Associate Highway Engineer in Bristol, Gloucestershire

Associate Highway Designer
 
Job Purpose
 
As an Associate Highway Designer, you will lead the delivery of highway design projects, providing technical expertise, project oversight, and support to clients and internal teams. You will play a key role in developing innovative and design-compliant highway solutions, managing stakeholder relationships, supporting the development of others, and contributing to business growth and operational success.
 
Key Responsibilities
·Lead the delivery of highway design projects, ensuring outputs are delivered to programme, budget, and quality requirements.
·Lead and review highway design solutions in accordance with national and local guidance, including MfS, DMRB, LTN 1/20, TSRGD, and local authority standards.
·Provide technical leadership and problem-solving support on complex highway design projects. Interpret traffic, survey, and spatial data to inform design development and project decision-making.
·Undertake and review junction modelling, forecasting, and technical assessments.
·Prepare and review highway design inputs to Transport Assessments and technical reports.
·Lead highway design discussions with clients, highway authorities, architects, planners, and other project stakeholders.
·Build and maintain strong client and stakeholder relationships to support project delivery and repeat business opportunities.
·Manage project resources, utilisation, and delivery performance to achieve successful project outcomes.
·Support project management activities including resource planning, budgeting, invoicing, and financial management.
 
Other Duties
·Mentor and support junior designers, technicians, and other team members in their professional and technical development.
·Contribute to performance reviews and wider team development activities.
·Support business development, work-winning activities, and achievement of business targets.
·Represent the practice through networking, industry engagement, and business promotion activities.
·Promote technical excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement across projects and teams.
·Maintain and develop knowledge of highway design standards, legislation, and industry best practice.
·Prepare Safety Audit briefs and Designer's Responses and liaise with auditors where required. Ensure compliance with CDM Regulations and fulfil Designer duties where appropriate.
 
Essential Criteria
·Significant experience in highway design within a consultancy or similar professional environment. Strong technical knowledge of highway design standards, guidance, and legislation including MfS, DMRB, LTN 1/20, TSRGD, and local authority requirements.
·Proven experience leading highway design projects and technical workstreams.
·Experience managing project delivery, budgets, resources, and programme requirements.
·Strong understanding of highway law, planning obligations, highway agreements, and approvals processes.
·Experience undertaking and reviewing junction modelling, forecasting, and technical assessments. Proficiency in AutoCAD, Civil 3D, GIS, and associated design software.
·Competence in the use of SPONS for highway cost estimates.
·Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
·Experience building and maintaining client relationships.
·Proven ability to mentor and support junior team members.
·Commercial awareness with experience contributing to business development and project profitability.
·Member of a relevant professional institution (ICE, CIHT, or CILT).
 
Desirable Criteria
·Incorporated Engineer (IEng) or Chartered Engineer (CEng) status, or working towards Chartership. Experience leading multidisciplinary project teams.
·Experience preparing fee proposals and supporting work-winning activities.
·Active involvement in networking, professional institutions, or industry groups.
·Experience managing multiple concurrent projects and client accounts.
·Knowledge of emerging technologies, digital delivery tools, and innovations in highway design.
 
Benefits
·25 days holiday + Bank holidays (increasing to 30 days with long service)
·5% employer pension contributions (increasing to 15% with long service)
·Discretionary Bonus Scheme, biannual, subject to individual and company performance
·Professional development and training opportunities
·Payment of 2 x professional subscriptions
·Private Medical Insurance
·Life Assurance
·Critical Illness