Senior Design Manager

Overview

Senior Design Manager
Salary: £80,000 - £90,000 per annum

Location:

Bristol
Sector Focus:
Defence

• Lead and manage the full design lifecycle from concept through handover, particularly on projects in defence or nuclear, or similarly regulated sectors.
• Oversee internal and external design teams, consultants, and contractors, ensuring high standards of design, timeliness, and compliance.
• Ensure designs meet regulatory requirements, including security, safety, sustainability, and client‑specific standards.
• Collaborate with project delivery, construction and management teams to ensure design integration and constructability.
• Manage risk, design reviews, change control, and approvals process.
• Be a key stakeholder in bid and tender processes, providing robust design input.

• Proven experience in defence or nuclear industry design management, or related sectors with similar complexity and regulation.
• Strong track record managing large, technically demanding design projects.
• Deep understanding of design standards, regulatory & security standards, safety, sustainable design, and the full construction lifecycle.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Degree in relevant discipline (Engineering, Architecture, Building Services, etc.). Chartered status (or working towards) is a plus.

• Work with one of the UK's leading contractors in data, defence & energy.
• Be part of projects that are mission‑critical and high visibility.
• A culture focused on sustainability, innovation, precision, and doing things right.
• Collaborative, people‑focused environment.
• Competitive salary and benefits