening schemes. Working with framework consultants, you will review and assure structural designs, ensuring all technical submissions meet the standards required by National Highways and the DBFO contract.

A key part of the role is managing the delivery of design work from external consultants and internal design resources, ensuring that projects are delivered to agreed scope, programme and budget. You will also supervise and mentor engineers within the structures design team, supporting the development of engineering capability across the business.

You will coordinate closely with project managers and asset teams to develop and deliver asset management forward plans, helping to identify cost‑effective engineering solutions that extend the life and performance of M25 structures including bridges, culverts, tunnels and retaining walls. This will involve undertaking optioneering, feasibility studies and whole‑life costing to determine the most appropriate solutions.

You will also lead design review processes, contribute to gateway reviews during the design phase, and ensure that all structural designs comply with relevant standards including DMRB, Eurocodes and MCHW. Alongside technical delivery, you will play an important role in maintaining strong relationships with National Highways and other key stakeholders while promoting innovation, continuous improvement and best practice across the engineering function.

Who we're looking for

We are looking for an experienced structural engineer with strong knowledge of bridge design and assessment within the highways environment. You will have a relevant engineering qualification such as BEng, MEng, HNC, HND or equivalent, along with strong technical knowledge of structural analysis and design standards relevant to highway structures.

You should have experience managing or coordinating structural design work, including overseeing deliverables from consultants and leading design packages within a multidisciplinary environment. A strong understanding of health and safety legislation, particularly CDM regulations and Designer duties, is essential.

You will also bring excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, enabling you to work effectively with internal teams, external consultants and clients. Membership of a professional institution such as ICE or IStructE, or progress towards IEng or CEng status, would be advantageous.

Why work for us

Day in, day out, our teams deliver some of the UK’s most ambitious, exciting and meaningful projects; developing, building and maintaining the vital infrastructure that supports national economies and strengthens communities.

Why join us?

As if contributing to and supporting work that makes life better for millions wouldn’t be rewarding enough, we offer a full range of benefits. You’ll have the freedom to shape the package that’s right for you and your life. Here are some of our key benefits:

• Smart working, giving you more flexibility such as staggered start and finish times, with up to 40% remote working, where roles allow.
• 25 days paid annual leave (pro rata)
• Family friendly policies which include 28 weeks full pay for maternity/adoption leave and four weeks full pay for paternity/partners leave
• Pension, share incentive plan, volunteering leave, recognition schemes and much more…

About us

Connect Plus Services (CPS) brings together the collective strength of our parent companies – Balfour Beatty, Atkins and Egis Road Operation UK. With around 600 people, based at eight locations across the M25 network, we work on behalf of Connect Plus and National Highways to manage the operation of the M25 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, from routine maintenance to managing the whole‑life requirement of thousands of assets across the network.

Diversity and inclusion

At Balfour Beatty we believe that diversity and inclusion are essential components of any successful, happy workplace. Through our Value Everyone Diversity and Inclusion Strategy and Action Plan, we are growing our diverse workforce and developing our inclusive culture where everyone is able to thrive and reach their full potential, regardless of their identity or background. To find out how we are making this a reality, visit www.balfourbeatty.com/diversityandinclusion

To help and support us with our desired commitment to create an inclusive culture we are members of WISE, enei, Business Disability Forum and the Association for Black and Minority Ethnic Engineers (AFBE). In 2020, we signed the Audeliss and Involve Open Letter to demonstrate our commitment to taking key long term and sustainable actions on Black Inclusion. Balfour Beatty is also a Gold Award holder in the Ministry of Defence ‘Employer Recognition Scheme’ and actively encourage applications from Armed Forces personnel, veterans and reservists.

As a Disability Confident Employer, we are committed to working with people who have disabilities and long‑term health conditions to remove barriers for them in obtaining employment. We are also committed to offering applicants with a disability an interview if they meet the minimum requirements for the role. For more info, visit: https://disabilityconfident.campaign.gov.uk/

We are looking to continually improve our resourcing process and ensure that it is fair and inclusive for all. If you have any feedback on the process, please share this with us at: [e-mail]