Design Manager

Design Manager – Water

Shaping high quality design for the water industry!

Location: Trafford House, M32 0RS
Start Date: January 2026 (or earlier if available)
Employment Type: Permanent or Contract (outside IR35 if contract)

About ESL

ESL is a growing engineering design consultancy delivering multidisciplinary design solutions across the UK rail and utilities sectors. Our civil engineering design team is expanding, backed by a strong pipeline of water and rail projects. We value wellbeing, maintaining a supportive culture focused on safety, fairness and professional growth.

Role Overview

We are seeking a Design Manager to oversee and coordinate multidisciplinary design delivery in the regulated water sector. The Design Manager will guide and develop the team, ensure designs meet safety and quality requirements, and help drive continuous improvement. As the Design Manager, you will play a key role in shaping processes, promoting innovation, and strengthening our digital capability.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, develop and support engineers, CAD technicians and graduates in your role as Design Manager.

• Promote a positive, collaborative design culture and help grow the team.

• Act as the Design Manager on major multidisciplinary water-industry projects.

• Improve and uphold internal design processes and standards.

• Champion BIM, 3D modelling and effective software solutions.

• Ensure all design deliverables meet safety, quality and integration requirements.

• Manage delivery to agreed timescales and budgets.

• Record and communicate all project design changes.

• Support planning, resourcing and estimating of design work packages.

Required Qualifications & Experience

• Minimum 10 years’ experience in engineering design within a regulated sector.

• Degree or HND in a relevant engineering discipline.

• Experience in the regulated UK water industry.

• Demonstrated success as a Design Manager on multidisciplinary projects.

• Experience mentoring and developing junior engineers.

• Strong IT capability.

• Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle.

Preferred Qualifications

• Chartered Engineer (CEng) or working toward chartership.

Key Skills

• Excellent communication and interpersonal ability.

• Strong delivery focus and organisational discipline.

• Broad technical understanding of multidisciplinary design.

• Ability to develop yourself and others.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

• Positive team player with collaborative mindset.

Working Arrangements

• Full-time office-based role at Trafford House, M32 0RS.

• Occasional site visits (expenses paid).

• Occasional home working by agreement.

• Hybrid working (1–2 days per week) may be considered for exceptional candidates.

Company information

At First Recruitment Group we understand just how important it is to secure the right people. That is why our Recruitment Consultants always take the time to understand requirements in detail and offer sound advice to both clients and candidates.  We actively recruit at all levels and this is a superb opportunitY for new employment.

As part of putting people first, we strive to be an equal opportunities employer and we are always looking to increase the diversity of our workforce, working closely with our clients to ensure everyone is included.