Project Engineer (Design Manager - Airfield Civils)

Our client is supporting the delivery of a major capital investment programme at one of the UK's busiest airports and is seeking an experienced Project Engineer / Design Manager to join a long-term aviation infrastructure programme. The role offers a hybrid working option with 3 days per week on-site and has been deemed inside IR35.

This is a client-side role focused on the management and assurance of civil engineering design across a range of airfield projects including runways, taxiways, aprons, pavements, drainage, utility diversions, and associated infrastructure. Despite the title, the role is less hands-on engineering design and more focused on design management, consultant coordination, and technical assurance.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and manage the design development of airfield and civil infrastructure projects within a live operational airport environment.
• Act as the client-side technical lead and design authority for civil engineering schemes.
• Develop project scopes, technical requirements, and design briefs aligned to programme objectives.
• Manage external engineering consultants, ensuring timely delivery of high-quality design outputs.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary design teams across civil, structural, drainage, utilities, pavement, lighting, and airfield systems disciplines.
• Oversee design reviews, design assurance processes, and technical governance approvals.
• Ensure compliance with relevant aviation, airport, construction, and engineering standards.
• Manage design interfaces between operational stakeholders, contractors, and consultant teams.

Ideal Background:

We are particularly interested in candidates who have delivered civil engineering projects within:

• Airports and airfield infrastructure
• Aviation capital programmes
• Highways and major transportation projects
• Defence or military airfields
• Complex operational environments where maintaining business continuity is critical

Experience Required:

• Degree qualified in Civil Engineering or a related engineering discipline.
• Strong experience in design management, project engineering or technical delivery of infrastructure projects.
• Experience managing external design consultants and multidisciplinary design teams.
• Understanding of airfield civils, pavements, drainage, utilities, and infrastructure design.
• Knowledge of aviation standards and operational constraints within live airport environments would be highly advantageous.
• Experience delivering projects through concept, detailed design, and construction phases.
• Familiarity with NEC3 or NEC4 contracts.
• Strong understanding of CDM Regulations and design risk management.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Chartered or working towards Chartered status (ICE or equivalent) desirable.

If you are an experienced Project Engineer / Design Manager looking for a new opportunity to further develop your career in a challenging and dynamic environment, we would love to hear from you. Apply now to join our client's aviation infrastructure programme and play a key role in the transformation of a major UK airport.