Associate Director – Lead Contractor Design Approval Engineer

Job Description Overview

Let's secure the future of energy. AtkinsRéalis specialises in all aspects of Transmission and Distribution engineering within the UK and internationally. We provide industry-leading design and engineering solutions across the Transmission and Distribution sector, including substations, overhead lines, underground and subsea cable systems, offshore wind, solar, BESS and HVDC interconnectors. We are seeking Lead Contractor Design Approval Engineers (LCDAEs) with the competence, judgement and experience to provide formal design approval in accordance with National Grid procedures, relevant technical standards and UK Construction (Design and Management) Regulations.

Become part of a team where every voice matters, and together we can tackle our clients’ toughest challenges. We foster a diverse and inclusive environment where world-class talent thrives without boundaries. For us, collaboration is not a buzzword. We value the different perspectives our people bring and recognise everyone for their contributions equally. We also know that different people have different priorities, which is why we’re here to support you with whatever you need.

We offer hybrid working, which involves travel/office-based working 3 days per week. This position can be based at any of our key locations:
Epsom, London, Bristol, Leeds, Birmingham, Manchester, or Glasgow. Other locations will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

You will provide senior technical leadership and independent design assurance on Transmission and Distribution projects, acting as LCDAE for nominated schemes, disciplines or asset areas. You will confirm that design deliverables are properly developed, checked, reviewed and approved in line with National Grid procedures, relevant standards, CDM Regulations and AtkinsRéalis governance requirements.

• Act as LCDAE for allocated projects, providing assurance that designs are developed, checked and reviewed by competent persons and comply with applicable National Grid procedures, AtkinsRéalis engineering standards, safety legislation and project governance arrangements.
• Lead or contribute to interdisciplinary design reviews, hazard reviews, technical risk reviews and approval meetings, ensuring decisions, assumptions, departures, concessions and residual risks are recorded and closed out.
• Review and approve key deliverables, including calculations, specifications, drawings, design risk assessments, technical submissions and assurance evidence.
• Ensure design risks are identified, assessed, mitigated and communicated in accordance with CDM Regulations, demonstrating how hazards have been eliminated, reduced or controlled.
• Work collaboratively with project managers, design managers, CDAEs, engineers, construction teams, clients, asset owners, suppliers and other stakeholders to resolve technical issues and support timely design acceptance.
• Provide clear technical direction, assurance comments and approval conditions, ensuring comments are proportionate, traceable and closed out before design release or construction implementation.
• Support continuous improvement of design assurance processes, approval workflows, technical standards and quality arrangements across the practice.
• Mentor CDAEs, design engineers and reviewers, strengthening technical capability, assurance consistency and succession planning for approval roles.
• Act as a senior point of escalation for complex design assurance matters, supporting safe, compliant and commercially balanced outcomes.

You will bring recognised technical authority, sound engineering judgement and demonstrable competence to act as an LCDAE on complex Transmission and Distribution projects. You will be…