Senior Associate Director - Bridges & Structures

At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting-edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good.

Your impact

You will help shape how complex bridges and structures are designed, assessed and delivered across major UK and international infrastructure programmes.

Your technical judgement will influence decisions that affect safety, resilience, sustainability, buildability and long-term asset performance. You will help clients solve demanding structural engineering problems while supporting engineering teams to produce consistently high-quality work.

You will also have the opportunity to improve how projects are delivered. By applying digital tools, greater standardisation and leaner design processes, you will help reduce repetition, improve productivity and give engineers more time to focus on the decisions where their expertise adds the greatest value.

Whether your strengths are in technical leadership, project delivery, team development or a combination of these areas, you will bring experience that strengthens the team, builds client confidence and improves project outcomes.

You will join Jacobs’ Bridges and Structures capability within its wider Transportation business, working across highways, rail, aviation, energy and power. The team supports technically complex UK and international programmes for clients including High Speed 2, National Highways, Network Rail, the Welsh Government, national contractors and local authorities. You will contribute across the project lifecycle, including structural analysis, feasibility, tender development, preliminary and detailed design, contract documentation and technical reporting.

You will lead and support multidisciplinary teams, coordinate with colleagues across the UK, Europe and Jacobs’ global delivery network, and build trusted relationships with clients. You will also help introduce practical digital, automated and standardised approaches that improve quality and efficiency. Success will mean delivering technically robust and sustainable structural solutions, developing capable engineering teams and helping clients make informed decisions on complex infrastructure challenges.

Here’s what you’ll need

We are open to candidates whose strengths are primarily in technical leadership, project or discipline management, or a combination of these areas. You do not need to demonstrate an identical balance across every aspect of the role.

• Substantial experience in bridge or structural engineering within infrastructure, transportation or a closely related environment.
• Strong technical design, project leadership or discipline management capability relevant to bridges and structures.
• Experience contributing to the delivery of structural engineering projects through one or more key stages, such as feasibility, tender, preliminary design, detailed design, assessment or renewal.
• The ability to make sound engineering decisions and communicate technical risks, options and recommendations clearly.
• Experience coordinating with clients, engineering disciplines and project stakeholders to deliver integrated solutions.
• A relevant civil or structural engineering qualification, or equivalent technical competence developed through substantial professional experience.

You will contribute to bridges and structures across several sectors, including highways, rail, aviation, energy and power. This provides broader technical exposure than a role limited to one asset type or market.