Senior Technical Designer- – Labs / Life Sciences in London

Role overview

The Senior Technical Designer role plays a pivotal part in ensuring that creative design is fully detailed and coordinated with practical execution. Within the design & build framework, the role leads the technical delivery of projects, with a particular focus on technically complex environments including laboratory and life sciences projects — aligning design intent, documentation, cost, programme, compliance and construction. It involves coordinating internal and external teams, clients, consultants, and contractors, while producing high-quality, compliant, and buildable technical design delivered on time and within budget.

Key Responsibilities:

Leadership & Strategy:

· Work as a leading member of each project team, understand your roles and responsibilities and those of others, own and close items as they arise, ensure good communication throughout to project end.

· Provide technical interaction across all design phases, guiding all members of the extended Professional Design team including Pre Construction, Commercial and Construction.

· Lead project reviews to ensure design integrity, technical coordination, inclusivity, and compliance.

· Stay ahead of design trends and emerging technologies — especially in regard to compliance and sustainability.

· Attend and take part in internal and external events to further promote Oktra and the work we do.

Project Delivery/Technical Development:

· Understand ‘The Oktra Way’ — our processes, standards, sustainability practices, quality measures, and compliance requirements — across all roles and responsibilities.

· Strategise projects, clients in regard to winning strategies, de-risking, quality control, competency and compliance amongst others project specific.

· Manage client expectations and maintain clear communication on technical aspects of the design.

· Oversee/create the technical design documentation from schematics, sketches through to construction.

· Lead/create the design coordination between architectural, structural, mechanical, electrical, public health etc., and the full construction team.

· Translate the conceptual designs into detailed, buildable solutions without compromising design intent, cost, compliance, or programme.

· Review/create all technical drawing packages from design development to construction documentation including practical completion.

· Oversee/assist in the resolution of complex design challenges related to structure, finishes, systems, and constructability.

· Ensure accuracy, clarity, and compliance in all technical drawings, documentation, and specifications.

· Review reference materials and site documentation to ensure design accuracy through allocated projects.

· Enforce technical design standards and best practices.

· Support the Design team by offering solutions that balance aesthetic goals with practical execution.

Mentoring & Review:

· Mentor and develop internal design and technical teams.

· Provide training, mentorship, and technical leadership to ensure consistent standards.

· Allocate resources and manage workloads across multiple allocated projects.

Quality & Risk Management:

· Conduct quality assurance and control reviews.

· Identify design risks early and provide proactive technical solutions.

· Ensure proper documentation and coordination to minimise site issues and redesigns, and risks.

Coordination:

· Collaborate closely with Pre Construction, Commercial, Project Managers, site teams, consultants, and clients etc. as a professional team to ensure absolute project success.

· Coordinate with consultants, suppliers, contractors, and internal stakeholders to resolve design and technical challenges.

· Ensure all documentation is fully coordinated and up to date with design changes, construction methods, and site constraints.

· Lead technical review meetings and ensure issues are logged, tracked, and resolved.

· Coordinate and complete (when required) clash detection and coordination meetings using Building Information Modelling (BIM) tools (e.g., Revit, Navisworks).

Documentation & Standards including Compliance:

· Organise and maintain drawing files, naming conventions, and documentation sets to maintain company standards and industry best practices.

· Prepare and review drawing packages for tender, authority approvals, and construction.

· Ensure that all designs comply with relevant codes, standards, regulations, and client specifications including to cost and programme approval.

· Assist in preparing and submitting permit drawings, planning applications, Building Regulations submissions etc. from creation of documentation to success application approval.

· Ensure compliance with the company role of Principal Designer under Construction (Design & Management) (CDM) Building Regulations and the Building Safety Act.

· Ensure team compliance and competency including the wider professional project team when required.

· Ensure compliance with the role of Designer under Construction (Design & Management) (CDM), Building Regulations and the Building Safety Act.

Site & Construction Support:

· Support site teams with technical information, clarifications, and revisions during construction.

· Respond to Requests for Information (RFI's), review of shop drawings, manage change control alongside the construction teams to all specific projects.

· Ensure all practical completion documentation, including Health & Safety incorporating Operation & Maintenance (H&S+O&M) files, as builts and residual risk registers is to a high quality and present.

· Participate in internal team meetings and coordination reviews when necessary.

Essential Qualifications & Experience

· Bachelor's or Master’s Degree in Architecture, Interior Architecture, or similar related field.

· 6+ years of experience in technical design, management, and project delivery, ideally within a design & build or fast-paced multidisciplinary environment.

· Experience working on laboratory, life sciences or other technically complex environments is essential.

· Proficient in Revit, BIM coordination tools, AutoCAD, and other design software’s.

· Common Date Environment (CDE) experience preferable but not essential (Oktra use ACC Autodesk Construction Cloud)

Desirable skills:

· Excellent communication skills verbal and visual, good problem solving capabilities.

· Strong portfolio demonstrating a range of design capabilities including competency, compliance, hand sketching, effective communication, technical design detailing, technical coordination, programming, and processes.

· Experience with fast-track or design & build procurement models, preferably commercial sector.

· Good knowledge & experience of sustainability certifications (LEED, WELL, BREEAM etc.).

· Robust design sensibility with a pragmatic approach to construction and execution & strong problem-solving and technical decision-making ability.

· Detail-oriented with a hands-on approach to quality and delivery.

· Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously.

· Ability to work independently and as part of a cross-functional team.

· Proactive and hands-on, with a strong sense of ownership and accountability.

· Strong drafting and documentation skills.

· Strong knowledge of construction detailing, building codes, and material technologies.

· Excellent leadership, organisational, and interpersonal skills.

· Regulatory knowledge of CDM 2015, Building Regulations and all associated documentation, Risk Assessments and Residual Risk Registers, Golden Thread.