Senior Design Manager – MEPH

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 1,000 in the UK & Ireland, we are growing significantly and seeking the best talent to join the SYSTRA signature team and be part of leading the way in infrastructure design.

SYSTRA is immediately hiring for a Senior Design Manager – MEPHFC to join our team in the Mechanical & Electrical Engineering Discipline, focusing on supporting one of our most high‑profile joint venture rail infrastructure projects based in West London.

Role Summary

The Senior MEPHFC Design Manager reports through the Design Delivery Manager to the Lead Design Manager. The role is the first point of contact for MEPHFC design matters between all Construction Partner delivery teams and package contractors, Design Management and the Consultant, using existing processes, procedures, plans and strategies to deliver assured MEPHFC designs to construction teams in support of the schedule. The Manager leads a team of Design Managers and balances the team’s priorities throughout peaks and troughs of demand.

Missions / Main Duties

• Design Verification and Design Stage
• Review and accept the Consultant’s programme and cost reporting relevant to MEPHFC.
• Resolve interfaces between MEPHFC and all other disciplines and work packages in a timely manner.
• Support the Design team from a design management and delivery perspective.
• Raise and respond to GCs, EWs, RFIs and EIs/CEs that impact the MEPHFC design, and coordinate with the supplier and the employer.
• Manage changes resulting from maturing HS2 and Network Rail rail systems.
• Act as client liaison.
• Liaise with designers and subcontractors to manage acceptance of design‑related deliverables.
• Review submissions for quality, interfacing and completeness.
• Ensure constructability reviews are held prior to design submissions.
• Develop value‑engineering opportunities through the approved process.
• Support technical change through approved change‑control procedures.
• Construction Stage
• Act as the lead MEPH design management point of contact for subcontractor design to other departments such as Commercial, Planning, Controls and Delivery, and the Consultant.
• Check the Consultant’s compatibility of subcontractor submissions with the permanent works design intent, reviewing, commenting on and providing acceptance for proposals, focusing on quality, interfacing and integration with other works.
• Agree with the package delivery team on the most effective means of delivering the MEPHFC detailed design and technical coordination.
• Lead coordination of programme interfaces between FRC, structural, architectural and MEPHFC suppliers.
• Monitor compliance with design responsibilities for the MEPHFC scope through the subcontractor’s works and design submissions.
• Manage subcontractor proposals, including compliant substitute designs, departures/derogations and alternative designs outside the RIBA 4 assured design and specifications.
• Raise and respond to GCs, EWs, RFIs, TQs and EIs/CEs that impact the subcontractor’s MEPHFC design, on behalf of the construction department and MEPHFC Package Managers.
• Coordinate detailed design among the Consultant, the Construction Partner, subcontractors and their suppliers.
• Implement change through the subcontractor’s technical assurance process.
• Manage the Consultant’s RIBA 5 site‑support team outputs.
• Manage change and variations to the subcontractor’s scope after formal instruction or before, where required.
• Identify and implement value‑engineering opportunities with the Package team.
• Serve as interfacing point of contact for MEPHFC disciplines to other Design Managers, the construction department, subcontractors, Package Managers and the wider team.
• Manage the field‑change process for approval of changes by the Consultant and instruction of changes to the IFC documentation or 3D model.
• Deliver and approve design records and as‑built information.
• Lead delivery of key design dependencies supporting Design & Verification certification and Activity Readiness Certification.

Qualifications

Essential Experience

• Degree or higher in a relevant engineering discipline.
• Chartered Engineer or membership of an appropriate professional institution, or equivalent experience.
• Previous experience on rail projects across London Underground, Network Rail, Crossrail and TfL.
• Good understanding of MEPHFC systems.
• Experience in construction implementation.
• Experience dealing with MEPHFC designers, contractors and subcontractors as well as clients.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including writing and presenting.
• Ability to organise and develop work with minimal supervision, managing a challenging workload subject to change at short notice.
• Engage with a wide range of colleagues and stakeholders to achieve objectives.
• Drive results by striving to achieve challenging goals, demonstrating resilience and perseverance in adversity.
• Sound analytical ability, appreciating complex delivery issues and situations.
• Demonstrate flexibility in thought and approach, managing multiple competing demands within a strategic context.

Desirable Experience

• Experience in a similar role within an appropriately sized organisation.
• Strong IT skills, including effective data‑sheet manipulation and navigation and control of processes for 3D modelling.
• Good working knowledge of the Construction Design and Management Regulations 2015.
• Commitment to developing personal and others' professional and industry knowledge.
• High level of personal responsibility, adaptable and flexible approach to different project requirements.
• Ability to lead development of detailed solutions to engineering problems.
• NEC3 contract experience.