Senior Design Manager (Senior Project Engineer)

CompanyUnited Utilities

LocationWarrington, England, United Kingdom

Posted At3/2/2026

UK Visa Sponsorship Analytics

Analytics are greyed out due to low classification confidence (51.0%).

Occupation Type

Engineering professionals not elsewhere classified.

Occupation Code Skill LevelHigher Skilled

Sponsorship Salary Threshold

£46,100 (£23.64 per hour)

Occupation rate applies

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Description

The role:

As a Senior Design Manager (Senior Project Engineer) within the Water Capital Delivery team, you’ll be responsible for leading & coordinating the design function across multiple high-value, complex capital projects. You’ll provide technical and strategic leadership to ensure designs are safe, efficient, innovative, and fully aligned with regulatory, operational, and sustainability goals. You’ll be a self-driven individual with a focus on your personal development and those under your leadership. You’ll be a key advisor to senior stakeholders and play a crucial role in shaping our approach to design governance and delivery during AMP8 and beyond.

What you’ll do:

Work collaboratively with the project delivery team to jointly deliver project outcomes. The project delivery team could be a mix of internal (Delivery Managers, Discipline Engineers, Project Managers etc) or external (delivery partners, contractors etc) colleagues.
Where required, support the client in developing their brief (requirement statement) and support the project within the identification phase.
Develop and lead the project engineering input to projects throughout the lifecycle of a project, in accordance with approved processes and systems and achieving time, cost, carbon and quality drivers.

Inspire, manage and lead Project Engineers across the Water Capital Delivery programme, undertaking formal line management where required.

Secure resources and manage multi-disciplinary teams across the matrix organisation.

Maintain a focus on your own personal development and the development of your team.

Develop and maintain proactive empathetic enduring relationships and creating a healthy, inclusive and diverse environment for their team to flourish.

Engage with consultants, specialists and contractors throughout the project lifecycle.

Help champion the project within the business and from time to time represent the business externally.

Positively support and lead new ways of working within your area, and wider across the community where the opportunity arises.

Building and maintain relationships with key internal and external stakeholders.

Deputise for the Engineering Manager (EM) on occasions.

Carry out project reviews, recommending and taking action as appropriate, reporting at an appropriate frequency.

Responsible for writing contract documentation or other technical reports and acting as the single point of contact for technical input throughout the project lifecycle.

Manage the project budget including writing and presenting business cases at corporate governance gateways

Proactively manage project risks and opportunities, including escalation and management of issues outside of your control.

Act as the Principal Designer under CDM, where required.

What we’re looking for:

Significant post graduate experience and professionally qualified (degree or equivalent).
Member of Association for Project Management (APM) or an Engineering Institution and tangible evidence of working towards professional registration (Chartered Project Professional, Chartered Engineer, etc).
Proven experience of leading complex projects in a project engineering/management role, including the ability to integrate input from different technical areas and other departments.
Proven communication skills with an ability to engage with stakeholders and colleagues to develop solutions to complex problems.
Proven experience of project management.
Proven experience of risk management.
Demonstrable experience of commercial / contract management.
Proven experience of conflict management.

Proven ability to manage budget and direct project controls.

Proven application of innovation, particularly with emerging technologies and/or environmental solutions

Proven experience of health, safety and well-being relating to the delivery of projects (e.g. CDM Principal Designer or Client roles)

Ability to think more strategically about how problems are solved; working collaboratively across different directorates at UU

What we offer:

A generous annual leave package of 26 days, which increases to 30 days after four years of service, in addition to 8 bank holidays
A competitive pension scheme with up to 14% employer contribution, 21% combined, and life cover
A 20% performance-related bonus scheme, as well as recognition awards for outstanding achievements
A £5,000 car allowance to support your travel needs
A comprehensive healthcare plan through our company-funded scheme
Flexible and hybrid working

About United Utilities:

United Utilities’ (UU) mission is to deliver high-quality water for a stronger, greener and healthier North West of England. We are committed to providing our services in a way that respects the environment, supports the economy, and benefits society. We are proud to be ranked #11 in The Inclusive Top 50 UK Employers List. We value diversity, inclusion and innovation in our workplace, and we foster a culture where our people can grow, excel, and be themselves.

We uphold our ethics, values and business model to fulfil our mission and, by setting clear goals and objectives, we create sustainable long-term value for our colleagues, customers and communities. Whether you work with a team that shares your vision or join a network of peers with similar interests, you will find a welcoming and supportive organisation to be part of.

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