Senior Associate Director - Bridges & Structures

Senior Associate Director - Bridges & Structures You will help shape how complex bridges and structures are designed, assessed and delivered across major UK and international infrastructure programmes.

Your technical judgement will influence decisions that affect safety, resilience, sustainability, buildability and long-term asset performance. You will help clients solve demanding structural engineering problems while supporting engineering teams to produce consistently high-quality work.

You will also have the opportunity to improve how projects are delivered. By applying digital tools, greater standardisation and leaner design processes, you will help reduce repetition, improve productivity and give engineers more time to focus on the decisions where their expertise adds the greatest value.

Whether your strengths are in technical leadership, project delivery, team development or a combination of these areas, you will bring experience that strengthens the team, builds client confidence and improves project outcomes.

About the opportunity

You will join Jacobs' Bridges and Structures capability within its wider Transportation business, working across highways, rail, aviation, energy and power. The team supports technically complex UK and international programmes for clients including High Speed 2, National Highways, Network Rail, the Welsh Government, national contractors and local authorities. You will contribute across the project lifecycle, including structural analysis, feasibility, tender development, preliminary and detailed design, contract documentation and technical reporting.

You will lead and support multidisciplinary teams, coordinate with colleagues across the UK, Europe and Jacobs' global delivery network, and build trusted relationships with clients. You will also help introduce practical digital, automated and standardised approaches that improve quality and efficiency. Success will mean delivering technically robust and sustainable structural solutions, developing capable engineering teams and helping clients make informed decisions on complex infrastructure challenges. We are open to candidates whose strengths are primarily in technical leadership, project or discipline management, or a combination of these areas. You do not need to demonstrate an identical balance across every aspect of the role.

Substantial experience in bridge or structural engineering within infrastructure, transportation or a closely related environment.
Strong technical design, project leadership or discipline management capability relevant to bridges and structures.
Experience contributing to the delivery of structural engineering projects through one or more key stages, such as feasibility, tender, preliminary design, detailed design, assessment or renewal.
The ability to make sound engineering decisions and communicate technical risks, options and recommendations clearly.
Experience coordinating with clients, engineering disciplines and project stakeholders to deliver integrated solutions.
A relevant civil or structural engineering qualification, or equivalent technical competence developed through substantial professional experience.

Why Join Us?

Work on complex infrastructure challenges

You will contribute to bridges and structures across several sectors, including highways, rail, aviation, energy and power. This provides broader technical exposure than a role limited to one asset type or market.

Influence how engineering is delivered

This is not purely a production or project management position. You will have the opportunity to improve working methods, introduce useful digital approaches and influence how structural engineering services are delivered.

Develop people and technical capability

You will support engineers through technical leadership, mentoring and project delivery. This creates an opportunity to build your own profile while helping develop the next generation of engineering capability.

Access a wider technical network

Collaboration across Jacobs' UK, European and global teams could provide access to specialist knowledge, varied project experience and opportunities to contribute beyond a single local portfolio.

Build a long-term professional path

The breadth of the role could support progression through technical leadership, project leadership, discipline management or client development. The final advert should define the specific progression routes available at this grade rather than leaving candidates to infer them.

Bristol Bristol City United Kingdom Reading Berkshire United Kingdom Manchester Greater Manchester United Kingdom Glasgow Lanarkshire United Kingdom Leeds West Yorkshire United Kingdom London Greater London United Kingdom Newcastle Tyne and Wear United Kingdom Birmingham West Midlands United Kingdom Civil and Structural Transportation

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