Senior Design Manager Electrical Substations

Laing O'Rourke group; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 70,000 - GBP 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading engineering firm is looking for a Senior Design Manager to join their team in Birmingham. This role will focus on delivering innovative solutions for significant energy infrastructure projects. The ideal candidate will have an electrical engineering background, extensive experience in electrical systems design, and strong leadership skills. You will lead design delivery, develop strategies, and mentor junior talent. Flexibility and diversity are part of the company culture, and they offer opportunities for part-time work.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in electrical systems design, energy, or utilities projects.
• Strong design management capabilities and passion for digital delivery.
• Ability to lead multi-disciplinary design and collaborate with various teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead electrical design across infrastructure projects.
• Develop and align design strategies with technical targets.
• Mentor emerging design talent and support commissioning activities.

Skills

Electrical Engineering

Design Management

Stakeholder Leadership

Innovation

Education

Chartered status or working towards it

Job description

Shape the future of the UK's energy infrastructure – stay connected with opportunities at Laing O'Rourke.

Are you a Senior Design Manager with an electrical engineering background who thrives on complex engineering challenges, collaborative design development and delivering high‑impact infrastructure? If so, we'd love you to join our Talent Community for the Great Grid Upgrade.

We are preparing for continued growth across one of the most significant energy programmes in the UK. By signing up, you'll stay informed about upcoming opportunities to help deliver the projects that will strengthen and modernise the nation's electricity network.

Why join our Talent Community?

• Be first to hear about new Senior Design Manager roles within the Great Grid Upgrade
• Connect with a global engineering business known for innovation, digital excellence and major programmes
• Learn more about how Laing O'Rourke is shaping the UK's low‑carbon future
• Explore opportunities aligned with your skills, experience, and career goals
• Stay engaged until the right role becomes available — without needing to apply immediately

What future roles may involve

As part of our design leadership teams, you may:

• Lead multi‑disciplinary electrical design delivery across complex infrastructure packages
• Develop design strategies and ensure alignment with technical, digital and sustainability targets
• Guide design reviews, risk management, and assurance processes
• Collaborate closely with clients, designers, and construction teams
• Support design‑related construction and commissioning activities
• Mentor and inspire emerging design talent

What we'll be looking for

We're keen to connect with professionals who bring:

• A background in Electrical Engineering
• Chartered status (or working towards it)
• Extensive experience in electrical systems design, major infrastructure, energy, utilities or MEICA‑heavy projects
• Strong design management and stakeholder leadership capabilities
• Passion for innovation, digital delivery and optimised design solutions

Where you'll be based

Most future roles will be based from Birmingham, with a blend of office, design team and project‑site engagement.

Our commitment to Diversity & Inclusion

We're committed to creating an environment where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to thrive. We welcome talent from all backgrounds and experiences, and we are always happy to discuss flexible or part‑time working options.

Register your interest

If you want to be part of a programme that will help power the UK's future, join our Talent Community today. You'll receive updates, insights, and notifications as new opportunities go live.

About Us: Laing O'Rourke are an international engineering and construction company delivering state-of-the-art infrastructure and buildings projects for clients in the UK, Middle East and Australia.

Certainty, reliability, quality – this is what our clients want. And at Laing O'Rourke, we have more than 150 years of experience delivering it. Laing O'Rourke's story is one of energy, passion, ambition, people and teamwork. We harness the power of our experience, stretching back over a century and a half to deliver certainty for our clients.

As part of the Disability Confident scheme, we would like to enable access to candidates with long term conditions and disabilities through the ‘Offer an interview scheme'. This supports applicants that meet the essential criteria by offering an interview for the advertised position. Please let us know if you would like to opt in to this scheme and let us know if you require any adjustments for the interview process.

We want to ensure our recruitment process is accessible to all. If you need the application form in an alternative format or you would like to know more about our recruitment process, please email [e-mail]