Technical Director - Design Management (NSQEP) - Relocate to Australia

AECOM; Glasgow; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation support

Job summary

AECOM is seeking a Technical Director/Design Manager to lead the design and delivery of a major defence infrastructure programme. This senior role combines strategic leadership with hands-on technical oversight across Australia and the UK, ensuring safety and quality while guiding complex interfaces.

Extensive nuclear/defence project experience and NSQEP familiarity are essential, with relocation support available.

Qualifications

• Engineering degree or related technical discipline.
• 25+ years delivering complex defence, nuclear or regulated projects.
• Chartered status or recognised professional membership.
• NSQEP experience is highly regarded across nuclear/defence.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams through design and delivery.
• Strong design management and safety-critical project background.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management.

Responsibilities

• Lead integrated design teams across Australia and the UK.
• Provide technical leadership on radiological waste management and related infrastructure.
• Guide design integration across disciplines and resolve technical issues.
• Support program planning and represent the project in safety forums.
• Mentor engineers and build NSQEP capability across the programme.
• Build trusted relationships with clients and stakeholders; deliver technical excellence.

Skills

Technical leadership

Design management

Multidisciplinary teams

Stakeholder management

Education

Engineering degree

Postgraduate qualifications

Chartered status

Job description

Company Description

Come and grow with us.

Our global portfolio of work comprises the design of iconic and award-winning buildings and landscapes. From strategic planning through to project realisation, the connections we make among people and place provide sustainable outcomes for our clients and the communities we serve. We place a premium on investing in digital capabilities and innovations which bring a unique consistency and efficiency to our scalable work. Together with our clients, we are working to evolve and elevate the built environment across sectors including social infrastructure, transit, technology and logistics, and commercial and corporate real estate, while focusing on solutions that promote long term health and wellbeing for all.

Everyone belongs at AECOM

We’re committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging - because great ideas come from diverse perspectives. AECOM is proud to be a Fortune 500 Most Admired Company, a WGEA Employer of Choice for Gender Equality, a \#Work180 Equitable Workplace Awards 2025 Winner and an AWEI Bronze Tier LGBTQ+ Inclusive Employer.

Job Description

Our Adelaide team is looking for an experienced Technical Director level Design Manager to join one of Australia's most significant defence infrastructure projects.

This is a rare opportunity to take on a senior leadership role where you’ll help shape the design and delivery of a complex, safety-critical programme. You’ll lead integrated teams across Australia and the UK, bringing people together to solve technical challenges, maintain design quality and deliver successful project outcomes.

You’ll provide technical leadership across a number of nuclear facilities, contributing to the delivery of safety-significant infrastructure within a robust nuclear safety framework. You'll combine strategic leadership with hands‑on technical involvement, guiding the development of multidisciplinary building designs while maintaining a strong assurance and governance focus.

Working closely with design teams and stakeholders, you’ll help resolve complex technical issues, manage critical interfaces and influence key design decisions. Acting as a trusted technical authority, you'll provide challenge, undertake technical reviews and verification activities, and ensure the required standards of safety, quality and performance.

Extensive experience delivering major nuclear and defence projects, and working within highly regulated environments, is essential.

How you’ll make a difference

• Lead integrated design teams across Australia and the UK, creating a collaborative culture that delivers consistent, high-quality outcomes.
• Provide technical leadership across complex process engineering systems, with particular focus on radiological waste management and supporting infrastructure.
• Guide design integration across multiple disciplines, helping resolve technical issues, manage project risks and support successful project delivery.
• Support the Design Lead by providing technical advice, contributing to program planning and representing the project in senior technical, client and safety forums when required.
• Mentor engineers and technical specialists, building capability across the team while promoting a strong nuclear safety culture and supporting the development of NSQEP capability across the programme.
• Build trusted relationships with clients and key stakeholders, understanding their challenges and delivering practical, innovative solutions.
• Contribute to business growth by identifying opportunities, supporting client engagement and maintaining the highest standards of technical excellence.

This role is located in Adelaide with relocation support available for suitably qualified candidates.

Qualifications

The following qualifications and experience are highly desired, but if you don’t tick all the boxes, you could still be a perfect fit for this role.

The qualities that help you thrive

• Degree-qualified in Engineering or a related technical discipline, with relevant postgraduate qualifications highly regarded.
• More than 25 years' experience delivering complex projects within defence, nuclear or other highly regulated industries.
• Chartered status or professional membership with a recognised industry body.
• Experience working within an NSQEP framework is highly regarded. Candidates with the capability to work within an NSQEP environment, demonstrated through significant experience in nuclear, defence or other highly regulated industries, are encouraged to apply.
• Demonstrated experience leading multidisciplinary teams through complex design and project delivery.
• Strong technical background in design management or the delivery of safety‑critical / defence infrastructure.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence and build trusted relationships at all levels.
• A track record of developing high‑