At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead innovative lighting design projects that shape sustainable environments and inspire creativity.
- Company: Join Buro Happold, a respected consultancy with a collaborative culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid working, competitive salary, generous holiday, and comprehensive wellbeing support.
- Other info: Diverse and inclusive workplace committed to continuous learning and professional development.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on iconic projects while developing your skills in a supportive environment.
- Qualifications: Degree in Lighting, Architecture, or Engineering; experience in lighting design; strong technical skills.
The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.
Join Buro Happold’s lighting team and help shape exceptional, sustainable environments that leave a lasting impact. From cultural landmarks to complex urban spaces, you’ll lead projects that blend creativity, science, and storytelling - pushing the boundaries of what light can do. This is your chance to take ownership, influence design at every stage, and bring bold ideas to life in a collaborative, forward-thinking environment.
The Role
- Lead from the front - driving lighting design projects from early concept through to final delivery.
- Be a trusted voice for clients, representing Buro Happold with confidence in meetings, workshops, and reviews.
- Craft imaginative, elegant, and technically robust lighting solutions across interiors, exteriors, and daylight strategies.
- Turn ideas into compelling outputs, producing clear reports, beautiful visuals, and precise Revit-based documentation.
- Take charge of project delivery, coordination, site visits, and commissioning stages.
- Champion sustainable design considering energy, ecology, and dark skies in every decision.
- Support and inspire junior designers, helping shape the next generation of talent.
- Contribute to the growth, reputation, and creative culture of the lighting team.
Your skills and experience
- Degree or Master’s in Lighting, Architecture, Engineering, or a related discipline.
- Significant experience delivering exceptional lighting design projects within an engineering consultancy or specialist lighting design studio.
- A strong design sensibility paired with solid technical expertise and confidence in specification.
- Fluent in industry tools such as Dialux Evo, Relux, Revit, Adobe Creative Suite, and 3D modelling software.
- Comfortable leading projects, managing client relationships, and guiding teams to successful outcomes.
- Experience managing project delivery, performance, and client relationships.
- Strong knowledge of relevant standards, regulations, and best practice.
- A genuine passion for sustainability and the wider impact of light on people, place, and planet.
- Curiosity about innovation, including the use of automation and smart tools to enhance workflows and design thinking.
- Experience with Rhino, Grasshopper, Ladybug, Honeybee, or similar environmental tools is a plus.
- Commitment to continuous learning and professional development.
Please note you will need to evidence this through submitting a professional portfolio to accompany your CV. We’d love to see how you think, not just what you’ve delivered. Please include a portfolio showcasing:
- Hand sketches and creative exploration.
- Photoshop renders or visual storytelling.
- Concept development and design thinking.
- Technical drawings (CAD/Revit).
What we offer you
- Hybrid working arrangements.
- Attractive salary and benefits package including private medical insurance, life assurance, and income protection.
- Holiday entitlement of 25 days per annum (exclusive of bank holidays) and flexible holiday arrangements.
- Generous company pension scheme.
- Flexible benefits including cycle scheme, dental insurance, optical cover, travel insurance, season ticket loans, and corporate discounts.
- Enhanced parenthood leave policies.
- 3pm finish on the last Friday of the month.
- A strong commitment to your continuous development.
- Entitlement to two memberships to professional bodies or subscriptions.
- A commitment to your wellbeing through a comprehensive employee assistance programme and wellbeing activities.
- A supportive and inclusive environment that will welcome you through social and outreach activities from the Young Employees Forum to mentoring.
- An international culture that wherever your career takes you at Buro Happold, you won’t be far from the exceptional.
Buro Happold values an individual's flexible approaches to working patterns as an important part of how you work and achieve balance. We welcome applications from those who are seeking flexibility in their careers. Our exceptional portfolio of projects is the result of the diversity of thought, identities, backgrounds, and experiences that shape us. Appreciating each other’s differences is key, we want employees to feel they don’t have to mask elements of their identity to thrive. We are working to change the lack of representation of marginalised groups in the built environment. We are particularly keen to hear from anyone who feels they are underrepresented in the industry. We have much to learn from one another. Embracing differences allows us to develop the most innovative and elegant solutions.
