Design Consultant

Job Title: Design Consultant – Automated Baggage Systems

Location: Derby (Office Based plus site visits)

Salary: £40k – 70K (DOE) plus benefits

Working Arrangement: Permanent, full-time,office based with some UK travelto customers and airports

Sector: Baggage Handling/ Automation / Warehousing / Parcel Handling

About the Company:

Our client is a well-established engineering and architectural consultancy specialising in baggage handling and automated logistics environments, primarily within airports. They are internationally recognised for their analysis, design, and development of innovative baggage handling solutions. They combine architectural design, engineering and advanced technology to meet customers needs and deliver products that are highly efficient and minimally disruptive.

With a small and growing team, our client is looking for an experienced Design Consultant to expand the consultancy's capacity and broaden its market reach beyond airports over time.

Role Overview:

The role begins with consultative, requirements-led customer interaction and evolves into increasingly technical design activity. You will visit customer sites (e.g., airports planning expansion), gather requirements, propose and discuss multiple solution options, produce high-level concepts and layouts, and then develop selected designs through RIBA-aligned stages so the customer can go out to tender.

You will act as the client's technical representative during tendering, reviewing contractor bids, ensuring alignment with customer requirements, and supporting decision-making. In some instances, the customer may proceed independently after design handover, but the role is built around long-term, trusted consultancy support.

Key Responsibilities:

• Meet customers to understand operational goals, constraints, and expansion needs, and translate these into clear technical requirements.
• Create and communicate multiple high-level baggage handling solutions, including concept layouts and flow strategies, and refine them with stakeholders.
• Produce initial CAD designs and progress the preferred concept through RIBA-aligned stages into a tender-ready design pack, supported by specialist engineers where required.
• Support the tender process by responding to technical queries, reviewing contractor submissions, and ensuring proposals meet the agreed requirements.
• Act as the client's technical representative through selection and early delivery when involved and contribute ideas to grow the consultancy into new sectors.

Candidate Requirements:

Essential:

• Engineering background in mechanical and/or controls engineering.
• Automation experience within baggage handling, parcel handling, material handling, or warehousing environments.
• Solid technical and engineering understanding, able to confidently discuss requirements and solutions with customers.
• Ability to produce high-level concept designs and present / discuss these clearly with customers.
• Ability to produce detailed technical specifications and documentation to support procurement activities.
• Proficient in creating initial designs using CAD.
• Strong customer-facing consultancy skills, with the ability to understand needs, advise on options, and build trusted relationships.
• Willingness to travel across the UK to meet customers on site and support project discussions.

Desirable:

• Knowledge of RIBA stages or structured design lifecycles.
• Experience supporting tenders and reviewing contractor bids.
• Experience using Revit
• Experience using Simulation modelling tools

Benefits:

• 25 days' annual leave + bank holidays to recharge properly.
• Competitive salary, tailored to your experience.
• A warm, social team with a relaxed vibe, expect regular get-togethers and a proper Christmas party.
• Potential sponsorship opportunities for the right candidate.
• Pension scheme to support your future.
• Monday–Friday role with a consistent routine and clear work–life boundaries.
• Real room to grow in a small specialist team; you'll take ownership of customer solutions and play a key role in expanding our developing consultancy area.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: £40,000.00-£70,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Company pension

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Derby DE24: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)

Application question(s):

• Do you have any experience with automated systems within baggage handling, parcel handling, material handling, or warehousing environments?
• Are you confident in discussing technical specifications with customers?
• Are you proficient in creating initial designs and technical designs on CAD?

Work authorisation:

• United Kingdom (preferred)

Work Location: In person