# Design Engineering Manager

> Universal Business Team · Wetherby, United Kingdom · Full-time · Posted 2026-03-19

**Salary:** GBP 55,000–65,000

**Workplace:** on_site

**Department:** DF

## Description

**Salary:** £55,000 – £65,000 per annum (negotiable DOE) + car or car allowance + Bonus  
**Hours:** 40 hours per week | Monday to Friday (flexible start/finish times)  
**Location:** Wetherby (office‑based), with 1–2 days per week on site nationwide  
**Holidays:** 25 days + 8 bank holidays + birthday off  
**Benefits:**

-   Car or car allowance

-   Bonus opportunity
-   Free on‑site parking
-   Auto‑enrolment pension
-   Flexible working hours
-   Informal rewards (team lunches and recognition for project wins)

### The Opportunity

We are recruiting on behalf of a **growing, highly respected specialist design‑and‑delivery business** operating within complex care, healthcare and specialist environments. Following significant project growth and the expansion of an in‑house BIM/CAD function, the business is now seeking an experienced **Design Engineering Manager** to take ownership of design governance, team leadership and process maturity - ensuring high‑quality, coordinated design outputs across a **high‑volume, multi‑project environment**.

This is a pivotal role, reporting into the Operations Director, with real influence over quality, systems, people and future innovation.

**The Role**

As Design Manager, you will lead and coordinate all design activity across a diverse portfolio of projects ranging in value from **£5k to £1m**, focused on specialist equipment, hoisting systems, hydrotherapy and integrated environments.

You will provide structure, accountability and technical assurance to an in‑house team of designers, while acting as a key interface between **sales, project delivery and clients**.

**Key responsibilities include:**

-   Leading and managing the in‑house design team, setting clear expectations for quality, performance and delivery

-   Establishing and embedding robust **design management procedures, standards and governance**
-   Ensuring design compliance with statutory regulations, industry standards and best practice
-   Overseeing design resource planning, workloads, deliverables and information release schedules
-   Implementing quality checks, KPIs and performance metrics to drive continuous improvement
-   Supporting commercial decision‑making, value engineering and cost control through the design process
-   Managing design change control to minimise cost and programme impact
-   Acting as a client‑facing technical authority on complex and flagship projects
-   Working closely with Project Managers to ensure seamless transition from design to delivery
-   Exploring opportunities for **AI, automation and potential offshoring** within the design function

### About You

This role will suit a Design Manager who combines **technical credibility with strong people leadership** and thrives in a fast‑moving environment where multiple projects run simultaneously.

You will ideally bring:

-   Proven experience managing and leading a design team within construction, fit‑out or specialist environments

-   Strong understanding of design governance, coordination and assurance
-   Confidence reviewing, challenging and coordinating work produced in AutoCAD, Revit and BIM environments
-   Commercial awareness with the ability to influence scope, cost and programme decisions
-   Excellent communication skills and confidence working directly with clients and senior stakeholders
-   Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage **50–70 live projects concurrently**
-   A proactive, improvement‑focused mindset with strong attention to detail
-   Experience with COBie, BIM, specialist equipment integration or healthcare environments is beneficial but not essential.
-   Chartered or professionally accredited candidates (or those working toward accreditation) are welcomed, as are those with architectural, engineering or technical backgrounds.

## Apply

[Apply at Universal Business Team](https://apply.workable.com/ubteam/j/AC58420AD7/apply)

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