Technical Director - Heavy Civil Structures Engineering - National

Apply Your Expertise To One of the Industry's Most Significant Nuclear Portfolios.

The Design & Advanced Technology (D&AT) Practice of AtkinsRéalis is seeking a highly experienced and commercially minded Technical Director - Structural Engineering to play a key role in the continued growth of our Nuclear & Defence business. This is an opportunity to shape the future of critical national infrastructure, leading the delivery of some of the UK's most significant nuclear and defence programmes while helping define the next generation of structural engineering solutions.

The successful candidate will oversee the successful delivery of complex infrastructure programmes while driving the growth of our structural engineering capability. Working closely with our market and technical leadership teams, you will strengthen our position and shape business strategy with key clients including EDF, the Ministry of Defence, Rolls-Royce SMR, CANDU, BAE Systems, and more in the UK and internationally, while identifying and securing new opportunities across the sector.

A key aspect of this role will be providing technical leadership and assurance across a portfolio of heavy civil structures, guiding multidisciplinary teams to deliver complex projects safely, compliantly, and to the highest technical standards. You will also help develop and grow our structural engineering capability, mentoring emerging leaders and ensuring AtkinsRéalis continues to be recognised as a market leader in the delivery of structural engineering solutions for the nuclear and defence sectors.

This opportunity is ideal for a technically accomplished leader with extensive experience on complex heavy civil structures engineering programmes and a strong track record of winning and growing business with key clients. You will be looking to expand your influence within a leadership position that combines technical excellence, client engagement, business growth, and team development.

You'll benefit from:

• Playing a pivotal role in the UK's nuclear renaissance, supporting both nationally significant new build programmes and the deployment of emerging nuclear technologies.
• Working with an industry-leading structural engineering team within a collaborative and highly respected global organisation.
• Expanding your influence through a role that combines technical leadership, client engagement, business growth, and team development.
• Shaping the strategic direction of a growing nuclear and defence business and influencing the future development of our structural engineering capability.
• Building trusted relationships with some of the industry's most influential clients and decision-makers.
• Contributing to some of the most technically challenging and rewarding engineering projects in the UK and internationally.
• Accessing clear pathways for continued career growth, including progression into senior market, director, and business leadership roles.

Being a Technical Director with us involves UK wide travel. We offer hybrid working which involves 3 days per week travel/office based. This position can be based at any of our hub offices of Epsom, London, Bristol, Birmingham, Manchester, or Glasgow. It can also be based from one of our regional offices of Peterborough, Cambridge, Cardiff, Swansea, Derby, Exeter, Leeds, Newcastle, Belfast, or Edinburgh, but may require additional travel to main locations as needed.

As a Technical Director within Atkins Realis, the successful candidate would have the following responsibilities:

• Project Leadership & Technical Governance
  • Provide strategic technical leadership and project oversight across major nuclear and defence programmes, acting as Project Director, Technical Director, or Design Authority as appropriate.
  • Provide technical assurance, quality oversight, and engineering governance across a portfolio of safety-critical projects.
  • Act as the technical authority for structural engineering, guiding multidisciplinary teams and ensuring compliance with client, regulatory, and industry requirements.
• Team Leadership & Capability Growth
  • Provide strategic oversight on resource planning, demand forecasting, and capability development to ensure successful delivery of a growing portfolio of nuclear and defence projects.
  • Lead, mentor, and develop senior structural engineers, building a strong succession pipeline and future technical leaders.
  • Foster a collaborative, high-performing culture that champions technical excellence, innovation, and continuous…