Technical Director

ICE Recruit; Plymouth; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work options

Disability Confident Employer

Job summary

AECOM is recruiting for a Technical Director to join the UK & Ireland Building Engineering team in the SW&W business unit, with offices in Basingstoke, Bristol and Plymouth. The role focuses on seismic, blast and dynamic loads, leading the structural engineering team and delivering technically challenging projects across the UK and internationally.

You will engage with clients throughout the project lifecycle, manage resources and commercial aspects, and represent the practice in client-facing

Qualifications

• Excellent knowledge of standard engineering practices, techniques and procedures.
• Lead in the analysis and design of seismically qualified structures.
• Ability to engage and support safety case interface within the nuclear sector.
• Proven track record of successful project delivery within the defence sector.
• Proven ability to undertake structural design using current British Standards and Eurocodes and associated standards applicable to seismic design.
• Excellent knowledge of advanced analysis techniques such as finite element analysis. Experience of soil structure interaction assessments is desirable.
• Understanding of project management principles and practices to support co-ordination of technical delivery of projects with internal and external clients.
• Excellent communication skills with a demonstrable ability to write compelling proposals and technical reports, and deliver presentations.
• Sound knowledge of construction contracts, professional agreements and fee proposals.
• Experience in using commercially available design software packages.

Responsibilities

• Take on responsibility for coordinating and leading technical delivery and managing commercial and resourcing aspects of demanding projects.
• Demonstrate leadership and contribute to the management of the structural engineering team through business development, client relationship management, technical leadership or team development.
• Lead on the preparation of technical reports which clearly convey complex structural engineering concepts to clients and other stakeholders.
• Lead technical client relationships and play a major role in business development work.
• Lead independent technical reviews of work prepared by others.
• Be a leader in one or more areas of technology.
• Approve and sign off work.
• Mentor and coach others in their professional development.
• Have a desire to learn new skills and give due consideration to wider engineering issues related to the projects.

Skills

Leadership

Technical delivery

Client engagement

Project management

Seismic design

Finite element analysis

Advanced analysis

Team management

Education

Master's / Bachelor's degree in Civil or Structural Engineering

Chartered Engineer (ICE or IStructE)

Tools

Design software packages

Job description

Job Description

AECOM is currently recruiting for a Technical Director to join our UK & Ireland Building Engineering team. This technical practice comprises of over 1000 engineering professionals across 28 office locations drawn from a variety of disciplines in the built environment. Within the structural engineering practice there are over 170 engineers across the UK. This opportunity has arisen in our South West & Wales (SW&W) business unit which has teams in our Basingstoke, Bristol and Plymouth offices and a focus on Defence, Aviation and Education projects.

The team undertake a range of structural engineering projects including those which feature seismic, blast and other dynamic loads. The right candidate will need to demonstrate a desire to be challenged, support the leadership of the SW&W team and undertake technical delivery of projects. In return we offer a challenging and rewarding role, career development, a positive working environment and a competitive reward package.

This opportunity would suit an individual who has broad experience, but who has specialisms in advanced analysis techniques possibly including Finite Element, Soil Structure Interaction, or non-linear dynamics and has demonstrable experience of team and project management within complex and demanding project delivery. As a Technical Director you will be a key member of the technical leadership team and the role will require representing AECOM in a client facing environment. You will therefore need to be adept at engaging with clients and other professionals throughout the project lifecycle and use your engineering expertise to make a significant contribution to design delivery. We expect you to have experience in delivery of projects from inception through to completion and an ability to run projects, manage resources and commercial aspects of projects.

Some of our recent projects include:

• HMNB Devonport: Supporting the development of infrastructure at HMNB Devonport, the team have designed seismically qualified upgrade works to existing dry docks to support deep maintenance of nuclear powered submarines.

• NPSCY: Supporting the new build of Australia's first nuclear powered submarine construction yard in Adelaide, Australia to facilitate the construction of the new SSNA submarines as part of the AUKUS venture. All infrastructure shall be designed for all design basis challenges, including seismic hazards

We are increasingly supporting new and exciting projects across these markets, in the UK and globally. In particular relating to delivery of nuclear infrastructure in support of the AUKUS programme.

Location

This opportunity is to join the SW&W structural engineering team which is located across Basingstoke, Bristol and Plymouth. The SW&W team consists of 43 structural engineers and BIM specialists. AECOM has an established flexible working policy, ‘Freedom to Grow’. This supports flexible and remote working which works for the business, client and individual. The successful candidate could be located in any part of the UK, but a willingness to travel to South-west of the UK (or other UK offices) to support the team and project meetings is expected.

