Design Manager

Black & White Engineering Limited; Lisboa; Hybrid; EUR 50,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Black & White Engineering in Lisbon seeks an experienced Design Manager to lead design processes on complex engineering projects, coordinating multidisciplinary teams and ensuring high-quality delivery across the project lifecycle.

You will work with internal teams and clients, manage risks and programme performance, and drive continuous improvement in design governance and client relationships.

Qualifications

• Previous experience in a Design Manager or similar project delivery role.
• Experience working within multidisciplinary design teams on complex engineering projects.
• Strong understanding of project governance, design coordination and delivery processes.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and work effectively within project deadlines.
• Commercial awareness with an understanding of risk, programme and change management.
• Experience coordinating internal teams and external consultants.
• Understanding of RIBA preconstruction stages 0-5 or equivalent project delivery frameworks.
• Strong organisational skills with a proactive and solutions-focused approach.
• Working towards or holding a relevant professional accreditation or chartership is advantageous.
• Experience within the data centre, mission critical or large-scale infrastructure sectors would be beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate multidisciplinary design teams and support the delivery of engineering design projects.
• Manage design programmes, workflows and deliverables across allocated projects.
• Lead collaboration between internal engineering teams, external consultants and design partners.
• Drive design coordination and team alignment to ensure successful project delivery.
• Manage project risks, change control, quality, cost and programme performance.
• Support project reporting, commercial tracking and document management activities.
• Lead project meetings and ensure actions are communicated and managed effectively.
• Review design outputs to ensure compliance with project requirements, standards and procedures.
• Support health and safety risk management in line with client requirements and company policies.
• Build strong relationships with clients and stakeholders, acting as a trusted point of contact.
• Monitor and coordinate the performance of external consultants and design partners.
• Ensure governance, quality assurance and project controls are consistently applied.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Communication

Organisational skills

Multidisciplinary coordination

Education

Degree in Engineering/Architecture or related

Job description

Are you an experienced Design Manager looking to play a key role in delivering complex, high-profile engineering projects in our Lisbon team?

We have an exciting opportunity to join our growing Design Management team, working alongside multidisciplinary engineering. You’ll be responsible for leading the design process, coordinating project teams and ensuring the successful delivery of high-quality engineering solutions throughout the project lifecycle. The successful candidate will manage design delivery, stakeholder coordination, quality, risk and programme performance.

Your ability to organise, communicate and collaborate will be essential in driving projects forward. You’ll work closely with internal teams and clients to ensure designs are delivered efficiently, risks are managed proactively and project objectives are achieved.

You’ll take ownership of coordinating multidisciplinary teams, managing design deliverables and maintaining strong client relationships. You’ll play a central role in ensuring projects are delivered to the highest standards while supporting continuous improvement across our Design Management function.

What’s in It For You

• Project Ownership – Take a leading role in shaping and delivering complex engineering projects from concept through to detailed design and construction support.
• Career Development – Join a growing Design Management team where you’ll be supported in developing your technical, commercial and leadership capabilities.
• Variety and Challenge – Work across multiple projects, collaborating with engineering specialists and global clients in the data centre sector.
• Client Exposure – Become a trusted point of contact for clients, building strong relationships and helping deliver outstanding project outcomes.
• Collaborative Culture – Work alongside highly skilled multidisciplinary teams in an environment that values knowledge sharing, innovation and teamwork.
• Autonomy and Responsibility – Take ownership of design coordination, programme management and project performance while contributing to wider business initiatives.
• Strong Values and Culture – Join a business built on our five values: accountability, integrity, simplicity, supportiveness and quality.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Coordinate multidisciplinary design teams and support the delivery of engineering design projects.
• Manage design programmes, workflows and deliverables across allocated projects.
• Lead collaboration between internal engineering teams, external consultants and design partners.
• Drive design coordination and team alignment to ensure successful project delivery.
• Manage project risks, change control, quality, cost and programme performance.
• Support project reporting, commercial tracking and document management activities.
• Lead project meetings and ensure actions are communicated and managed effectively.
• Review design outputs to ensure compliance with project requirements, standards and procedures.
• Support health and safety risk management in line with client requirements and company policies.
• Build strong relationships with clients and stakeholders, acting as a trusted point of contact.
• Monitor and coordinate the performance of external consultants and design partners.
• Ensure governance, quality assurance and project controls are consistently applied.
• Previous experience in a Design Manager or similar project delivery role.
• Degree qualified in Engineering, Architecture or a related technical discipline.
• Experience working within multidisciplinary design teams on complex engineering projects.
• Strong understanding of project governance, design coordination and delivery processes.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and work effectively within project deadlines.
• Commercial awareness with an understanding of risk, programme and change management.
• Experience coordinating internal teams and external consultants.
• Understanding of RIBA preconstruction stages 0-5 or equivalent project delivery frameworks.
• Strong organisational skills with a proactive and solutions-focused approach.
• Working towards or holding a relevant professional accreditation or chartership is advantageous.
• Experience within the data centre, mission critical or large-scale infrastructure sectors would be beneficial.

About Black & White Engineering

Black & White Engineering is a multi-award-winning engineering consultancy with more than 1,300 employees across the UK, Europe, Middle East, Asia Pacific and North America.

We specialise in the full spectrum of engineering design consultancy for the data centre sector, including Mechanical, Electrical & Plumbing (MEP), Civil & Structural, Design Management, Sustainability, BIM, Power Systems and other infrastructure-related services.

Our engineering approach is grounded in practicality, technical excellence and operational efficiency. With rapid growth across regions, many colleagues have progressed from engineering roles into leadership positions, creating genuine opportunities for career development and progression.