Senior Design Manager

Ayesa Engineering - UK and Ireland; Dublin; Hybrid; EUR 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Hybrid working

Employer Pension Match

Income protection

Life assurance

Training and development

Family & Well-Being Support

Sports and social

25 days annual leave

Recognition awards

Job summary

Ayesa Engineering is seeking a Design Manager for Major Projects – Transportation in Dublin, Ireland. You will lead multidisciplinary design teams for rail/metro projects, manage design programmes, and act as the primary client interface to ensure coordinated, compliant delivery.

The role requires extensive experience in infrastructure design and leadership within a consultancy environment. Emphasis on BIM, interfaces, and whole-life performance with a Dublin-based, hybrid working arrangement.

Qualifications

• Typically 15–20+ years’ experience in infrastructure design and delivery.
• Minimum 8–10 years in design management or leadership roles.
• Proven client-facing design leadership on major projects (£100m+ scale) is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate multidisciplinary design teams across geo, civil, structural, MEP and rail systems.
• Ensure integration across complex interfaces such as junctions, stations and tunnels.
• Oversee BIM/digital engineering processes for coordination and information management.
• Drive design optimisation focusing on constructability and whole-life performance.
• Develop and manage the design programme aligned with project milestones.
• Monitor progress, identify risks, and implement mitigation or recovery plans.
• Coordinate design outputs to support procurement, consents and construction phasing.
• Manage design budgets, fees, and resource allocation; manage scope changes.
• Lead client engagement and governance with reporting and technical approvals.

Skills

Rail/metro design

Leadership experience

Client liaison

Multidisciplinary coordination

Education

Engineering degree

Chartered status preferred

Job description

Division: Major Projects – Transportation

Location: Dublin, Ireland

Ayesa Engineering is a leading multidisciplinary engineering and project management firm with more than 60 years of experience shaping the future of the built environment. With more than 3,200 professionals in over 16 countries across the globe, the company offers innovative design, construction supervision, and consulting services in key sectors, including transportation, water, buildings and cities, and energy. A Top 50 Global Engineering firm, Ayesa Engineering is recognised for its technical excellence and its ability to manage complex infrastructure projects for public and private clients, combining deep sector expertise with a commitment to sustainability and cutting-edge solutions.

Position

What You Will Be Doing:

As a Design Manager within our Major Projects – Transportation division at Ayesa Engineering, your role purpose will be as following;

• Lead the delivery of multidisciplinary design services for major rail/metro projects, ensuring outputs are coordinated, compliant, and aligned with client and project objectives.
• Act as a design-led project leader, taking responsibility for design programme, resource management, and commercial performance within the consultancy scope.
• Provide project delivery and advisory support to the client, integrating design activities with wider programme, procurement, and construction considerations.
• Serve as a primary client interface for design, building strong relationships and contributing to effective project governance and decision-making.
• Contribute to the overall success of the project by combining technical leadership, delivery focus, and commercial awareness.
• The role is based in Ireland, with an expectation to be present in Dublin three days per week to support client engagement, team coordination, and project delivery.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and coordinate multidisciplinary design teams across geo, civil, structural, MEP, and rail systems disciplines.
• Ensure integration across complex interfaces (e.g. junctions, stations, tunnels, systems, third parties).
• Oversee BIM/digital engineering processes to ensure effective coordination and information management.
• Drive design optimisation, focusing on constructability, cost-efficiency, and whole-life performance.

Programme & Delivery Management

• Develop and manage the design programme, ensuring alignment with overall project milestones.
• Monitor progress, identify risks to delivery, and implement mitigation or recovery strategies.
• Coordinate design outputs to support procurement, consents, and construction phasing.

Commercial & Resource Management

• Manage design budgets, fee forecasts, and resource allocation.
• Lead on scope management, change control, and variations.
• Support bid development, tender submissions, and opportunities for additional services.

Client & Stakeholder Engagement

• Act as the day-to-day client interface for design delivery.
• Support engagement with key stakeholders
• Contribute to governance processes, including reporting, reviews, and technical approvals.

Requirements

What You Bring:

• Typically 15–20+ years’ experience in infrastructure design and delivery, with a strong focus on rail/metro projects.
• Minimum 8–10 years in design management or leadership roles, preferably within a consultancy environment.
• Proven experience acting as a client-facing design lead on major projects (£100m+ scale).

Additionally, Demonstrable experience in:

• Managing multidisciplinary design teams
• Coordinating design with programme and delivery requirements
• Commercial management of design services (fees, variations, scope control)
• Experience working with or to standards from organisations such as Network Rail, Transport for London, or Irish Rail is strongly preferred.
• Degree-qualified in a relevant engineering discipline; Chartered status (or equivalent) preferred.

Other information

What We Offer:

We offer a competitive salary package along with a comprehensive range of benefits designed to support your professional growth and enhance your overall well-being:

• Competitive Salary: We offer a competitive salary package to attract and retain top talent in the industry.
• Flexible Working: Enjoy flexible working hours and hybrid working, allowing you to achieve a better work-life balance.
• Employer Pension Match Scheme: We offer a pension match scheme to help you secure your financial future.
• Income Protection: Receive support in safeguarding your income in the event of illness or injury.
• Life Assurance: Gain peace of mind with life assurance coverage.
• Training and Development Programme: Access a range of training and development opportunities to enhance your skills and advance your career.
• Family & Well-Being Support: Benefit from our Enhanced Maternity & Paternity Benefits and our confidential support services to address personal or professional challenges, included in our Employee Assistance Programme.
• Sports and Social: Engage in our vibrant sports and social activities to foster a sense of community and well-being among our team members.
• Increased Annual Leave: 25 days’ annual leave plus statutory bank holidays, enjoy increased annual leave entitlements based on years of service.
• Recognition Awards: Receive recognition for your contributions through our awards program, celebrating achievements and excellence.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform crucial job functions, and receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.