Overview
We are seeking a Principal Urban Designer to play a senior project-running role within our urban design and masterplanning team. This position is ideal for an experienced urban designer who is ready to step up from a Senior role and take on greater responsibility for project delivery, client engagement and team support.
Within our structure, a Principal Urban Designer leads defined projects or workstreams, working with a high degree of autonomy while being supported by Associate and Director-level colleagues. The role combines hands-on design, day-to-day project leadership and active involvement with clients and junior team members.
Your role
- lead the day‑to‑day delivery of urban design and masterplanning projects or defined workstreams, ensuring smooth progression from concept through to completion.
- Play a significant role in design development by shaping spatial strategies and design narratives while maintaining the highest standards of quality and clarity.
- Exercise sound professional judgment in balancing design excellence with practical considerations such as deliverability, programme requirements, and stakeholder priorities.
- Review and coordinate all project outputs—including drawings, reports, and presentations—to uphold consistency, accuracy, and overall quality.
- Manage project programmes, budgets, and resources effectively to ensure timely and efficient delivery of assigned workstreams.
- Coordinate multi‑disciplinary inputs by collaborating with colleagues from planning, transport, landscape, architecture, economics, and engineering, as well as external consultants when required.
- Support robust project delivery by overseeing internal governance processes and ensuring adherence to quality assurance standards.
- Serve as a primary point of contact for clients, leading and contributing to meetings, design reviews, workshops, and stakeholder engagements with clarity and confidence.
- Provide day‑to‑day guidance and informal mentoring to junior urban designers, contributing to their professional growth and fostering a collaborative team environment.
- Support business development efforts by contributing to bids, tenders, and fee proposals, while assisting senior colleagues in identifying new opportunities and maintaining strong client relationships.
About you
- Bring comprehensive experience in urban design and master planning, supported by involvement across a range of project scales and typologies.
- Hold a Master's degree in Urban Design (or a closely related field), complemented by an undergraduate degree in architecture, landscape architecture, or a similar discipline.
- My background includes substantial work on UK-based and international projects, with a concentration in residential-led development, urban regeneration, and strategic land initiatives.
- Possess a strong working knowledge of the UK planning system, including hands-on experience contributing to SPDs, outline planning applications, and design codes.
- Have contributed to infrastructure-focused and complex urban regeneration projects, which has strengthened my ability to navigate multidisciplinary challenges.
- Have participated in work-winning activities, including bid preparation and proposal contributions, and look forward to expanding this experience further.
- My skill set includes strong spatial thinking and design judgement, with the ability to articulate concepts through clear drawings, diagrams, and written narrative.
- Have experience managing projects and defined workstreams, coordinating programmes, and guiding team delivery, along with confidence in leading or contributing to client meetings and workshops.
- Proficient in AutoCAD, Adobe Creative Suite, GIS tools, hand sketching, and 3D modelling software (including SketchUp and Rhino). I also have an interest and growing experience in AI-driven design tools and exposure to BIM-integrated masterplanning platforms such as Autodesk Forma.
- Personally, I am proactive, organised, and take ownership of my work. I value collaboration, enjoy mentoring colleagues, and am motivated by a strong curiosity about cities, infrastructure, and the role of urban design in shaping better places. I am also willing to travel within the UK and internationally as required.
Rewards & benefits
Explore the rewards and benefits that help you thrive – at every stage of your life and your career. Enjoy competitive salaries, employee rewards and a brilliant range of benefits you can tailor to suit your own health, wellbeing, financial and lifestyle choices. Make the most of a myriad of opportunities for training and professional development to grow your skills and expertise. And combine our hybrid working culture and flexible holiday allowances to balance a great job and fulfilling personal life.
Be rewarded. Find out more.
About AtkinsRéalis
We're AtkinsRéalis, a world-class engineering services and nuclear organization. We connect people, data and technology to transform the world's'infrastructure and energy systems. Together, with our industry partners and clients, and our global team of consultants, designers, engineers and project managers, we can change the world. We're committed to leading our clients across our various end markets to engineer a better future for our planet and its people.
Find out more.
Additional information
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 with you at interview. The vetting process is delivered by United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) and may require candidates to provide proof of residency in the UK of 5 years or longer. If applying to this role please do not make reference to (in conversation) or include in your application or CV, details of any current or previously held security clearance.
We are committed to creating a culture where everyone feels that they belong - a place where we can all be ourselves, thrive and develop to be the best we can be. So, we offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements and employee resource groups to support all employees. As an Equal Opportunities Employer, we value applications from all backgrounds, cultures and ability.
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