Senior Structural Engineer – Structures – Highways Infrastructure

About the Role

This is a rare and exciting opportunity to play a senior role on one of the UK’s most significant highways infrastructure programmes. As a Senior Structural Engineer, you’ll be at the heart of the M25 DBFO project—an asset with over 15 years remaining, offering long‑term stability alongside continuous professional challenge and development.

In this role, you’ll provide technical leadership and oversight across the assessment, review and design of complex highway structures, including bridges, culverts, tunnels, retaining walls and associated assets. Working closely with Framework Consultants, you’ll guide and assure the delivery of strengthening and improvement schemes, ensuring designs are cost‑effective, robust and aligned to agreed standards and stakeholder requirements.

Beyond technical excellence, this role offers real scope to lead, influence and grow. You’ll manage and mentor engineers within the structures design team, coordinate closely with asset, project management and construction teams, and work in partnership with National Highways and Connect Plus to deliver outcomes safely, efficiently and to programme.

With exposure to a broad portfolio of live and evolving projects across the M25 network, no two days will be the same. You’ll have the opportunity to shape long‑term asset strategies, drive continuous improvement, and see your work make a lasting impact on one of the country’s most critical transport corridors.

If you’re looking for a role that combines technical challenge, leadership responsibility, career progression and long‑term security, all within a collaborative and forward‑thinking environment, this position offers it all.

Your Role

• Monitor, review and check deliverables from external designers to ensure that designs are complete and compliant prior to submission to National Highways through the Review Process.
• Manage external framework design suppliers to deliver agreed outcomes, scope, on time and to budget.
• Lead Substandard Structures (bridges and viaducts) structural assessments and strengthening schemes. Prioritise structures for assessment, supervise the assessment process, lead strengthening scheme design, and present and report progress to the Client.
• Assist the wider Design Team in various highways improvement schemes.
• Manage internal design resources within the Design Team to deliver agreed outcomes, scope, on time and to budget.
• Lead and supervise the in‑house design of selected structural packages.
• Undertake and manage optioneering and feasibility studies for design solutions, including preparation of whole‑life costing.
• Prepare and review contract documentation.
• Work with the Connect Plus Services (CPS) Asset Team to agree achievable Asset Management Forward Plans.
• Develop and agree briefs with design teams and design suppliers, covering scope, budget and programme, and obtain approval from the Asset Head.
• Prepare and submit instructions to design suppliers.
• Manage and advise on the Design Review and Certification process in accordance with the DBFO contract.
• Ensure all designs meet the quality standards required by the DBFO contract and CPS internal standards.
• Work with the Project Manager to lead internal gateway reviews during the design phase, ensuring timely reviews and appropriate sign‑off at each gateway.
• Provide professional and technical leadership and mentoring in structural engineering.
• Manage design team and supplier costs and budgets, including reviewing supplier invoices for payment when required.
• Liaise with National Highways and DN on structural technical issues and submissions.
• Liaise internally with other teams within Connect Plus (CP) and CPS as required.
• Liaise with statutory bodies and authorities as required, including Highway Authorities, Planning Authorities and statutory undertakers.
• Report to the Project Manager on performance against budget and programme.
• Lead innovation and continual improvement in the delivery of schemes and design and construction techniques.
• Support the development of in‑house design capability and the continuous improvement of processes and deliverables.
• Ensure that learning and best practice from projects is captured and shared across the business.
• Deputise for the Line Manager as required.
• Manage and support the design of related schemes, including highways improvement schemes.
• Live the Connect Plus Services Values.
• Maintain a relentless focus on Zero Harm and Safety by Design.
• Ensure Principal Designer duties under CDM are fulfilled, including delegated responsibilities.
• Support delivery of the business’s sustainability activities.
• Attend relevant community forums to represent the Engineering Design Team.

About You

Essential Qualifications, Skills and Experience

• Relevant vocational qualifications (MEng, MSc, BEng, BSc, HNC or HND).
• 30 hours of CPD completed in the last 12 months, including 20 hours related to structures, bridges or highway engineering.
• Competent in structural (bridge) design and assessment.
• Knowledge of CDM and other health and safety legislation.
• Competent in exercising the Designer’s duties and the Principal Designer duties under CDM.
• Broad understanding of the environmental requirements of highway schemes.
• Broad knowledge of Quality Management and Integrated Management Systems (IMS).
• Excellent IT skills relevant to civil engineering design; proficiency in Microsoft Office is essential.
• Knowledge of design and assessment standards relevant to structures (DMRB, MCHW, Eurocodes, etc.).
• Knowledge of structural design analysis.

Good to Have

• Membership of an appropriate professional institution (ICE, IStructE or IHT).
• Alternatively, registration with the Engineering Council while working towards IEng or CEng status, or holding relevant experience with the intention to obtain IEng/CEng within 12 months of appointment.
• Experience in highway structures.
• Asset Management experience.
• Knowledge of National Highways approvals procedures.
• Relevant experience operating at a senior level.
• Experience leading a design team, managing a design portfolio and coordinating interfaces with other disciplines.
• Appropriate CSCS card registration.
• Knowledge of computer design applications.
• Experience consulting with National Highways, Local Councils, Emergency Services and key stakeholders.
• Broad skills, knowledge and understanding of other highway‑related design areas.
• Knowledge of the Traffic Signs Manual Chapter 8.
• Licensed to drive in the UK or hold a reciprocal driving agreement.

Personal Attributes

• Good communication skills.
• Project management and team‑building skills.
• Ability to develop strong relationships and engender trust at all levels of the Connect Plus Services organisation and with Clients.

Behavioural Competencies

• Results Driven: Demonstrates a passion and excitement for their work. Tackles problems head‑on and works to resolve them without delay.
• Focus on Excellence: Willing to go the extra mile to exceed expectations. Continually seeks ways to add value and improve performance.
• Teamwork and Collaboration: Puts aside personal agendas to work for the benefit of customers, suppliers and other stakeholders. Proactively builds knowledge by sharing ideas and expertise with others.
• Customer Focus: Dedicated to meeting the expectations and requirements of internal and external customers. Actively gathers customer feedback and uses it to improve services and solutions, ensuring positive relationships are established and maintained.
• Operational Excellence: Plans and organises work to safely achieve maximum efficiency and output, delivering results consistently.
• Adaptability: Learns quickly and responds positively to changing business and customer demands. Energised by change, with the ability to multi‑task and prioritise effectively.