Heathrow
Senior Design Engineer - Expansion MMC and Constructability
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Introduction
When it comes to pioneering ambition, there’s no place like Heathrow.
Our Heathrow Expansion programme offers a unique and exciting opportunity to play a defining role in one of the UK’s most significant infrastructure projects.
You’ll help shape a national legacy that millions will experience for decades to come, as we deliver the third runway, improve passenger experience, stimulate jobs and opportunities across the UK, and strengthen the global connectivity that powers trade and travel.
Modernising and expanding the UK’s only hub airport and critical national infrastructure whilst keeping it fully operational and safe, creates a pace and complexity unlike other major programmes. It demands collaboration, resilience, problem solving and a desire to take on challenges that genuinely matter.
From securing planning consents to designing a new runway, modernising terminals and improving public transport access, and delivering on environmental and community commitments - the scale is unmatched.
You’ll be part of a diverse team of talented colleagues, built on mutual respect and where excellence thrives. It’s an inspiring place to work, with unlimited opportunities to make a difference as you help to shape the future of our world-class airport.
Job Description
This role is central to supporting Heathrow’s world‑leading expansion through the application of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC), innovation, and constructability‑led design. As a Senior Engineer specialising in MMC, the role shapes how utility and enabling infrastructure systems are conceived, designed, and delivered maximising off‑site manufacture, standardisation, and repeatability to support safe, efficient, and sustainable growth at one of the world’s busiest airports. Operating within a highly complex and constrained construction environment, the role leads the development of manufacture‑ready, assembly‑led utility solutions across thermal, electrical, potable water, foul, and stormwater systems. These critical networks underpin terminals, airfield assets, highways, structures, and the wider passenger experience, influencing both how infrastructure is delivered and how it performs. By embedding constructability and MMC principles from the earliest stages of concept development, the role challenges traditional approaches, reduces on‑site activity, minimises interfaces, shortens programme durations, and improves productivity while maintaining safety, operational continuity, and resilience within a live airport environment.
The role promotes engineering excellence and innovation by advancing platform‑based design, modularisation, standardisation, Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) principles, and digital tools that support off‑site manufacturing, logistics planning, and efficient installation. A whole‑life approach is integral, ensuring maintenance access, adaptability, climate resilience, and future capacity are considered in every solution. Success in this role requires the ability to take a system wide and programme‑level perspective, ensuring that MMC led utility designs are fully integrated with highways, structures, and buildings, while aligning with Heathrow’s design principles, planning requirements, sustainability objectives, and delivery model. Working collaboratively with designers, constructors, manufacturers, suppliers, and operational teams, the role contributes to setting new standards in infrastructure delivery unlocking value, reducing delivery risk, lowering carbon, and supporting a transition towards more efficient, safer, and industrialised construction methods. These efforts help create utility systems that are resilient, adaptable, and designed for the future.
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Your role will involve
- Lead a virtual, multi‑disciplinary team, bringing together operational specialists, consultants, design and delivery partners, business stakeholders, and customers to develop high‑quality designs that reflect future demand, business priorities, and Heathrow’s Sustainability Plan.
- Engage stakeholders at all levels to ensure designs are deliverable, cost‑effective, and aligned with intended business outcomes, clearly communicating asset plans, benefits, risks, and opportunities.
- Provide timely, evidence‑based input and constructive challenge throughout the design process, ensuring decisions are informed by real‑world asset performance, user needs, and operational considerations.
- Collaborate with Engineering teams to ensure asset strategies, standards, and design codes are applied effectively; support optioneering and the development of integrated solutions in line with governance requirements and Heathrow’s programme lifecycle.
- Act as an informed client, promoting strong design principles, innovation, and value‑focused technology choices; ensure safety and risk considerations are embedded throughout, working with delivery teams to assess, communicate, and manage risks, including those arising during construction.
These Skills Are Essential
- Degree‑qualified (or equivalent) in a relevant engineering discipline. Chartered membership of a recognised engineering institution, or equivalent level of technical competence, with Incorporated Engineer (IEng) status or actively working towards this. A minimum of five years’ relevant engineering experience, including experience in a leadership or influential technical role. Ability to act as a subject matter expert, providing technical assurance and guidance across complex engineering projects.
- Competent to lead a portfolio of assets in one of the following classifications:
- Utilities (infrastructure)
- Mechanical/Electrical
- Water Systems and Public Health
- Stands and Airside Ops
- Terminals
- Airport related development and supporting facilities
- Services – heating, cooling and distribution, energy, fuels
- Environmental
- Baggage
- Operational Technology and Cyber Security
- Civils - Tunnels and Bridges
- Civils – Highways, Structures and Car Parks
- Civils - Airfield and Roads
- Rail
- Control and automation, Innovation
- Proven ability to lead, guide, and manage technical consultants and strategic partners to deliver defined outcomes.
- Strong analytical and decision‑making skills, with the ability to use data and sound judgement to develop practical and robust solutions.
- Experience influencing senior stakeholders through clear communication, effective presentations, and constructive engagement.
- Demonstrated experience in scope development, change management, designing for improved safety, and managing technical quality assurance.
- A track record of contributing to continuous improvement across the design and engineering lifecycle.
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Ideally, you will also have
- Experience within the aviation sector, such as airlines or infrastructure planning.
- Awareness of the UK regulatory and political environment.
- Understanding of relevant regulatory, legislative, and planning frameworks, including the Development Consent Order (DCO) process.
- Experience working at Heathrow or within large‑scale or major programme environments.
- An asset or project management qualification.
About Us
There’s something so special about working at the world’s most iconic airport. Its sights. Its sounds. Its constant air of excitement. Heathrow is an amazing backdrop to a career filled with unique opportunities.
Every day, you’ll discover a world full of fresh possibilities and end the day buzzing with stories to tell, as you encounter people from all cultures, nationalities and experiences. A world full of pride for what we do and no end of exciting career prospects to explore.
It brings out the best in all of us. And inspires everyone to deliver on our ambitious plans. Together, we’re working to welcome millions more passengers while ensuring aviation can continue to be a force for good by leading global efforts in sustainability.
Join us on that journey and we'll help you achieve your ambitions too. Supporting you to learn, encouraging you to be yourself, backing you to achieve more than you might ever have imagined. Because there’s no place like Heathrow.
Our rewards
We offer competitive salaries and excellent benefits that will support you now and in the future. As well as performance-based annual bonuses and our longer-term Share in Success Bonus plans, we also offer generous annual leave allowances and market-leading pensions. With family friendly policies, access to private health insurance and a wide range of wellbeing tools, we’ll support you to be at your best inside and outside work. And of course, we’ll provide varied learning and development opportunities too. Here you’ll find everything you need for a fulfilling career journey that can take you in exciting directions.
Working Location
Our Hybrid working approach offers the opportunity for colleagues in some roles to work from home for an average of two days a week, providing the flexibility to work in an agile way whilst ensuring we deliver for the operational needs of Heathrow. Working arrangements vary from team to team and will be confirmed during the recruitment process. You’ll need to be based in the UK and within a commutable distance to Heathrow.
Sustainable Travel to work
Heathrow’s Sustainable Travel Guide sets out easy and sustainable travel options that everyone can access.
Equal Opportunities
As an equal opportunities employer, we encourage applications from all. We believe that diverse talent makes us stronger – not least because we welcome passengers from all corners of the globe, every single day. Heathrow is an accessible place to work. With five diversity networks, we champion inclusivity and celebrate individuality.
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