Design Manager - Transmission & Distribution

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Design Manager - Transmission & Distribution

Company: AECOM

Location: Birmingham, United Kingdom

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Engineering / Energy Operations

Date Posted: 2026-08-06

Experience Level: 5-10 Years (Mid to Senior Level)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Spearhead multi-disciplinary engineering design projects within the Transmission & Distribution (T&D) sector, ensuring successful project delivery from concept through to completion.

• Act as a Technical Project Manager, overseeing diverse engineering disciplines including substation primary, cabling, protection & control, civils, overhead lines, and environmental scopes.

• Drive a "Safety by Design" culture, integrating safety, health, environmental, sustainability, and quality standards into all project phases.

• Foster strong client relationships and support business development initiatives, including proposal preparation and contract negotiations.

• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to engineering teams, promoting professional development and the application of cutting-edge technical skills.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a Design Manager with significant Technical Project Management responsibilities, indicating a need for strong leadership, technical depth in T&D engineering, and robust project lifecycle management skills. The emphasis on AECOM's "Great Grid Partnership" project suggests a focus on large-scale, critical infrastructure initiatives.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee the engineering design process for Transmission & Distribution projects across the UK & Ireland, collaborating with Discipline Leads, Project Managers, and Directors.

• Manage project teams, drawing on global Enterprise Capability offices as needed, to ensure comprehensive coverage of all required engineering disciplines.

• Take ownership of the full project lifecycle, including concept development, Front-End Engineering Design (FEED), environmental assessments, permitting, consenting, planning, cost estimation, and detailed engineering.

• Ensure all design submissions strictly comply with relevant codes, industry standards, and client-specific quality requirements.

• Uphold AECOM and client design management processes, leading project and client meetings to ensure alignment and effective communication.

• Provide regular, comprehensive updates on project progress, budget adherence, schedule milestones, procurement status, safety incidents, environmental concerns, and emergent design challenges.

• Manage project components, including strategic resource allocation, subcontractor coordination, maintaining design integrity, and incorporating client feedback for continuous improvement.

• Support business development activities, including the preparation of compelling proposals, leading client presentations, and actively participating in contract negotiations.

• Champion a "Safety by Design" philosophy, ensuring that safety, constructability, and asset operability are paramount throughout the design stages.

• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of industry best practices, emerging technologies, and evolving client standards to continuously enhance design methodologies and outcomes.

• Conduct internal reviews and quality checks of engineering deliverables, including complex designs, technical reports, proposals, presentations, and drawing packages.

• Identify and implement opportunities for design optimization, cost efficiencies, and innovative solutions that add value to AECOM and its clients.

• Proactively pursue new business opportunities, accurately defining project scope, schedule, budget, and exclusions for proposals.

• Mentor and provide technical guidance to junior engineers and team members, supporting their professional development and career progression.

• Represent AECOM professionally and ethically in all interactions, adhering to the company's Code of Conduct.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of technical oversight, project management, client interaction, and team leadership, typical of a senior operations role in an engineering consultancy. The emphasis on specific T&D disciplines and large-scale projects like the Great Grid Partnership indicates a need for specialized domain knowledge.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Degree qualified in Electrical or Power Systems Engineering, or an equivalent engineering