Shape the future: Senior engineer leadership roles

The Design and Advanced Technology (D&AT) team is a rich mix of professionals working across aviation, energy, water, defence, and transport—tackling everything from wastewater treatment works to nuclear power plants and iconic infrastructure like HS2. 

In this blog, I'll take you through our year of incredible progress in 2024, from celebrating major milestones to strengthening our capabilities. I'll also share exciting opportunities for 2025 as we continue shaping a better future. Whether you're part of our journey or looking to develop your engineering career with us, there's plenty to be inspired by.

Where do I fit in? I'm Keith, a civil engineer by background and the director of the 700-strong D&AT team. My time in project environments fuels my commitment to doing things right. I lead from a place of hands-on experience, staying involved in the day-to-day, supporting major frameworks, and ensuring our people are in the right place, driving excellence in design and delivery.

D&AT: Design and Advanced Technology at AtkinsRéalis

Multidisciplinary is how we work. We bring together the best skills to deliver what our clients want. The range of projects we touch on is unmatched, offering opportunities from concept to construction. Across the UK and internationally, we deliver projects that really matter. At the same time, it's not just about big projects. This variety allows us to move people onto new challenges and provide exciting career paths in a dynamic, cross-disciplinary environment.

Why I enjoy leading D&AT at AtkinsRéalis

I work with great people on an incredible range of projects, including Sizewell C, Havant Thicket Reservoir, Heathrow Framework, Devonport Naval Dockyard among others. AtkinsRéalis is a successful company with a strong brand and inclusive values. While part of a multinational, we feel like a close-knit team of teams - volunteering, winning awards, and working together. We have a clear purpose, but we make time for fun and building relationships that strengthen us.

Industry-leading benefits: balancing work, life and career growth

It's not just about careers and projects. Our flexible benefits package helps balance home and work life. For example, our enhanced paternity leave - up to six weeks - gives parents the flexibility to share childcare and make career-supporting choices. Adapting to people's needs is something we do well.

Building trust through psychological and physical safety

When we encounter challenges, we pull together and get through. This teamwork extends to safety—creating an environment where people feel confident voicing concerns. Our speak-up culture addresses challenges early, preventing issues before they escalate. For example, we've recently addressed gaps in senior support during site visits, ensuring no one feels isolated. By promoting open communication and prioritizing well-being, we link psychological safety to physical safety, building a healthier, stronger workplace.

2024 highlights: achievements and progress in engineering innovation

I couldn't be prouder of what the team accomplished in 2024. A major highlight was securing our position in the water AMP cycle, which brought in a significant pipeline of work for 2025 through 2029. We've also made excellent progress in nuclear new-build projects, particularly with Sizewell, and seen significant growth in aviation.

This year, we focused on bringing in senior professionals to embed technical expertise and strengthen leadership. We're especially proud that several female colleagues progressed into the senior engineering band, leading the way in our industry. Attracting diverse, talented candidates remains a priority, as it's exactly what we need to drive equality and success.

There's also been a lot to celebrate personally. Our people have won several awards, including NCE Apprentice of the Year and the most distinguished winner at the European Women in Construction & Engineering Awards, showcasing the incredible talent and dedication across D&AT.

2025: leadership opportunities in the water and infrastructure sectors

With our water market share set to grow by over 20% through our exceptional performance in the AMP 8 bidding cycle, there are plenty of opportunities for newcomers to the sector to get involved. If you've managed a large-scale multidisciplinary team in the nuclear sector, you can absolutely apply those skills in water - it's all about leveraging the expertise you already have.

However, it is not all about water and we continue to see strong demand in our other sectors including aviation, defence, energy so in 2025, we'll continue bringing in diverse senior professionals across D&AT. As we expand work with our offshore teams and move more projects offshore, team members will enjoy greater opportunities to lead, mentor, and collaborate internationally.

We're also centralizing efforts to refine and optimize our services. Our goal is to bring everything under one house, streamlining how we work and challenging ourselves to do better. Through initiatives like our Design & Build studio, we'll test and implement these changes at pace, offering you the chance to shape how we work and drive real transformation.

Senior jobs in energy, water, and transport engineering

We have fantastic opportunities in senior technical and delivery leadership roles. We're hiring subject matter experts (SMEs) in mechanical, electrical, process, civil, hydraulics, and computational fluid dynamics, particularly in the water sector. Locations like Leeds, Belfast, Swansea, Exeter, Birmingham, and Manchester offer excellent prospects for lead engineers. Whether you want to step into a senior management job, take on client delivery roles, stay focused on deep technical problem-solving, or work with international teams, there's plenty of scope. We're doing more, doing it better, and offering you the chance to leave your mark.

Sound interesting? Browse our senior engineering jobs