Principal Engineer / Design Manager

At Mott MacDonald, we are driven by purpose and powered by brilliant people. As a trusted engineering, management, and development consultancy, we work with clients to solve complex challenges and deliver sustainable outcomes that make a meaningful difference for the communities we serve.

When you join us as an experienced professional, you will bring your expertise to work that matters while continuing to grow your career. You will collaborate with talented colleagues across disciplines and geographies, contribute your perspective, and help shape better outcomes through technical excellence, innovation, and integrity.

Build on your experience while helping shape what comes next. At Mott MacDonald, you'll work alongside talented people on complex and rewarding projects that make a real difference. We value fresh perspectives, encourage collaboration, and provide opportunities to expand your skills, take on new challenges, and grow your career. Whether you're deepening your technical expertise, broadening your leadership experience, or exploring new opportunities across our business, you'll be supported by a team that is committed to helping you succeed.

The Principal Engineer / Design Manager is a key member of the senior leadership team on a Major Project, responsible for ensuring the technical integrity, coordination, and successful delivery of complex multidisciplinary design solutions. Reporting to the Project Manager or Project Director, the Design Manager works in close partnership with project leadership to deliver innovative, contract-compliant technical solutions that meet client and project objectives.

We are seeking candidates with proven experience delivering major multidisciplinary projects, ideally within the transit, aviation, and building sectors, where they have led diverse design teams through all phases of project development and delivery.

Key activities and responsibilities include:

• Contributing to the design fee estimate and preliminary design schedule for proposals as required.

• Responsible for technical coherence, design suitability, and appropriateness of solutions delivered across a multidisciplinary team.

• Providing the design team with all contract materials, including the design scope and requirements, to deliver the project within budget and schedule.

• Confirming that the design delivers the project’s aims, objectives and defined benefits.

• Providing Discipline Leads with an internal interface, coordination matrix and facilitating clear accountability and responsibility for interdisciplinary interfaces.

• Supporting the Project Manager in developing an effective Work Breakdown Structure (WBS), Cost Breakdown Structure (CBS) and Organizational Breakdown Structure (OBS) to align design delivery with technical assurance and project milestones.

• Enforcing quality processes and making sure that peer reviews are being carried out within each discipline.

• Supporting Discipline Leads and Package Managers with resource planning, deployment and contributing to succession planning.

• Leading multidisciplinary discussions to communicate technical issues, track actions, and drive resolutions that culminate in a coordinated design.

• Preparing, managing, and distributing design standards and technical requirements.

• Interfacing with the contractor’s Design Coordinator on technical and process matters and managing constructability input from construction staff and supply chain partners.

• Interfacing with the Client Owner and Authority’s Having Jurisdiction on technical and design-process matters.

• Maintaining consistent communication with project stakeholders to meet contractual and technical obligations.

• Managing design variances from the standards register and securing approvals.

• Managing the project Technical Requirements register.

• Coordinating the integration of subconsultant and specialist inputs.

• Coordinating completion, review, and issue of technical deliverables.

• Supporting identification of design‑related changes and providing associated cost estimates.

• Identifying and managing design risks and issues and implementing mitigation plans.

• Leading Design Review Meetings and Interdisciplinary Design Reviews (IDRs).

Qualifications include:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related discipline.

• Relevant Professional designation or eligibility for registration.

• 15+ years of experience delivering complex multidisciplinary infrastructure or major projects

• Proven experience in a Design Manager, Engineering Manager, or Design Lead role.

• Strong knowledge of design management, technical assurance, quality processes, and risk management.

• Experience managing design budgets, schedules, resources, and consultant teams.

• Familiarity with major project delivery models (Design-Build, P3, Alliance, etc.).

• Strong stakeholder management, communication, and leadership skills.

• Demonstrated ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and coordinate complex technical interfaces.

• Proficiency with project management, design coordination, and document control systems.

Bring your expertise, curiosity, and drive to make a difference. If you are ready to join a collaborative consultancy where your perspective is valued, your growth is supported, and you are empowered to lead with integrity, we would love to hear from you.

Benefits & Rewards

The expected salary range for this position is from $152,000 - $189,000.

Multiple factors such as qualifications, overall experience, and position responsibilities will be used to determine the successful candidate's actual salary within the expected range.

In addition to base salary, Mott MacDonald offers performance-based bonuses and a comprehensive benefits package, giving employees a direct connection to our success.

The comprehensive benefits and rewards package is designed to support your health, wellbeing, and professional growth. Eligible employees have access to health and dental coverage, wellness resources, retirement savings, insurance and disability protection, paid time off, family leave support, and professional development opportunities. Benefits are subject to eligibility, plan terms, and change.

This posting is for an existing vacancy.

Collaboration at Our Core

At Mott MacDonald, we believe great ideas happen when we're together. Our hybrid approach centers on an in-office culture, with most of your time spent collaborating face-to-face and a minimum of three days per week in the office. We balance flexibility with connection, so you and your manager can choose how to meet clients, team, and personal commitments.

We seek to promote fair employment procedures and practices to ensure equal opportunities for all. We encourage individual expression in our workplace and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels they have the opportunity to contribute.

We are an equal opportunity employer and are committed to providing employment accommodation in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA). Mott MacDonald Canada Limited will provide accommodations to job applicants with disabilities throughout the recruitment process. If you require accommodations, please notify us and we will work with you to meet your needs.