National AI Awards 2025Discover AI's trailblazers! Join us to celebrate innovation and nominate industry leaders.

Nominate & Attend

Design Lead

Reading
3 months ago
Applications closed

Related Jobs

View all jobs

Design Manager

Principal Software Engineer

Design Manager

Lead Generation Team Leader

Lead Enterprise Architect

Lead Enterprise Architect

Other information

This is a Mott MacDonald Bentley role, employed by Mott MacDonald.
Mott MacDonald Bentley is a joint venture business, established in 1999 between civil engineering contractor JN Bentley and global management consultancy, Mott MacDonald.

Mott MacDonald Bentley offers fully integrated design and build services to its clients, combining the contracting expertise of JN Bentley and the design specialisms of Mott MacDonald.

This role is employed by Mott MacDonald but will involve working across the joint venture business, both with Mott MacDonald and JN Bentley colleagues.

About Mott MacDonald
Mott MacDonald is a global engineering, management and development consultancy.

Our purpose is to improve society by considering social outcomes in everything we do, relentlessly focusing on excellence and digital innovation, transforming our clients’ businesses, our communities and employee opportunities.

A fundamental part of this is respecting each person’s differences and striving to meet their needs. 
Our values: progress, respect, integrity, drive, excellence.

We believe that because we care about what we do, we do things better.
We know that our people are our most valuable asset, so we are dedicated to investing in them, through our comprehensive training and development schemes, exposure to the wider design and build business and endless opportunities.

We are committed to creating a workplace where our people are safe, have a voice, can reach their full potential, and everyone shares in the rewards.

You’ll have the opportunity to contribute to projects that benefit our communities – from helping to secure water supplies for future generations to protecting homes and businesses from flood risk – our projects make a real difference.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
A Mott MacDonald Bentley we welcome applications from all sectors of the community. We are dedicated to building a diverse workplace where everyone feels included, has the opportunity to thrive, and is treated with respect.

Even if you don’t meet every requirement for this role but are excited about the opportunity, we encourage you to apply. Find out more about our approach to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion here: .

We are committed to ensuring that our recruitment practices are barrier-free and as inclusive as possible. This includes making adjustments during the job application process and throughout your future career with us. Please call (phone number removed) or email  to discuss any such adjustments that we can make. You can read more about our Equal Opportunities Policy here: 

Agile working
We are committed to providing a flexible and agile working environment that supports both our employees and the needs of the business. 

Mott MacDonald Bentley is a fully integrated design and build business combining the design expertise of Mott MacDonald with the contracting experience of JN Bentley to deliver award winning projects.   With an annual turnover surpassing £500 million, Mott Macdonald Bentley cements its position as a leader within the industry. The sustained, robust business performance creates an ideal environment for career growth.   

As a Design Lead you will contribute to projects that significantly impact our environment and communities. Working primarily in the UK water market, MMB provides the feasibility, design, construction, and commissioning services needed to keep water flowing and wastewater treated. You’ll work on projects that make a real difference to our environment and our communities by enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of water and wastewater treatment systems. 

MMB has extended its contract with Thames Water for an additional five years. As the largest water and wastewater provider in the UK, Thames Water serves 15 million customers throughout London and the Thames Valley. This extension will carry the current workload beyond the end of AMP8 in March 2030.  We are delivering work in the Thames Valley region (extending from Cirencester in the west to the M25 and from Basingstoke in the South to Banbury in the North). This sees us undertake a varied programme of sizable projects in wastewater treatment, clean water production and Infrastructure (Water and Wastewater networks).

The role of a Design Lead includes: 

Leading the delivery of multi-disciplinary design for your projects / programme 

Developing and leading your team comprised of electrical, mechanical, civil, and process designers  

Leading the development of affordable and low carbon solutions, including managing opportunities and risks. 

Delivering detailed designs to meet construction needs and client acceptance including managing cost and programme. 

Challenging the engineering solutions and delivery effectiveness of your team to ensure we always offer the client the best value solutions.  

Providing direction and oversight of project controls and ensuring your team understands and complies with quality, programme, and cost requirements. 

Maintaining positive client relationships at project level 

What you’ll need: 

Degree in Engineering 

Chartered or incorporated member of professional institution e.g ICE, IMechE, etc, or equivalent experience   

Outline and detailed design experience of water or wastewater projects and knowledge of the Designer or Principal Designer duties under CDM 2015.  

Strong technical knowledge in own discipline and an appreciation of other disciplines 

Able to travel to sites across your operational region 

A proactive and pragmatic approach  

What we can offer: 

At Mott MacDonald Bentley you will be offered a competitive salary which is commensurate based on your experience. Our core benefits include: 

Pension matched by employer up to 7% 

Option to purchase, sell and carry over annual leave 

Life assurance / Private Medical Insurance / Critical Illness Insurance and Health Screening options 

26 weeks maternity leave, enhanced paternity and adoption leave/ Shared parental leave  

Payment of annual professional institution subscription costs 

Gym Membership discounts UK wide  

Cycle to work scheme, interest free season ticket loans and discounted dining cards also available  

Mott MacDonald Bentley are not currently offering sponsorship to candidates under the Skilled Worker visa route in the UK. This decision is as a consequence of the changes made to the Skilled Worker route by the UK Government in April 2024. We continue to welcome applications from candidates who are eligible for alternative immigration routes in the UK, that do not require sponsorship as a Skilled Worker now or in future.

