Senior Design Engineer - Design & Asset Standards

This role sits within our Technical Standards and Assurance team and is critical to ensuring design excellence, operational resilience, safety, and sustainability across large-scale airport projects.

You’ll collaborate with design engineers, programme teams, and external partners to develop and enforce standards that underpin Heathrow’s infrastructure ambitions, ensuring compliance while enabling creativity and innovation. Success in this role means delivering future-proof standards that minimise risk, achieve best value, and support Heathrow’s commitment to world-class passenger experiences and carbon reduction goals.

• Develop and update Heathrow’s technical standards to reflect regulatory requirements, best practice, and innovative solutions.
• Review and assure design submissions for compliance with Heathrow’s standards, safety requirements, and operational objectives.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and external consultants to resolve technical queries and promote innovative thinking.
• Lead technical reviews and contribute to governance processes for high-profile projects.
• Champion continuous improvement in design standards, incorporating lessons learned and emergent technologies.
• Influence sustainability within standards development and provide expertise on resilient, adaptable solutions.

• Degree in engineering (or equivalent) with Chartered Engineer status or working towards it.
• Proven experience in large infrastructure design, ideally within a regulated environment.
• Strong knowledge of technical standards and assurance processes.
• Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills to manage complex technical challenges.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement capabilities.

Ideal Skills

• Experience in aviation or major programme environments.
• Familiarity with BIM processes and digital engineering tools.
• Knowledge of sustainability principles and carbon-reducing design strategies.