Overview

Grow your career while reshaping the world. Location: UK.

AtkinsRéalis Building Design Practice are looking for an experienced, motivated Senior/Principal Vertical Transportation (VT), lift and escalators Design Engineer to develop their career in a positive environment. This flexible and agile role can be based in one of our UK offices to suit the successful candidate and presents the opportunity to join a national delivery team and work with designers across the UK and internationally through our Global Design Centre.

This opportunity involves working as part of a national practice of Building Design professionals delivering vertical transportation, lift and escalators engineering design solutions to clients across the UK. The Building Design practice works on projects across Aviation, Cities & Development, Defence, Education, Energy, Government and Transportation.

The role requires the ability to work as part of an international team and, when needed, singly in a client-facing capacity, as well as involvement in day-to-day design and management of a varied portfolio of projects. It is an exciting opportunity for an experienced design engineer to further develop their career within a prominent building design consultancy.

Our focus is on developing staff to realise their full potential, with development plans geared to personal needs and abilities. The role provides opportunities to develop existing technical skills on unique, high-profile projects as well as to expand digital skills and become a prominent expert in your specialist knowledge area. We are committed to evolving our ways of working with emerging digital technology and the global reach offered by our size and reach. The ideal candidate will bring strong technical skills, an enquiring mind to contribute to our digital practice, and the ability to inspire and manage large, diverse delivery teams locally and remotely.

The breadth and interest in AtkinsRéalis projects offer crossovers between different solutions. We invite you to bring your enthusiasm and expertise to help develop a team of specialists in lifts and escalators to contribute to innovative and high-quality design solutions. To succeed, you must have technical skills and experience with a detailed knowledge of applicable standards and regulations, a customer focus to deliver what the client expects, and the willingness to go beyond when necessary.

Your purpose

• Lead the design and specification of vertical transportation systems for commercial, residential, and mixed-use developments.
• Prepare technical reports, design documentation, and tender packages.
• Coordinate with architects, structural engineers, and other disciplines to integrate VT systems into building designs.
• Conduct feasibility studies, traffic analysis, and performance assessments.
• Conduct site surveys and commissioning experience.
• Review and approve contractor submissions, shop drawings, and equipment selections.
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior engineers.
• Liaise with clients, suppliers, and regulatory bodies to ensure project objectives are met.
• Stay updated with relevant codes, standards, and emerging technologies in vertical transportation.

What you can bring

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or Building Services Engineering / NVQ Level 3 Lift & Escalator.
• Proven experience in vertical transportation design, ideally across multiple building types.
• Strong understanding of lift and escalator technologies, control systems, and safety standards.
• Familiarity with relevant codes and standards (e.g., EN 81, BS 5656, ISO standards).
• Experience in traffic simulation and analysis tools (e.g., Elevate, Liftdesigner).
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Chartered Engineer status (or working towards) is desirable for Principal level.
• Experience working in a consultancy environment and ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills and passion for innovation and continuous improvement.

Why work for AtkinsRéalis?

We are ranked as one of LinkedIn's Top 25 Companies, where UK professionals want to work and stay once they join. We have also been recognized in the Times Top 50 employers for women.

Our Infrastructure team uses innovation, new approaches and the power of data to help our clients deliver end-to-end projects and programmes for essential future infrastructure. As work becomes more complex, our employees continue to challenge the status quo.

We are committed to engineering better for people and the planet, from our global Engineering Net-Zero programme to creating social value through EDAROTH community housing. We are proud of our active employee networks promoting awareness and allyship for under-represented groups. We also run programmes supporting communities outside AtkinsRéalis, including schools, charities, ex-forces personnel, and professionals returning after career breaks.

Security clearance

This role may require security clearance and offers of employment will be dependent on obtaining the relevant level of clearance. If this is necessary, it will be discussed at interview. The vetting process is delivered by United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) and may require candidates to provide proof of UK residency of 5 years or longer. Please do not mention or include in your application details of any current or previously held security clearance.

We are committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community — a place where we can all be ourselves, thrive and develop. To embed inclusion, we offer family-friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements and employee networks to support staff from different backgrounds. As an Equal Opportunities Employer, we value applications from all backgrounds, cultures and abilities.