Senior Protective Design Engineer 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, aviation.

You will be deployed to projects 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 move up the food chain, 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.

You will:

• Provide technical input across a broad range of projects across the resilience, security and risk practice.
• Assist in 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 structural blast engineering design of a wide range of structures in common and novel engineering materials; façade blast engineering design of a wide range of glazed and non-glazed façade systems; design of hostile vehicle mitigation measures.
• Prepare and deliver design documentation and specifications.
• Take a role in the growth of the resilience, security and risk business locally and globally, including client relationship management and identifying and developing new business opportunities.

At Arup, you belong to an extraordinary collective – in which we encourage individuality to thrive. Our strength comes from how we respect, share and connect our diverse experiences, perspectives and ideas. You will have the opportunity to do socially useful work that has meaning – to Arup, to your career, to our members and to the clients and communities we serve.

Is this role right for you?

We’re looking for candidates who:

• Hold a degree in civil/structural engineering with a strong track record in mainstream structural engineering design.
• Are chartered (or close to obtaining chartered status) structural engineers with a broad knowledge of structural engineering design and an interest in specialising in resilient structural design.
• Eligible for a UK Security Clearance. Eligibility requires a background check and usually requires a minimum period of residency in the UK.
• Experience in the design of structures in steel, reinforced concrete, timber and/or masonry in accordance with British Standards and Eurocodes, blast design according to UFC or PDC.
• Experience in the use of structural analysis software packages.

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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Recruitment Agencies - We have a Preferred Supplier List of trusted partners to assist us when required and do not acknowledge any speculative CVs or unsolicited candidate introductions from agencies not on the list.

Closing date: 5th February 2026