Design Manager - Water

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Design Manager - Water

Company: AtkinsRéalis

Location: Peterborough, United Kingdom (with flexibility for Cambridge, London, Epsom)

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Engineering & Design Operations (Water Infrastructure)

Date Posted: May 28, 2026

Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (Implied 5-10 years)

Remote Status: Hybrid (3 days office/site based)

🚀 Role Summary

• Spearhead the technical design delivery for complex water infrastructure projects within the Design & Advanced Technology (D&AT) Practice, focusing on clients like Thames Water and Anglian Water.

• Lead and manage multi-disciplinary engineering teams, ensuring the production of high-quality technical deliverables that adhere to national and project-specific design codes and industry best practices.

• Drive the technical input for intricate projects, collaborating closely with project management to ensure successful delivery within established timeframes and budgets.

• Foster a collaborative environment by mentoring less experienced engineers and contributing to the growth of the local engineering capabilities.

• Uphold stringent quality assurance standards in design, including thorough checking and review processes for both personal and team-generated work.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned within the Design & Advanced Technology (D&AT) Practice, indicating a focus on innovation and cutting-edge solutions within the water sector. The emphasis on client interaction and project lifecycle delivery suggests a strategic operational role rather than purely technical execution. The requirement for independent work and problem-solving points towards a senior individual contributor or team lead who can operate with significant autonomy.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Coordinate and manage engineering teams in the delivery of technical design work for multi-disciplinary water infrastructure projects, including hydraulics, wastewater, clean water, water reuse, and pipelines.

• Oversee and review the production of technical deliverables such as design reports, calculations, drawings, and scopes of work, ensuring consistency and adherence to quality standards.

• Drive the technical design input for complex multi-disciplinary projects, working with project management to manage timelines, budgets, and key project milestones.

• Collaborate effectively with clients, operational teams, project managers, and other AtkinsRéalis teams to deliver integrated design solutions.

• Provide mentorship and guidance to junior engineers, contributing to their professional development and enhancing the overall engineering capabilities within the local team.

• Independently solve complex design problems with minimal guidance, exercising sound judgment and providing direction to junior team members.

• Contribute technical expertise and delivery support to bid proposals, assisting in securing new project opportunities.

• Work collaboratively with UK and overseas multi-disciplinary teams to deliver integrated and innovative design solutions for critical UK infrastructure.

• Implement and adhere to quality assurance standards in all design activities, including rigorous checking and review of design work.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of technical leadership, project management support, and team development. The emphasis on "driving the technical input" and "coordinating or managing a team" suggests a senior role with accountability for design outcomes and team performance, crucial for effective revenue operations in project delivery.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• A Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering or an equivalent qualification.

Experience:

• Proven experience in coordinating or managing an engineering design delivery team within a design consultancy.

• Demonstrated ability to deliver projects across the full project lifecycle, including collaboration with contractors and multi-disciplinary environments.

Required Skills:

• Strong knowledge and practical experience in water infrastructure design and delivery, including hydraulics, wastewater, and clean water systems.

• Practical knowledge of current design codes and standards (e.g., CDM Regulations, Eurocodes, water utility standards).

• Experience with contract management principles, such as NEC.

• Ability to work independently with minimal guidance and exercise personal judgment to solve difficult problems.

• Proficiency in applicable analytical software and related tools such as AutoCAD, CDE (Common Data Environment), MS Office Suite, and Power BI.

• Strong communication skills for conveying technical concepts clearly to diverse multi-disciplinary teams.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience within the Water market is highly preferred.

• Familiarity with MEICA (Mechanical, Electrical, Instrumentation, Control, and Automation), structures, and geotechnics disciplines involved in water infrastructure projects.

📝 Enhancement Note: The qualifications emphasize a strong technical foundation in Civil Engineering with specific experience in water infrastructure. The inclusion of "commercial awareness" and "NEC" contract knowledge points to the operational aspects of managing design delivery, aligning with GTM and revenue enablement through efficient project execution. Proficiency in tools like Power BI suggests a data-informed approach to design management.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrated examples of successfully managed engineering design delivery teams for water infrastructure projects, showcasing team coordination and output.

• Case studies illustrating the application of risk assessment, quality control, and change management processes in design projects.

• Evidence of technical contribution to bid proposals, including scope definition and technical solution articulation.

Process Documentation:

• Examples of design process workflows developed or optimized for water infrastructure projects.

• Documentation highlighting the implementation of quality assurance checks and review procedures for technical deliverables.

• Case studies demonstrating the integration of design activities with project management for effective time and budget control.

• Evidence of adapting to and applying relevant design codes, standards, and regulatory requirements (e.g., CDM Regulations, Eurocodes).

📝 Enhancement Note: While not explicitly stated as a "portfolio requirement," the nature of the role implies that candidates will need to demonstrate their capabilities through past project experience. This section infers the types of evidence that would be most compelling for a Design Manager role in operations, focusing on process, team management, and delivery outcomes.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Estimated Range: £55,000 - £75,000 per annum.

• Methodology: This estimate