We are looking to enhance and grow the team with individuals with a sound technical background and who share our enthusiasm and determination to support our expanding workload. This is a great opportunity to play a significant part in some exciting future construction projects.

Job Responsibilities

The successful candidate will be expected to:

• Take on responsibility for coordinating and leading technical delivery and managing commercial and resourcing aspects of demanding projects whilst working without supervision

• Demonstrate leadership and contribute to the management of the structural engineering team through business development, client relationship management, technical leadership or team development

• Lead on the preparation of technical reports which clearly convey complex structural engineering concepts to clients and other stakeholders

• Lead technical client relationships and play a major role in business development work

• Lead independent technical reviews of work prepared by others

• Be a leader in one or more areas of technology

• Approve and sign off work

• Mentor and coach others in their professional development

• Have a desire to learn new skills and give due consideration to the wider engineering issues related to the projects being delivered

There are opportunities for continuing professional development and career progression.

Minimum Requirements

• Excellent knowledge of standard engineering practices, techniques and procedures

• Lead in the analysis and design of seismically qualified structures

• Ability to engage and support safety case interface within the nuclear sector

• Proven track record of successful project delivery within the defence sector

• Proven ability to undertake structural design using current British Standards and Eurocodes and associated standards applicable to seismic design

• Excellent knowledge of advanced analysis techniques such as finite element analysis. Experience of soil structure interaction assessments is desirable, but not essential

• An understanding of project management principles and practices to support co-ordination of technical delivery of projects with internal and external clients

• Excellent communication skills with a demonstrable ability to:

• Write compelling proposals and technical reports which adequately convey complex technical concepts to clients

• Prepare and deliver engaging presentations to existing and prospective clients

• Sound knowledge of construction contracts, professional agreements and experience in client engagement during the preparation of fee proposals and agreeing scopes of service

• Experienced in the use of commercially available design software packages

• Ability to communicate in the English language, both written and verbal, with an ability to explain engineering principals in a manner which can be understood by a non-specialist

• Able to decide on the level of reliance and accuracy to attach to a variety of results obtained from design software and finite element analysis and to interpret results into practical engineering solutions

Qualifications

Master’s / Bachelors degree in an appropriate Civil or Structural Engineering discipline

Must be a Chartered Engineer with ICE or IStructE

The successful candidate must be able to achieve and maintain suitable security clearance for this role

Additional Information

AECOM is committed to maintaining a secure and trustworthy recruitment process and take any fraudulent hiring activity seriously. To support this commitment, all newly hired employees are required to attend an in-person Day 1 onboarding at an AECOM office location as a condition of employment.

About AECOM

AECOM is the world’s trusted infrastructure consulting firm, delivering professional services throughout the project lifecycle – from advisory, planning, design and engineering to program and construction management. On projects spanning transportation, buildings, water, new energy and the environment, our public- and private-sector clients trust us to solve their most complex challenges. Our teams are driven by a common purpose to deliver a better world through our unrivaled technical and digital expertise, a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion, and a commitment to environmental, social and governance priorities. AECOM is a Fortune 500 firm and its Professional Services business had revenue of $16.1 billion in fiscal year 2025. See how we are delivering sustainable legacies for generations to come at aecom.com and @AECOM.

Freedom to Grow in a World of Opportunity

You will have the flexibility you need to do your best work with hybrid work options. Whether you’re working from an AECOM office, remote location or at a client site, you will be working in a dynamic environment where your integrity, entrepreneurial spirit and pioneering mindset are championed.

You will help us foster a safe and respectful workplace, where we invite everyone to bring their whole selves to work using their unique talents, backgrounds and expertise to create transformational outcomes for our clients.

AECOM provides a wide array of compensation, benefits and well-being programs to meet the diverse needs of our employees and their families. We’re the world’s trusted global infrastructure firm, and we’re in this together – your growth and success are ours too.

Join us, and you’ll get all the benefits of being a part of a global, publicly traded firm – access to industry-leading technology and thinking and transformational work with big impact and work flexibility. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we believe in each person’s potential, and we’ll help you reach yours.

We are a Disability Confident Employer and will offer an interview to applicants who have a disability or long-term condition, who meet the minimum/essential criteria for the role. Please let us know using this email address [e-mail] if you would like to apply through the Disability Confident Interview Scheme.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.