Senior Temporary Works Design Engineer

Laing O'Rourke; Sale; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equal Opportunity Employer

Support for Disability Confident scheme

Job summary

Laing O'Rourke, located in Sale, UK, is seeking a Senior Design Engineer responsible for producing high-quality drawings, calculations, and specifications. You will collaborate closely with junior engineers, mentor them, and ensure that all designs comply with safety and quality standards.

The ideal candidate will have a strong technical background, experience in structural materials, and familiarity with geotechnical design. This role offers exciting challenges and the chance to innovate in engineering solutions.

Qualifications

• Strong background in engineering, particularly with common structural materials.
• Experience with geotechnical design is a big advantage.
• Familiarity with design risk assessments and health & safety compliance is essential.

Responsibilities

• Produce drawings, calculations, and specifications for projects.
• Support live projects and tenders with practical advice.
• Mentor and manage junior engineers in their development.

Skills

Design with structural materials (steel, concrete, timber)

Geotechnical design

FE analysis

3D modelling

Education

Strong technical background in engineering

Tools

CAD

BIM

Job description

Senior Design Engineer – Role Overview

As a Senior Design Engineer, you will be responsible for producing drawings, calculations, and specifications for a wide range of permanent and temporary works. You will also support live projects and tenders by offering practical advice on buildability, construction methods, and value engineering.

You may take the lead in managing junior engineers—supporting them day‑to‑day, mentoring their development, and checking their work to ensure everything meets the required standards.

A strong technical background is essential. You should be comfortable designing with common structural materials such as steel, reinforced concrete, and timber, using Eurocodes. Experience with geotechnical design and familiarity with falsework, formwork, and shoring systems will be a big advantage.

What You’ll Be Doing

Commercial & Project Management

• Help ensure designs are efficient and cost‑effective by applying your experience and judgement
• Manage your time (and others’ where needed) effectively, including use of software and external design support
• Keep track of your workload and provide regular updates to the Lead Engineer

Safety & Compliance

• Make sure all designs meet relevant health and safety legislation (CDM, LOLER, PUWER, etc.)
• Follow company safety and quality systems
• Take ownership of your designs and ensure the right level of checking is applied
• Carry out design risk assessments and clearly communicate any remaining risks
• Include key details like load limits, pour rates, and performance constraints on drawings
• Highlight any safety‑critical elements and recommend inspections or tests where needed
• Provide clear construction sequence information to support site teams
• Stay up to date with safety alerts and standards, and reflect these in your work
• Carry out site visits if required to ensure designs are being followed correctly

Engineering & Innovation

• Develop practical, buildable, and innovative engineering solutions
• Use tools like FE analysis and 3D modelling where appropriate
• Design using industry standards across steel, concrete, and timber
• Contribute geotechnical input where needed (e.g. excavations, slopes, working platforms)
• Consider all load cases, including temporary conditions during construction
• Review and check designs from others, including junior engineers
• Ensure construction methods don't compromise permanent works designs
• Communicate clearly with designers, planners, and site teams
• Support tenders with outline methods, pricing inputs, and technical advice
• Produce designs and drawings using CAD, BIM, and other available tools

Team & Development

• Support and mentor junior engineers on the team
• Share knowledge and help develop internal training where needed
• Keep your own skills up to date through training, learning, and professional development

Quality & Processes

• Follow quality procedures for checking and approving designs and documents
• Make sure everything is properly recorded and filed with document control teams
• Contribute ideas to improve processes and ways of working

Equal Opportunity

We are an equal opportunity employer and support the Disability Confident scheme. If you would like to opt in or require an alternative interview format, please let us know. We also welcome applicants who need adjustments during the recruitment process. For more information or if you need the application form in an alternative format, please email [e-mail].