Please let us know if there are any adjustments we could make to the application process to make it easier and more comfortable for you. Contact recruitment@burohappold.com so we can work with you to support you throughout your application.
Salary: Competitive.
Frequency: Annual
Contract Type: Permanent
Job Category: Engineering and Design
Discipline: Lighting
Location: London, United Kingdom
Closing Date: 31 August, 2026
Senior Lighting Designer in London employer: BuroHappold Engineering
Buro Happold is an exceptional employer that fosters a culture of inclusivity and diversity, making it a fantastic place for Senior Infrastructure Engineers to thrive. With a commitment to professional growth, employees benefit from generous holiday entitlements, hybrid working arrangements, and a supportive environment that encourages innovative thinking and collaboration on impactful global projects. Located in Bath, the company not only offers competitive salaries but also prioritises work-life balance, allowing team members to finish early on the last Friday of each month, enhancing overall job satisfaction.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Lighting Designer in London
✨Get Your Portfolio Game On Point
As an aspiring architect, your portfolio is your golden ticket. Make sure it's not just a collection of your best work, but tells a story about your design process and creative thought. Showcase a range of projects, from conceptual sketches to final renderings—think of it as a visual CV!
✨Slide into Networking Events
Architecture thrives on community connections, so keep an eye out for local architecture meetups, exhibitions, and lectures. These events are gold for meeting industry professionals, and who knows? You might just bump into someone from BuroHappold Engineering who can give you the insider scoop on their hiring process!
✨Learn the Software Inside Out
Make sure you're up to speed with design software like AutoCAD, Revit, and SketchUp. Being able to discuss your proficiency during interviews can really set you apart. Plus, if you can mention particular projects where you’ve used them, you’ll demonstrate both skill and practical experience.
✨Refine Your Interview Skills
Interviews for architecture roles can get quite technical, so practice answering questions about your design process and decision-making strategies. Prepare for potential design challenges they might put forward in interviews—show them you can think on your feet and come up with innovative solutions!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Lighting Designer in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Design Skills:Architecture is all about creativity and technical skills, so make sure your portfolio is front and centre! Include a range of your best projects, showcasing different styles and techniques. Don't forget to explain your design process and the challenges you overcame for each project – it gives hiring managers a glimpse into your thought process!
Tailor Your CV to Architecture:When putting together your CV, highlight relevant experience in architectural design software, like AutoCAD or Revit. Plus, if you have any internships or coursework that involved real-world projects, be sure to mention them. We want to see not just what you've done, but how it relates directly to this role at BuroHappold Engineering!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to express your passion for architecture and what drew you to BuroHappold Engineering. Talk about specific projects or values of theirs you admire, and how you see yourself contributing to their team. We want to feel your enthusiasm – let it shine through your words!
Use Professional Terminology:Don't shy away from using industry-specific jargon that demonstrates your expertise! Terms like 'sustainability', 'scale', and 'aesthetics' can not only show your knowledge but also help you connect with the hiring team. Just ensure it's done in a way that's relatable and not overly technical, so we can see your passion clearly!
How to prepare for a job interview at BuroHappold Engineering
✨Master the Technical Questions
In an architecture interview, be ready to tackle some technical questions about building codes, design principles, and software like AutoCAD or Revit. Brush up on your knowledge of materials and components, as you might even face scenarios to solve during the interview that showcase your problem-solving skills in real-time.
✨Bring Your Portfolio to Life
Your portfolio is your golden ticket! Make sure it not only showcases your best work but also highlights your design thinking process, from sketches to final outputs. During the interview, be prepared to discuss the projects in detail—what challenges you faced, how you overcame them, and what you learnt.
✨Demonstrate Your Passion for Sustainability
In today's architecture landscape, sustainability is key. Be sure to highlight any projects that involved eco-friendly designs or your understanding of sustainable practices. This will show that you’re not just familiar with the trends but are genuinely passionate about creating a better future through your designs.
✨Engage with Your Interviewers
Architecture is a collaborative field, so showing that you're a team player is essential. When conversing with the interviewers, actively listen and respond to their ideas. This isn’t just about you showing off your skills, but also about connecting and demonstrating how well you’d fit into their team at BuroHappold Engineering.
