Jobs, fresher vacancy - Design Engineer - Structural Steel • Greater Manchester

Company: The Highfield Company

Greater Manchester

Role: Design Engineer (Graduate - Experienced) Department: Engineering Location: Manchester - Hybrid working Reports to: Design Manager & Lead Design Engineer Role Overview As a Design Engineer, you will support the Lead Design Engineer (LDE) and Design Manager in delivering detailed structural designs on time, within budget, and to the highest quality standards. You will prepare and review calculations, oversee colleagues' work, and coordinate with UK-based and international teams. On larger projects, you may deputise for the LDE in specific areas, taking on delegated leadership responsibilities. Travel to client sites, on-site attendance, or even full project deployment may be required. Key Responsibilities Design Calculations & Reviews: Prepare and verify connection, joint, steel-element, and temporary stability calculations; develop and review Calc Marking Plans, Design Briefs, and Connection Method Statements; check peers' designs against QA processes and industry codes. Project Coordination & Site Engagement: Work to programmes set by the LDE, tracking progress and reporting on milestones; maintain calculation registers and variation folders; manage Technical Queries and CDM hazard registers/risk assessments; liaise with design, project, manufacturing, procurement, and erection teams; attend client meetings and site visits as required. Data Management & Efficiency: Organise and manage large volumes of design data to ensure efficient workflows, full traceability, and optimal use of resources. Economic Fabrication Design: Develop structural solutions that minimise material waste and fabrication cost while ensuring practical and manufacturable designs. Software & Standards: Utilise design tools (MasterSeries, MathCAD, STAAD, Tekla, Sap2000) and data-analysis/reporting platforms (Power BI); adhere to internal guidance, Quality Management Systems, and relevant codes (e.g., BS 5950, Eurocode, AISC, NSSS). Mentoring & Administration: Supervise and coach junior staff; coordinate small, self-contained contracts when assigned; take full responsibility for your work, ensuring thorough self-checks before handover; manage time effectively to meet programmes and adapt to changing project needs. Performance Objectives Deliver all assigned tasks on schedule and within man-hour budgets. Achieve zero Non-Conformance Reports on your outputs. Maintain up-to-date registers and documentation of all design deliverables. Ensure all designs comply with industry best practices, applicable codes, and project-specific requirements, while remaining economical to fabricate. Qualifications & Experience Education: Minimum HNC in Civil or Mechanical Engineering; Bachelor's degree preferred. Professional Status: Associate or Chartered membership of the Institution of Structural Engineers (or equivalent) advantageous. Experience: HNC: 4-6 years in structural (or related) engineering; Degree or higher: 2-3 years in structural (or related) engineering. Skills & Attributes Strong engineering judgment. Proficiency with structural design software/connection design (e.g., MasterSeries, MathCAD, STAAD, Tekla, Sap2000). Clear verbal and written communication with all stakeholders. Methodical analytical and problem-solving approach. Self-motivation and ability to manage multiple tasks under tight deadlines. Flexibility and adaptability in taking varied assignments as needed. Commitment to meeting deadlines, including occasional extra effort when required. Comfortable applying computational thinking - from spreadsheets to scripts - to streamline engineering work. Note: This role may involve limited delegation of Lead Design Engineer duties on larger projects. Apply today and our steel specialist Sabrina O'Donnell will be in touch!