Technical Design Manager

Cento; West Midlands; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company car

Private health

24+ days' holiday

Job summary

Cento, a specialist fire and life safety consultancy, is recruiting a Senior Technical Design Manager to lead sprinkler and suppression design on high-profile UK projects. Based on the Wolverhampton/Telford border, the role is hybrid with some international travel and a clear path to shape technical standards.

You’ll mentor designers, coordinate with clients and design teams, and ensure compliance with BS EN 12845, LPC Rules and BS 9251.

Qualifications

• Senior experience in sprinkler design and leadership roles.
• Knowledge of BS EN 12845, LPC Rules, and BS 9251.
• Experience with gaseous suppression systems.
• Proficient in Revit-based sprinkler design and model coordination.
• Willingness to travel across the UK.

Responsibilities

• Lead and sign off sprinkler and gaseous suppression designs from concept to RIBA Stage 4.
• Set design criteria with clients, insurers and design teams.
• Review Stage 5 designs, hydraulic calculations and shop drawings.
• Represent the business in technical meetings and design reviews.
• Inspect installations on site and witness testing and commissioning.
• Mentor designers, review Revit models and calculations.
• Help develop technical procedures and standards.

Skills

Sprinkler design

Gaseous suppression

Revit models

Hydraulic analysis

Client communication

Project leadership

Tools

Revit

Hydraulic software

Job description

Are you a senior sprinkler specialist who'd rather shape how systems are designed than chase installation programmes? Cento is recruiting a Technical Design Manager for an independent fire and life safety consultancy on the Wolverhampton / Telford border. You'll lead the sprinkler and suppression discipline and be the technical voice clients trust on some of the UK's most demanding projects.

Location: Wolverhampton / Telford border (hybrid, mainly office-based, with UK and some international travel)

Salary: Competitive, depending on experience, plus company car, private health and 24+ days' holiday

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and sign off sprinkler and gaseous suppression designs from concept to RIBA Stage 4, ready for tender
• Set design criteria with clients, insurers and design teams, including hazard classification, water supplies and system type
• Review contractors' Stage 5 designs, hydraulic calculations and shop drawings for compliance and design intent
• Represent the business in technical meetings, design reviews and workshops with clients, architects and M&E consultants
• Inspect installations on site at key stages, raise and close out non-conformances, and witness testing and commissioning
• Lead verification audits of existing sprinkler and suppression systems and write clear, defensible reports
• Advise clients on suppression options for specialist risks such as data halls, plant rooms and energy storage
• Mentor sprinkler designers, review their Revit models and calculations, and support their training
• Help develop the business's technical procedures, templates and quality standards
• Substantial sprinkler design experience, with time at senior, lead or technical manager level
• Strong working knowledge of BS EN 12845 and the LPC Rules, and of BS 9251 for residential and domestic systems
• Experience of gaseous suppression systems, both inert gas and chemical agents, and the relevant standards such as BS EN 15004
• A good understanding of Revit-based sprinkler design and model coordination
• Experience of hydraulic calculation methods and software
• Confident, credible communicator who can explain and defend technical decisions to clients and contractors
• Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel across the UK, with occasional trips to Ireland and Europe

What's on Offer

• A senior, client-facing role in a growing consultancy where your opinion shapes how the business works
• Varied, high-profile projects across the UK and beyond
• Company car, private health scheme and 24+ days' holiday plus bank holidays
• Hybrid working, with a flexible home-working day each week
• A friendly, family-run culture with a strong focus on quality and compliance

The Company: An independent fire and life safety consultancy working for tier 1 contractors and major asset owners on high-profile projects, from university campuses to hydroelectric power stations and battery storage sites. A close-knit, growing team that values personality as much as experience, and is building up its in-house expertise rather than leaning on subcontractors.

The Role: This is the senior technical position for the sprinkler and suppression discipline. You'll set the standard for every design that leaves the business and every contractor design it reviews. You'll be the person clients and contractors deal with on technical matters, so you'll spend a good part of your week in design team meetings, on Teams calls and on site. You'll also bring on the design team, checking their Revit models and helping them grow.