Lead Highways & Public Realm Design Engineer

Lead Highways & Public Realm Design Engineer

London (Hybrid – 2 days WFH)

My client is a global engineering and professional services consultancy working across water, energy, and urbanisation.

They are seeking a Lead Engineer to join their Place & Movement team in London. The team delivers a wide range of highways, transport, and public realm projects across both public and private sector clients, supporting schemes from concept through to detailed design and construction, as well as transport-related input across wider multidisciplinary projects.

This is a senior role for someone with 12+ years’ experience, strong technical capability in public realm and transport design, and the ability to lead projects proactively from delivery through to completion. Strong communication skills and confidence working with clients, architects, and planners are essential.

The role offers a strong platform for progression, with responsibility for leading projects, supporting business growth, and mentoring junior team members within a collaborative and well-supported environment.

 

Key Responsibilities

• Lead delivery of urban highways, transport infrastructure, and public realm projects
• Manage project teams and oversee technical output across multiple disciplines
• Resolve complex engineering challenges across multi-disciplinary schemes
• Produce and oversee high-quality designs from concept through to detailed design in line with relevant standards and client requirements
• Coordinate closely with other design disciplines to ensure integrated and consistent design solutions
• Manage client relationships and provide technical advice to both internal teams and external stakeholders
• Support and mentor junior engineers and contribute to team development
• Assist in preparing bids and supporting business development activities
• Attend site visits for surveys, stakeholder coordination, and construction-stage support
• Ensure delivery within agreed budgets, timescales, and quality standards
• Stay up to date with evolving design standards, guidance, and best practice
• Ensure compliance with internal quality assurance processes

 

Requirements

Qualifications

• Degree in Civil Engineering (preferred) or a closely related discipline
• Postgraduate qualification or MBA is advantageous but not essential

 

Essential Experience & Skills

Strong technical background in several of the following areas:

• Public realm and streetscape design
• Cycle infrastructure design
• Bus priority schemes
• Junction and highway layout design
• Drainage coordination within highway schemes
• Section 278 works and highway agreements
• Road safety schemes
• Parking layout design and management
• Utility coordination and diversion works
• Hostile Vehicle Mitigation (HVM) design

Additional requirements:

• Strong understanding of UK highway design standards, including Transport for London guidance where applicable
• Experience producing Bills of Quantities
• Solid knowledge of highway construction methods, materials, and specifications
• Proficiency in AutoCAD and related tools (e.g., Civil 3D, signage and road marking design software)
• Strong Microsoft Office skills
• Proven experience in winning or contributing to successful bids
• Strong client-facing and relationship management skills
• Ability to communicate complex technical information clearly to non-technical audiences
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• Leadership capability with experience mentoring junior staff
• Positive, proactive, and collaborative mindset

 

Desirable

• Postgraduate qualification in transport, highways, or a related field
• Site supervision or construction-phase experience
• Experience using OpenRoads or similar design platforms