Principal Designer

Principal Designer

Full-Time 36000 - 60000 ÂŁ / year (est.) No home office possible
S

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead design compliance for major rail projects and ensure safety standards are met.
  • Company: Join SYSTRA, a global leader in engineering and consulting for infrastructure solutions.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, professional development, and a chance to impact sustainable transport.
  • Why this job: Shape the future of transport while working on innovative projects that connect communities.
  • Qualifications: Experience in railway design and strong knowledge of CDM regulations required.
  • Other info: Collaborative environment with opportunities for career growth and development.

The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 ÂŁ per year.

Around the world, SYSTRA’s specialists plan, design, integrate, test, commission, project manage and deliver mass transit and mobility solutions that are relied on by more than 50 million people every day. For more than 60 years, the Group has been committed to helping cities and regions contribute to their development by creating, improving and modernising their transport infrastructure with sustainability, accessibility and innovation at the heart of our designs. With over 10,300 colleagues globally and around 1000 in the UK & Ireland, we are growing significantly and seeking out the very best talent to join the SYSTRA signature team and be part of leading the way in infrastructure design.

SYSTRA is one of the world’s leading engineering and consulting groups, specialising in infrastructure and mobility solutions. In the UK & Ireland, SYSTRA has been creating, improving and modernising infrastructure for more than 50 years. SYSTRA works in partnership with clients to deliver outstanding infrastructure solutions. We solve challenges with our multi‑disciplinary expertise in design, consultancy, project management, engineering and construction supervision – supporting the delivery of major infrastructure projects across the transport, energy, environmental and built‑environment sectors. Our work creates inspirational places and systems that connect people seamlessly, enhance well‑being, stimulate economies, and provide a sustainable legacy for future generations.

Join the System Safety team to support the delivery of the Principal Designer duties (under an organisational capacity).

Main Duties
  • Work with SYSTRA and client projects to ensure compliance with the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 throughout the pre‑construction phase, delivering the Principal Designer duties (Regulation 11).
  • Oversee and support the design team to ensure the design work in the pre‑construction phase contributes to the delivery of positive health and safety outcomes.
  • Liaise with key duty holders including the client, designers, principal contractor, as well as other parties, to ensure CDM requirements are met.
  • Regularly report to the client on project developments and issues related to CDM 2015 compliance.
  • Attend and provide input to client projects or SYSTRA forums as required, promoting Design Risk Management best practices.
  • Implement and maintain hazard management assurance processes to ensure the highest standards of CDM compliance.
  • Undertake regular monitoring and inspection of company projects from a CDM perspective to report on levels of compliance, identify lessons learned, and highlight opportunities for improvement.
  • Provide input to SYSTRA focus groups where requested, including the Technical Board or Safe by Design Group.
  • Promote effective design risk management throughout the company as well as client projects.
  • Facilitate hazard identification, hazard review, constructability reviews, and other design focused workshops.
  • Assist the company with business development and continual improvement through collaboration with other disciplines to enhance SYSTRA’s service delivery and processes.
  • Provide guidance and management on issues involving CDM and general construction activities, as well as other regulatory requirements relating to SYSTRA’s portfolio of works.
Profile / Skills
  • Highly knowledgeable and experienced in the successful application and management of CDM 2015, especially in duties relating to the Principal Designer role within a multi-disciplinary railway major project environment.
  • Significant experience in the railway industry working at a similar level (Principal Designer/ Senior Designer/ Lead Engineer).
  • Chartered member of a relevant professional institution (e.g. IOSH, ICE, APS).
  • Holder of a NEBOSH Diploma (or equivalent) and/or Design Certification.
  • Strong experience and knowledge of engineering design and construction principles and standards (rail industry experience advantageous).
  • Good knowledge of engineering design standards for the UK Rail Network and for British and European Standards.
  • Highly skilled in risk assessment and design risk management processes and techniques.
  • Effective communicator, capable of chairing and controlling multi-disciplinary meetings.
  • Able to manage and plan workload effectively.
  • Able to foster high levels of cooperation and coordination between project teams and individual members.
  • Able to perform effectively on both complex multi-disciplinary and simpler projects while working alongside design teams.
  • Experienced in auditing projects and processes.
  • Solid understanding of the General Principles of Prevention and their application and promotion throughout the design phase.