Other information

This is a Mott MacDonald Bentley role, employed by Mott MacDonald.
Mott MacDonald Bentley is a joint venture business, established in 1999 between civil engineering contractor JN Bentley and global management consultancy, Mott MacDonald.

Mott MacDonald Bentley offers fully integrated design and build services to its clients, combining the contracting expertise of JN Bentley and the design specialisms of Mott MacDonald.

This role is employed by Mott MacDonald but will involve working across the joint venture business, both with Mott MacDonald and JN Bentley colleagues.

About Mott MacDonald
Mott MacDonald is a global engineering, management and development consultancy.

Our purpose is to improve society by considering social outcomes in everything we do, relentlessly focusing on excellence and digital innovation, transforming our clients’ businesses, our communities and employee opportunities.

A fundamental part of this is respecting each person’s differences and striving to meet their needs. 
Our values: progress, respect, integrity, drive, excellence.

We believe that because we care about what we do, we do things better.
We know that our people are our most valuable asset, so we are dedicated to investing in them, through our comprehensive training and development schemes, exposure to the wider design and build business and endless opportunities.

We are committed to creating a workplace where our people are safe, have a voice, can reach their full potential, and everyone shares in the rewards.

You’ll have the opportunity to contribute to projects that benefit our communities – from helping to secure water supplies for future generations to protecting homes and businesses from flood risk – our projects make a real difference.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
A Mott MacDonald Bentley we welcome applications from all sectors of the community. We are dedicated to building a diverse workplace where everyone feels included, has the opportunity to thrive, and is treated with respect.

Even if you don’t meet every requirement for this role but are excited about the opportunity, we encourage you to apply. Find out more about our approach to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion here: .

We are committed to ensuring that our recruitment practices are barrier-free and as inclusive as possible. This includes making adjustments during the job application process and throughout your future career with us. Please call (phone number removed) or email to discuss any such adjustments that we can make. You can read more about our Equal Opportunities Policy here:

Agile working
We are committed to providing a flexible and agile working environment that supports both our employees and the needs of the business

National AI Awards 2025

Subscribe to Future Tech Insights for the latest jobs & insights, direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to our privacy policy and terms of service.

Industry Insights

Discover insightful articles, industry insights, expert tips, and curated resources.

How to Present UAV Solutions to Non-Technical Audiences: A Public Speaking Guide for Job Seekers

Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones, are revolutionising industries—from agriculture and infrastructure to emergency response and environmental monitoring. But as UAVs become more advanced, so does the need to clearly explain what they do, how they work, and why they matter to people outside the engineering world. Whether you're applying for a UAV pilot role, drone software engineer position, regulatory consultant, or operations manager, your ability to present UAV technology and applications to non-technical audiences is a skill that UK employers are increasingly testing in interviews. This guide will help you structure your presentation, simplify technical content, design clear visuals, and confidently respond to common stakeholder questions—so you can stand out in interviews and lead effectively on the job.

UAV Jobs UK 2025: 50 Companies Hiring Now

Bookmark this guide – refreshed every quarter – so you always know who’s really growing their drone and unmanned‑aviation teams. A new CAA sandbox for BVLOS flights, the Future Flight Challenge’s £300 million tranche and booming demand for aerial data are driving a record year for UK UAV hiring in 2025. Employers need platform engineers, flight‑control software developers, remote‑pilots, payload specialists, geospatial analysts, U‑space safety experts & regulatory consultants right now. Below are 50 organisations that have posted UK‑based UAV vacancies or announced head‑count growth during the past eight weeks. They’re grouped into five quick‑scan categories. For each company you’ll find: Main UK hub Example live or recent vacancy Why it’s worth a look – technology focus, culture, mission Search any employer on UAVJobs.co.uk to see live adverts, or set up a free alert so brand‑new openings land straight in your inbox.

Return-to-Work Pathways: Relaunch Your UAV Career with Returnships, Flexible & Hybrid Roles

Re-entering the workforce after a career break—whether for parenting, caring responsibilities or another life chapter—can feel like navigating a new flight path, especially in the high-tech world of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Fortunately, the UK’s rapidly expanding drone sector now offers a variety of return-to-work pathways, from structured returnships to flexible and hybrid roles. These programmes value the transferable skills and resilience you’ve honed, pairing you with mentorship, targeted upskilling and supportive networks so you can ascend back into UAV operations, development or management with confidence. In this guide, you’ll discover how to: Understand the booming demand for UAV talent in the UK Translate your organisational, communication and problem-solving skills into UAV roles Overcome common re-entry challenges with practical solutions Refresh your technical and regulatory knowledge through targeted learning Access returnship and re-entry programmes tailored to the UAV sector Find roles that fit around family commitments—whether flexible, hybrid or full-time Balance your career relaunch with caring responsibilities Master applications, interviews and networking specific to UAVs Draw inspiration from real returner success stories Get answers to common questions in our FAQ section Whether you aspire to return as a flight operations manager, autonomy engineer, maintenance technician or survey pilot, this article maps out the steps and resources you need to relaunch your UAV career.