Senior Design Engineer - Carbon and Sustainability

London, United Kingdom (Hybrid)

When it comes to pioneering ambition, there’s no place like Heathrow. Our Heathrow Expansion programme offers a unique and exciting opportunity to play a defining role in one of the UK’s most significant infrastructure projects. You’ll help shape a national legacy that millions will experience for decades to come, as we deliver the third runway, improve passenger experience, stimulate jobs and opportunities across the UK, and strengthen the global connectivity that powers trade and travel.

Modernising and expanding the UK’s only hub airport and critical national infrastructure whilst keeping it fully operational and safe creates a pace and complexity unlike other major programmes. It demands collaboration, resilience, problem solving and a desire to take on challenges that genuinely matter.

This role is central to delivering our sustainability strategy, reducing carbon emissions, and ensuring compliance with environmental standards. You will work closely with multidisciplinary teams to integrate sustainable design principles into major infrastructure projects, ensuring Heathrow remains a leader in responsible aviation development.

As part of our Technical Assurance function, you will influence design decisions from concept through delivery, ensuring projects meet ambitious carbon reduction targets and align with Heathrow’s sustainability commitments. Success in this role means delivering practical, innovative solutions that balance operational needs with environmental responsibility, while fostering collaboration across engineering, planning, and construction teams.

Principal Accountabilities

• Lead the integration of carbon and sustainability requirements into design processes for major infrastructure projects.
• Provide technical assurance and guidance on sustainable design standards, ensuring compliance with Heathrow’s environmental policies and industry best practice.
• Collaborate with internal teams and external partners to identify and implement carbon reduction opportunities throughout the project lifecycle.
• Review and challenge design proposals to optimise sustainability outcomes without compromising safety or functionality.
• Support the development of tools, processes, and reporting mechanisms to track and improve sustainability performance.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience

• Proven experience in sustainable design or carbon management within large-scale infrastructure or construction projects.
• Strong understanding of environmental regulations, carbon accounting, and sustainability frameworks.
• Ability to interpret and apply technical standards and influence design decisions effectively.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills, with experience working in multidisciplinary teams.
• Degree in engineering, environmental science, or a related discipline.

Ideal Skills

• Chartered status or working towards chartership in a relevant professional body.
• Experience with digital tools for carbon modelling and sustainability reporting.
• Knowledge of emerging technologies and innovations in sustainable infrastructure.

Our Hybrid working approach offers the opportunity for colleagues in some roles to work from home for an average of two days a week, providing the flexibility to work in an agile way whilst ensuring we deliver for the operational needs of Heathrow. Working arrangements vary from team to team and will be confirmed during the recruitment process. You’ll need to be based in the UK and within a commutable distance to Heathrow.

As an equal opportunities employer, we encourage applications from all. We believe that diverse talent makes us stronger – not least because we welcome passengers from all corners of the globe, every single day. Heathrow is an accessible place to work. With five diversity networks, we champion inclusivity and celebrate individuality.