Deputy Design Manager - Mechanical - Science & Research

Help Deliver a Next‑Generation R&D Campus

Laing O'Rourke is supporting the creation of a world‑class research and technology environment at the
Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT) in Oxford -a highly collaborative campus blending laboratories, teaching spaces, clinical/innovation suites, and advanced workplace environments.

We're seeking a
Deputy Design Manager with an Mechanical Engineering background
to drive coordination and assurance across complex MEP systems and specialist lab infrastructure. If you're an experienced electrical engineer (or early‑stage design manager) ready to step into broader design leadership on a flagship UK science & technology project, this is your platform.

• Lead the coordination and review of electrical and MEP design packages for
  buildability, compliance, maintainability, and safety
  .
• Integrate specialist requirements typical of
  laboratories and research facilities (e.g., resilient power, life‑safety systems, containment, structured cabling/data, UPS/backup, controls integration).
• Track client, statutory, and contractual requirements and maintain robust
  design assurance
  records.

• Develop design programmes, dependencies, and reporting—keeping multidisciplinary teams aligned to key milestones.
• Chair or contribute to
  design reviews, technical workshops, and
  interface meetings
  (architectural, structural, MEP, specialist vendors).
• Support onsite delivery: respond to
  technical queries (TQ/RFI), collaborate on
  QA
  , and enable
  commissioning and handover
  .

• Contribute to
  risk and opportunity
  management for electrical and integrated building systems.
• Ensure alignment with
  statutory compliance
  and external assurance (e.g., Building Regulations, British Standards, HTMs/ISO where applicable).
• Evidence compliance with
  Laing O'Rourke governance
  , procedures, and digital tools.

• Partner with the Design Manager to drive project‑wide design strategy.
• Coach and support
  apprentices/trainees/graduate
  design managers and foster a collaborative culture with consultants and specialist supply chain partners.

• Degree in Mechanical Engineering
  (or closely related discipline).
• Chartered
  or
  working towards chartership
  with a recognised professional body.

• Multidisciplinary design coordination experience; comfortable working with consultants and specialist subcontractors.
• Exposure to
  science/technology/healthcare
  or other complex building types is beneficial.
• Strong communicator who enjoys problem‑solving, structured planning, and stakeholder engagement.
• Digital‑first mindset; comfortable using modern design management and
  BIM‑enabled
  workflows.
• Commitment to
  safety, sustainability,and delivering high‑performance, future‑ready buildings.

• Impact:Help deliver a cutting‑edge environment that accelerates research, teaching, and innovation.
• Growth:Step beyond single‑discipline engineering into
  end‑to‑end design leadership
  on a landmark UK project.
• Culture:A supportive team that values collaboration, innovation, continuous learning, and high performance.
• Flexibility:Hybrid working with time split across
  Oxford site offices
  and other LOR locations as needed.

Apply now and help us shape a transformative science & technology campus in Oxford.

If you need the application form in an alternative format or you would like to know more about our recruitment process, please email re

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