Protective Design Engineer (Structural / Blast Engineering) in Manchester

Arup’s purpose, shared values and collaborative approach has set us apart for over 75 years, guiding how we shape a better world.

The Opportunity

Our risk, security and resilience practice has helped organisations to understand their exposure to threats and make better risk-informed decisions since it was formed in the mid-1990s. Our team of experts are trusted advisors to private and public-sector clients, providing strategic risk management, technical risk assessment, operational planning, security engineering and counter-terrorism design measures that suit their business needs. Our team apply their knowledge, critical thinking and experience to help our clients to understand and anticipate what could go wrong, and we help with finding better solutions to ensure that risks are effectively managed and controlled. Our team has consistently delivered high-quality advisory and engineering services to clients across a range of markets and industries, including Rail, Energy, Data Centres, Highways, Healthcare, Property and Scientific research facilities.

You will join Arup as a Consultant working in our protective design engineering team with a focus on sustainable development across a range of market and industries. The types of projects you will be involved range from advisory to engineering solution based blast engineering and hostile vehicle mitigation across a range of project lifecycle stages (such as research & development, feasibility to concept and detailed design).

In this role you will:

• Utilise your knowledge of mainstream structural engineering design practice and develop your understanding of how to model such structures against transient dynamic loading.
• Provide technical input across a broad range of projects across the resilience, security and risk practice.
• Support the preparation of threat and vulnerability risk assessments for malicious threats (including terrorism, crime and civil disruption).
• Develop coherent, risk-based security strategies and integrate protective design and/or blast engineering measures from concept through detailed design to construction.
• Carry out blast modelling using engineering software including computational fluid dynamic modelling and finite element methods.
• Undertake the structural blast engineering design of a wide range of structures in common and novel engineering materials.
• Undertake the façade blast engineering design of a wide range of glazed and non-glazed façade systems.
• Undertake the design of Hostile Vehicle Mitigation measures.

We are seeking talented structural engineers who have a broad knowledge of structural engineering design and an interest in specialising in resilient structural design, to join our team but possibly to be deployed to projects being led from other centres and to further the development of our blast engineering services globally. Arup has one of the most significant protective design teams globally, with teams in London, Manchester, New York, San Francisco, Melbourne and Singapore working together as one global team.

Unlike traditional codified design, blast engineering requires a very different approach to the design but requires a designer’s empathy with regard to aesthetic, form and function of any proposed facility. As such, this is a great opportunity for an existing practitioner to build their professional and tactical position in the industry, or for a talented structural engineer to provide strategic input and undertake first-principles design as traditional forms of mainstream structural engineering design are increasingly being automated and undertaken by code-compliant software.

The successful candidate will be able to confidently and articulately communicate concepts of threat, risk and risk mitigation, supported by our threat specialists, will be able to develop and present conceptual ideas, understand the planning, design and construction process in the development of design solutions in a multi-disciplinary design environment and will be able to manage the detailed analysis, design and specification of structures and façade subject to blast loads. Furthermore, the role will involve the development of Hostile Vehicle Mitigation measures as an essential part of protective design strategies. Experience in blast engineering or a related discipline is desirable but not essential.

You will work closely with design team disciplines both within and outside Arup on a regular basis including architecture, SMEP, façade engineering, transport and logistics, civil and highways engineering, fire engineering and computational structural mechanics. The candidate has an opportunity to gain a breadth of experience from a broad range of projects in a range of geographic locations, including opportunities for travel where desired.

You will undertake the blast engineering design of a variety of projects, and will quickly developing both technical and business-orientated competencies. Our priority is to attract quality staff who have the ability to work in a collaborative, challenging environment, and who show the potential for technical excellence in their field.

The candidate will be based in the Arup London or Manchester offices and travel out of the UK to meet project requirements will be necessary upon occasion.

You will be a Structural Engineer with a strong background in mainstream structural design. You will be working towards chartership with the Institution of Civil Engineers, the Institution of Structural Engineers or an equivalent professional institution. UK Security Clearance (or equivalent in home country) or eligibility to apply for UK Security Clearance is an essential prerequisite. Eligibility requires a background check and usually requires a minimum period of residency in the UK, but is not limited to UK nationals.

We’re seeking candidates with:

• Masters degree in civil/structural engineering with a strong track record in mainstream structural engineering design.
• UK Security Clearance (or equivalent in home country), or eligibility to apply for UK Security Clearance.
• Experience in the design of structures in steel, reinforced concrete, timber and/or masonry in accordance with British Standards and Eurocodes.
• Experience in the use of a structural analysis software packages.
• Coding skills such as Python, JavaScript, C#.
• Ability of using Rhino/Grasshopper.
• An understanding of construction methodologies and consideration of buildability issues within the design process.
• Knowledge of relevant legislation, regulations, codes of practice and guidelines.

What we offer you

At Arup, we care about each member’s success, so we can grow together. Guided by our values, we provide an attractive total reward package that recognises the contribution of each of our members to our shared success. As well as competitive, fair and equitable pay, we offer a career in which all of our members can belong, grow and thrive – through benefits that support health and wellbeing, a wide range of learning opportunities and many possibilities to have an impact through the work they do.

We are owned in trust on behalf of our members, giving us the freedom, with personal responsibility, to set our own direction and choose work that aligns with our purpose and adds to Arup’s legacy. Our members collaborate on ambitious projects to deliver remarkable outcomes for our clients and communities. Profit Share is a key part of our reward, enabling members to share in the results of our collective efforts. We also provide Private medical insurance, Life assurance, Accident insurance and Income protection cover. In addition, you’ll have access to flexible benefits to help you look after all aspects of your wellbeing and give you the freedom and flexibility to find the best solutions for you, your family, and your individual needs.

Different People, Shared Values

Arup is an equal opportunity employer that actively promotes and nurtures a diverse and inclusive workforce. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, regardless of age (within legal limits), gender identity or expression, marital status, disability, neurotype or mental health, race or ethnicity, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, and whether you’re pregnant or on family leave. We are an open environment that embraces diverse experiences, perspectives, and ideas – this drives our excellence. Guided by our values and alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, we create and contribute to equitable spaces and systems, while cultivating a sense of belonging for all. Our internal employee networks support our inclusive culture: from race, ethnicity and cross-cultural working to gender equity and LGBTQ+ and disability inclusion – we aim to create a space for you to express yourself and make a positive difference.

Our Application Process

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Closing date: 21st February 2026