M&E Design Manager

We are looking for a talented M&E Design Manager to lead our design function at Better Planet. This is a hands-on leadership role: while you will manage and develop a small but growing team of mechanical and electrical engineers, the majority of your time will be spent doing the design work yourself. We need someone who thrives at the drawing board as much as they do leading a team. The scope of the role covers our full range of low-carbon technologies - heat pumps, photovoltaic (PV) solar systems, mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR), underfloor heating, and battery storage - across both domestic and commercial projects. The role also involves regular client and stakeholder contact, so we need someone who is confident communicating technical concepts to non-technical audiences and comfortable in a client-facing environment. Based at our office in Islington, London, this is a fantastic opportunity to play a leading role in one of the UK's fastest-growing sectors.

Role and responsibilities

• Design (primary focus)
  • Act as the lead designer across the business, personally producing M&E technical drawings, schematics, and system layouts for heat pump, PV, MVHR, underfloor heating, and battery storage projects in both domestic and commercial settings.
  • Specify equipment including heat pumps, circulation pumps, piping, inverters, battery units, ventilation units, and associated controls.
  • Carry out power and control system design, including electrical schematics and wiring diagrams.
  • Undertake 2D and 3D CAD modelling to support project design and client presentations.
  • Carry out site surveys and feasibility assessments for new and existing projects.
  • Review site installations to ensure conformance to design specifications and relevant standards.
• Client and stakeholder engagement
  • Support the sales team on client calls and meetings, providing technical input to help scope and win new projects.
  • Meet clients on site to discuss requirements, present design proposals, and address technical queries.
  • Act as a technical point of contact for architects, consultants, and other external stakeholders, answering design and specification questions.
• Team leadership and management
  • Manage, mentor, and develop a small team of mechanical and electrical design engineers, allocating workload and providing day-to-day technical guidance.
  • Set and maintain design standards, procedures, and quality benchmarks across the team.
  • Evaluate and implement advances in design technologies and software to enhance the team's capabilities and efficiency.
  • Collaborate with project management, sales, and installation teams to ensure designs are practical, cost-effective, and delivered on time.
  • Support the growth of the design function as the business scales, including involvement in recruitment and onboarding of new engineers.

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

• Minimum HND qualified engineer (mechanical or electrical); degree-level qualification preferred.
• At least 3 years of hands-on M&E design experience within the building services or renewable energy industry.
• Proven experience designing systems involving one or more of: heat pumps, PV solar, MVHR, underfloor heating, or battery storage.
• Strong proficiency in 2D and/or 3D CAD software (e.g., AutoCAD, Revit, or equivalent).
• Solid understanding of UK building regulations, Part L, and relevant standards (e.g., MCS, BS 7671).
• Comfortable operating as a working designer while also managing a team - this is not a desk-only management role.
• Confident communicator, happy engaging with clients, architects, and other stakeholders in both meetings and on site.
• Excellent attention to detail and a commitment to producing high-quality, accurate design work.

Desirable

• People management or team leadership experience.
• Experience working across both domestic and commercial building services projects.
• Familiarity with BIM workflows and collaborative design environments.
• Membership of a relevant professional body (e.g., CIBSE, IET, or Engineering Council registration).

What We Offer

• A leadership role in a purpose-driven company at the forefront of the UK's net-zero transition.
• The opportunity to shape and grow the design function within a fast-scaling business.
• Exposure to a diverse and expanding portfolio of renewable energy technologies.
• Competitive salary and benefits package.
• A collaborative, supportive working environment based in Islington, London.