Principal Designer employer: SYSTRA UK & Ireland

SYSTRA is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that prioritises sustainability, innovation, and employee development. With a strong commitment to creating impactful infrastructure solutions, employees benefit from collaborative projects, extensive training opportunities, and the chance to contribute to meaningful change in communities across the UK & Ireland. Join a team of over 1,000 professionals dedicated to excellence in engineering and design, where your expertise will help shape the future of transport and mobility.
S

Contact Detail:

SYSTRA UK & Ireland Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Principal Designer

✨Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former SYSTRA employees on LinkedIn. A friendly chat can give us insider info about the company culture and maybe even a referral!

✨Tip Number 2

Prepare for the interview by brushing up on your CDM 2015 knowledge. We want to show that you’re not just familiar with the regulations, but that you can apply them effectively in real-world scenarios.

✨Tip Number 3

Practice your communication skills! As a Principal Designer, you’ll need to lead meetings and liaise with various stakeholders. We suggest doing mock interviews with friends to nail down your delivery.

✨Tip Number 4

Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining the SYSTRA team.

We think you need these skills to ace Principal Designer

CDM 2015 Compliance
Design Risk Management
Health and Safety Management
Multi-disciplinary Collaboration
Engineering Design Principles
Risk Assessment Techniques
Project Monitoring and Inspection
Effective Communication
Workload Management
Auditing Experience
Knowledge of UK Rail Network Standards
Chartered Membership (e.g. IOSH, ICE, APS)
NEBOSH Diploma or Equivalent
Hazard Management Processes

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Principal Designer role. Highlight your experience with CDM 2015 and any relevant projects you've worked on in the railway industry. We want to see how your skills align with our mission at SYSTRA!

Showcase Your Expertise: Don’t hold back on showcasing your knowledge of engineering design standards and risk management processes. We’re looking for someone who can hit the ground running, so let us know how you’ve successfully applied these in past roles.

Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. Use bullet points where possible to make it easy for us to see your key achievements and skills. Remember, we appreciate a well-structured application!

Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands. Plus, it shows us you’re serious about joining the SYSTRA team!

How to prepare for a job interview at SYSTRA UK & Ireland

✨Know Your CDM Regulations

Make sure you brush up on the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015. Be ready to discuss how you've applied these regulations in your previous roles, especially in relation to the Principal Designer duties. This shows that you’re not just familiar with the rules but can also implement them effectively.

✨Showcase Your Railway Experience

Highlight your significant experience in the railway industry during the interview. Prepare specific examples of projects where you’ve worked at a similar level, focusing on your role in design risk management and compliance. This will demonstrate your expertise and make you stand out as a candidate.

✨Communicate Effectively

As an effective communicator, you’ll need to show that you can chair and control multi-disciplinary meetings. Practice articulating your thoughts clearly and confidently. Consider preparing a few scenarios where you successfully facilitated discussions or resolved conflicts within project teams.

✨Prepare for Technical Questions

Expect technical questions related to engineering design standards and risk assessment processes. Brush up on your knowledge of UK Rail Network standards and be ready to discuss how you’ve applied these in past projects. This will help you demonstrate your technical prowess and problem-solving skills.

Land your dream job quicker with Premium

You’re marked as a top applicant with our partner companies
Individual CV and cover letter feedback including tailoring to specific job roles
Be among the first applications for new jobs with our AI application
1:1 support and career advice from our career coaches
Go Premium

Money-back if you don't land a job in 6-months

S
Similar positions in other companies
UK’s top job board for Gen Z
discover-jobs-cta
Discover now
>