Technical Director - Heavy Civil Structures Engineering (flexible across various locations in UK) in Manchester

Overview

Apply Your Expertise To One of the Industry's Most Significant Nuclear Portfolios. The Design & Advanced Technology (D&AT) Practice of AtkinsRéalis is seeking a highly experienced and commercially minded Technical Director - Structural Engineering to play a key role in the continued growth of our Nuclear & Defence business. This is an opportunity to shape the future of critical national infrastructure, leading the delivery of some of the UK's most significant nuclear and defence programmes while helping define the next generation of structural engineering solutions.

The successful candidate will oversee the successful delivery of complex infrastructure programmes while driving the growth of our structural engineering capability. Working closely with our market and technical leadership teams, you will strengthen our position and shape business strategy with key clients including EDF, the Ministry of Defence, Rolls-Royce SMR, CANDU, BAE Systems, and more in the UK and internationally, while identifying and securing new opportunities across the sector.

A key aspect of this role will be providing technical leadership and assurance across a portfolio of heavy civil structures, guiding multidisciplinary teams to deliver complex projects safely, compliantly, and to the highest technical standards. You will also help develop and grow our structural engineering capability, mentoring emerging leaders and ensuring AtkinsRéalis continues to be recognised as a market leader in the delivery of structural engineering solutions for the nuclear and defence sectors.

This opportunity is ideal for a technically accomplished leader with extensive experience on complex heavy civil structures engineering programmes and a strong track record of winning and growing business with key clients. You will be looking to expand your influence within a leadership position that combines technical excellence, client engagement, business growth, and team development.

You’ll benefit from:

• Playing a pivotal role in the UK's nuclear renaissance, supporting both nationally significant new build programmes and the deployment of emerging nuclear technologies.
• Working with an industry-leading structural engineering team within a collaborative and highly respected global organisation.
• Expanding your influence through a role that combines technical leadership, client engagement, business growth, and team development.
• Shaping the strategic direction of a growing nuclear and defence business and influencing the future development of our structural engineering capability.
• Building trusted relationships with some of the industry's most influential clients and decision-makers.
• Contributing to some of the most technically challenging and rewarding engineering projects in the UK and internationally.
• Accessing clear pathways for continued career growth, including progression into senior market, director, and business leadership roles.

Being a Technical Director with us involves UK wide travel. We offer hybrid working which involves 3 days per week travel/office based. This position can be based at any of our hub offices of Epsom, London, Bristol, Birmingham, Manchester, or Glasgow. It can also be based from one of our regional offices of Peterborough, Cambridge, Cardiff, Swansea, Derby, Exeter, Leeds, Newcastle, Belfast, or Edinburgh, but may require additional travel to main locations as needed.

Your role

As a Technical Director within AtkinsRéalis, the successful candidate would have the following responsibilities:

• Project Leadership & Technical Governance
  • Provide strategic technical leadership and project oversight across major nuclear and defence programmes, acting as Project Director, Technical Director, or Design Authority as appropriate.
  • Provide technical assurance, quality oversight, and engineering governance across a portfolio of safety-critical projects.
  • Act as the technical authority for structural engineering, guiding multidisciplinary teams and ensuring compliance with client, regulatory, and industry requirements.
• Team Leadership & Capability Growth
  • Provide strategic oversight on resource planning, demand forecasting, and capability development to ensure successful delivery of a growing portfolio of nuclear and defence projects.
  • Lead, mentor, and develop senior structural engineers, building a strong succession pipeline and future technical leaders.
  • Foster a collaborative, high-performing culture that champions technical excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement in engineering standards, delivery practices, and governance.
• Client Engagement & Relationship Management
  • Develop and maintain trusted relationships with key clients across the nuclear and defence sectors, acting as a trusted advisor for clients including government organisations and asset owners and operators.
  • Represent the business in senior client, stakeholder, and regulatory meetings, providing strategic technical input and leadership.
  • Promote AtkinsRéalis' reputation for technical excellence through engagement with clients, industry bodies, and the wider engineering community.
• Business Development & Market Growth
  • Play a leading role in identifying, pursuing, and securing opportunities across the nuclear and defence sectors.
  • Shape bidding strategies, lead technical inputs to major proposals, and support negotiations for strategic opportunities.
  • Contribute to market planning and business development activities, helping to grow the heavy civil structures portfolio nationally and internationally.
  • Support the development of long-term client account strategies and opportunity pipelines.

About you

The ideal candidate would be a well-rounded and versatile individual who exemplifies the following key skills and attributes:

• Experience & Expertise
  • Degree qualified in Civil or Structural Engineering (or equivalent), with Chartered Engineer status through the ICE, IStructE, or an equivalent professional institution.
  • Extensive experience in the design, assessment, and delivery of heavy civil structures within the nuclear, defence, or other highly regulated sectors, with a strong understanding of applicable industry standards and regulatory requirements.
  • Recognised technical authority in structural engineering, with expertise in reinforced concrete, steel, and safety-critical structures, and experience providing technical leadership, assurance, and governance on major infrastructure programmes.
• Leadership & Commercial Skills
  • Proven track record of developing senior client relationships, leading major bids and proposals, securing strategic commissions, and driving business growth within complex infrastructure markets.
  • Strong leadership and influencing skills, with experience developing high-performing teams, shaping technical strategy, and engaging effectively with senior clients, stakeholders, and business leaders.
  • Commercially astute with the ability to balance technical excellence, client outcomes, and business performance across a portfolio of complex multidisciplinary projects.
• Personal Attributes
  • Demonstrates strong technical judgement, accountability, and ownership, providing clear direction on complex engineering challenges within a consultancy environment.
  • Operates effectively at both strategic and technical levels, balancing business objectives and high-quality technical delivery.
  • A collaborative and forward-thinking leader who communicates complex ideas clearly, fosters innovation, and supports continuous improvement.

Meet some but not all of the criteria or coming back from a career break? We’d still love to hear from you! Please submit your CV along with a cover letter letting us know your motivation for applying and highlighting how your skills and experience align with the role.

Rewards & benefits

Explore the rewards and benefits that help you thrive – at every stage of your life and your career. Enjoy competitive salaries, employee rewards and a brilliant range of benefits you can tailor to suit your own health, wellbeing, financial and lifestyle choices. Make the most of a myriad of opportunities for training and professional development to grow your skills and expertise. And combine our hybrid working culture and flexible holiday allowances to balance a great job and fulfilling personal life.

About AtkinsRéalis

We're AtkinsRéalis, a world-class engineering services and nuclear organization. We connect people, data and technology to transform the world's infrastructure and energy systems. Together, with our industry partners and clients, and our global team of consultants, designers, engineers and project managers, we can change the world. We're committed to leading our clients across our various end markets to engineer a better future for our planet and its people.

Additional information

This role may require security clearance and offers of employment will be dependent on obtaining the relevant level of clearance. If this is necessary, it will be discussed with you at interview. The vetting process is delivered by United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) and may require candidates to provide proof of residency in the UK of 5 years or longer.

We are committed to creating a culture where everyone feels that they belong - a place where we can all be ourselves, thrive and develop to be the best we can be. So, we offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements and employee resource groups to support all employees. As an Equal Opportunities Employer, we value applications from all backgrounds, cultures and ability. As a Disability Confident Leader, we are committed to offering an interview to all applicants who have a disability and meet the essential criteria. If you would like to be considered under this commitment, please let us know at the application stage.