Role Overview
The Head of Detailed Design is responsible for leading, managing and coordinating all detailed design activities across Civil, Mechanical, Electrical and ICA disciplines within projects undertaken by Bridges through a well established team of circa 30 engineers/designers located mainly at our head office but also throughout our network of regional locations.
The role ensures that detailed designs are technically robust, compliant with client and regulatory standards, inherently safe, and deliverable within programme, cost and quality constraints. The post holder acts as the technical authority during the detailed design phase, leading multidisciplinary teams and ensuring effective integration between MEICA and civil/structural design elements.
Key Responsibilities
Design Leadership & Delivery
- Lead the development of detailed design phase and fabrication level designs.
- Ensure all designs meet client specifications, regulatory requirements, and industry standards (e.g. Water Company asset standards, DWI, Environment Agency, legislation, etc).
- Oversee the production, review, and approval of detailed design deliverables including drawings, risk assessments, specifications, calculations, schedules, and design reports.
- Ensure effective integration and coordination between Mechanical, Electrical, ICA and Civil/Structural designs.
- Drive “right‑first‑time” design delivery, minimising rework, technical risk, and downstream construction issues.
- Support good business wide team communication, client relationships, and support Principal Design and Principal Contractor accountabilities shared in the team.
Technical Governance
- Act as the technical authority for Civil, Structural and MEICA detailed design decisions.
- Ensure compliance with relevant standards, including but not limited to:
- Bridges own strategies and workflows (The Bridges Way)
- British Standards (BS), IEC and ISO standards
- Client asset standards and specifications
- Legislation
- Review and approve design documentation, technical calculations, and design risk registers.
- Lead and manage design risk activities including HAZID, HAZOP, ALM reviews, constructability reviews, and value engineering workshops.
- Ensure lessons learned and best practice are captured and embedded into future designs.
Team & Resource Management
- Lead and manage multidisciplinary engineering teams, including civil, mechanical, electrical and ICA engineers, designers and technicians.
- Plan and allocate design resources to meet programme milestones and project priorities.
- Understand workflows and implement methodologies to reduce 'bottlenecks' throughout the detailed design life cycle.
- Provide technical leadership, mentoring and coaching to design staff, supporting competence development and succession planning.
- Foster a collaborative, high‑performance and safety‑led design culture.
Stakeholder & Client Engagement
- Act as a primary technical interface with clients, delivery teams, contractors, and supply chain partners during the detailed design phase.
- Lead and participate in design reviews, technical workshops, and client meetings.
- Provide technical support during procurement, construction and commissioning phases as required.
- Build and maintain strong, transparent working relationships aligned with framework and business values.
Programme & Commercial Awareness
- Ensure detailed designs are delivered in line with agreed programmes and budgets.
- Support cost estimation activities, procurement strategies and tender evaluations through design input and technical clarification.
- Identify opportunities for efficiency, standardisation, innovation, and whole‑life cost savings within designs.
- Proactively manage design changes, ensuring impacts on cost, programme and risk are understood and controlled.
Discipline‑Specific Oversight
Mechanical
- Pumping systems, pipework, valves, and process/treatment equipment
- Equipment sizing, layout development, and hydraulic design considerations
- Optimisation of layouts for constructability, maintainability, and operability
- Structural analysis, calculations, and buildability
Electrical
- LV and MV power distribution systems
- Motor Control Centres (MCCs), standby generation, and power resilience
- Earthing, lightning protection and hazardous area compliance
ICA (Instrumentation, Control & Automation)
- SCADA systems and telemetry integration
- PLC and HMI design, control philosophies, and system architectures
- Instrument selection, control strategies, data management, and cyber considerations
Health, Safety & Compliance
- Ensure compliance with CDM Regulations and relevant health, safety, and environmental legislation.
- Embed Safety in Design (SiD) principles throughout all stages of detailed design.
- Lead design risk identification and mitigation, ensuring hazards are eliminated or reduced so far as reasonably practicable.
- Promote and demonstrate strong safety leadership behaviours across the design function.
Success Measures
- Delivery of compliant, high‑quality and buildable detailed designs
- Adherence to programme and budget targets
- Effective performance, development and retention of design staff
- Positive client feedback and successful project outcomes
At Bridges we are more than Engineers.
We are listed on the Sunday Times Top 100 Places to Work 2024.
As a team we shape and support engineering and construction for our clients who in turn touch the daily lives of millions of people across the UK. We have a large diverse team of talented Safe & Happy People, combining their strengths and ambition to bring innovation and evolution which ensures Sustainability for all stakeholders.
Across our key sectors – Water, Power, Energy and Aggregates, and supported through our regional office network supported by our manufacturing hub located in the heart of Somerset which forms part of our 60,000ft head office complex – we deliver diverse and interesting projects and programmes throughout UK infrastructure.
Our projects range in value from £5k to £15m, taking the role of Principal Contractor and Principal Designer on various schemes, and supporting our valued Tier 1 contractor clients in a subcontractor and off-site manufacturing capacity.
Requirements
Key Skills & Experience
- Proven experience delivering Civil/MEICA detailed design within the UK water or utilities sector.
- Strong understanding of water and wastewater treatment processes and infrastructure.
- Demonstrable experience managing and coordinating multidisciplinary design teams.
- Working knowledge of UK regulatory frameworks, CDM and water company standards.
- Strong leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
Qualifications
- Degree, or equivalent experience, in Mechanical, Electrical, Control Engineering or a related discipline.
- Chartered Engineer status (e.g. IMechE, IET) or actively working towards chartership.
- Relevant professional memberships.
Desirable
- Experience working on UK water AMP programmes.
- Knowledge and application of BIM and digital engineering tools.
- Experience working under NEC forms of contract.
Benefits
BENEFITS OF WORKING FOR BRIDGES
RoSPA Gold Medal winner, Bridges - is an excellent company to work for and a great place to develop your career. Our goal is to exceed the very highest standards and ensure our people work in a culture of health, safety and well-being.
We are currently holders of the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award, which reinforces our commitment to supporting the armed forces community.
We are a family-run business with a friendly and welcoming culture, and we are dedicated to helping our employees learn, develop, and achieve success - along with us and throughout their careers.
Bridges also offers an excellent benefits package:
- Competitive salaries
- Company car/car allowance
- Health cash plan with Healthshield
- Standard Life Pension Scheme - 5% company contribution
- Life Assurance Scheme
- Employee Discount Scheme
- Bike 2 Work scheme
- Training and development opportunities
- Employee referral scheme - £1,000 if you successfully introduce someone
- Employee recognition schemes
- Enhanced Maternity and Paternity pay
When you join us, you’ll be part of our exciting journey.
Wherever your journey begins with us, through mutual engagement, we’ll make sure you are supported and invested in. We believe in ‘team bridges’ and leadership at all levels with our guiding principles: Safe People, Happy People, Sustainable Business.
Come and be part of our team!
Bridges is an equal-opportunity employer and is committed to ensuring equality and diversity within the workplace
