Head of Technical Design

Salary: £50,000–£75,000 DOE
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8am–5pm
Location: Andover – office based
Travel: Some travel may be required as part of the role

We’re excited to be supporting a creative and forward-thinking design and build company specialising in leisure and family attractions. The business designs, creates and builds exciting building play areas, mini golf courses and complete family attractions in UK, Europe, Africa, Canada, the US and Australasia.

We’re now looking for an experienced Head of Technical Design to take ownership of the technical design function and play a key role in turning ambitious creative concepts into practical, buildable and commercially successful projects.

Purpose of the Role:

This is a hands-on opportunity, particularly in the early stages while trust and respect is built amongst the existing team. This will involve developing creative concepts and turning them into working and build-able drawings.

You’ll be responsible for ensuring designs comply with relevant legislation, where applicable, work with structural engineers where required and and developing practical technical solutions. You will also work closely with the original concept designer to ensure the creativity and 'magic' of the designs is retained.

As you establish yourself within the business, the role will naturally develop into the Head of Technical Design, where you’ll continue to be hands-on while taking responsibility for leading the existing technical design team and overseeing any freelance designers.

We’re looking for someone who is driven, self-motivated and practical, with a genuine can-do attitude.

Key Responsibilities​​​​​​​:

• Lead the technical design function. Manage, coach and set clear priorities for the technical designers, creating a culture of accountability, accuracy and timely delivery.

• Take end-to-end ownership. Be the final internal point of accountability for technical design, engineering interfaces, compliance and technical decisions across all projects.

• Stay hands-on. Personally support design development, detailing and problem-solving where needed—not simply review the work of others.

• Assure standards and compliance. Ensure designs meet all relevant legislation, regulations, codes, client requirements and company standards, with robust checking, approvals and records.

• Coordinate engineering. Work effectively with structural and specialist engineers, consultants, suppliers and contractors to resolve interfaces and achieve technically sound, coordinated solutions.

• Design for construction. Bring practical construction thinking into every design so details are safe, straightforward, repeatable and efficient for contractors to build.

• Design for playability. Consider the user experience and playability—how fun and engaging the space will be for kids. Playability is what sets our projects apart and drives client satisfaction and repeat business.

• Partner with pre-construction. Work closely with estimating and pre-con teams to test options, remove unnecessary complexity and develop the most cost-effective compliant solution before and after award.

• Improve project margin. Once a project is won, lead technical detailing and value engineering to protect or improve margin without compromising safety, quality, performance or compliance.

• Control technical risk. Identify design risks early, manage changes and sign-off gates, answer site queries promptly and capture lessons learned to prevent rework and repeat issues.

What Success Looks Like:

• Clear ownership: the team and wider business know who is accountable, with decisions made promptly and issues resolved effectively.

• Right first time: Designs that are compliant, coordinated and buildable, reducing rework, delays and site-led redesign.

• Commercially stronger projects: technical decisions simplify construction, support procurement and deliver measurable protection or improvement of margin.

• Highly playable spaces: our clients' spaces create memorable experiences that keep kids coming back again and again, turning first-time users into loyal, repeat clients.

About You

We’re looking for someone who combines strong technical expertise with a practical, commercially aware approach.

You’ll ideally have:

• Proven technical leader experience in a senior technical design, engineering or construction role, with the confidence to own final decisions.
• Strong working knowledge of technical detailing, compliance, design assurance and multidisciplinary engineering coordination.
• A construction-minded and commercially aware approach, balancing technical quality with buildability, programme, cost and margin.
• Strong, practical and collaborative, comfortable working across design, pre-construction, estimating, procurement, delivery teams and the supply chain.
• A decisive, organised and accountable approach, with high standards, sound judgement and a genuine willingness to get stuck in.

Apply Now

If you’re an experienced technical design professional with the technical expertise and leadership experience to take ownership of a technical design function, we’d love to hear from you.

If you have experience working in one of the following roles: Technical Design Manager, Senior Technical Design Manager, Technical Design Lead, Senior Design Manager, Design Manager, Technical Manager, Design & Engineering Manager, Engineering Design Manager, Senior Technical Designer, Lead Technical Designer, Design & Technical Manager, Head of Design.