Senior Design Engineer

Overview

We are Uisce Éireann. Every day, we are responsible for delivering secure, safe, and sustainable water services for the people of Ireland. As Ireland's national regulated water utility, our vision is a sustainable Ireland where water is respected and protected, for the planet and all the lives it supports.

Our purpose is to deliver transformative water services that enable communities to thrive. We protect our water supply and pass on a safe and secure water system to a growing population, supporting Ireland's social and economic growth. We are committed to empowering our people through a shared vision and values that guide how we work, where we deliver for customers and communities, we work better together, we do the right thing, we aim high, and we keep each other safe.

Our goal is to attract and develop skilled and talented people from diverse backgrounds who bring a dynamic range of expertise and insights. With a strong, values-driven workforce, we continue advancing Ireland's water services for generations to come.

The Role

The Role: Customer Operations develop, deliver, and support excellent customer service to both domestic and non-domestic customers within a regulated industry. Customer Operations is responsible for managing the customer relationship with the Customer Contact Centre, ensuring timely and accurate customer billing services and implementing the Uisce Éireann customer strategy.

Connections and Developer Services (CDS) are responsible for customer engagement and stakeholder relationship management of all connections to the Uisce Éireann network. The CDSteammanage the customer journey from development concept design, statutory planning process, pre-connection, technical design, site quality assurance, vesting of new asset and final connection and metering, including developing commercial/technical customer agreements, and managing customer funding in adherence to all technical standards, connection charging policy and governance requirements. CDS are responsible for delivering a highly effective customer service, including reviewing and implementing solutions to meet changing customer needs. Collaboration with several key business partners is essential for the successful delivery of connections on behalf of the customer.

Senior Design Engineer reports to the CDS Regional Manager and will be responsible for vetting the design of Water and Waste Water connections' technical solutions, ensuring compliance with CDS technical requirements and the development of Connection Offers. Responsibilities include preliminary design of connections, estimating and creating non-standard Connections quotes, and ensuring that connection proposals align with Uisce Éireann Connection and Developer Services design policies and technical standards. The Senior Design Engineer will also support delivery of connections-related network reinforcement schemes driven by connections demand and in the delivery of network diversions.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Receive and carry out detailed assessment of all pre-connection enquiries, connection applications, diversion applications, planning referrals and attached supporting documentation.

• Perform initial capacity check and liaise with the Water & Wastewater Asset Planning team and Asset Operations.

• Liaise with the customer, if required, to gain any further information to enable the provision of accurate estimation and quotation for the required connection/diversion work.

• Investigate technical compliance of the request; act in accordance with Uisce Éireann policy and guidelines where request is deemed to be non-compliant.

• Investigate the legal status of the request; act in accordance with Uisce Éireann policy and guidelines where request is deemed to be non-compliant.

• Support design and delivery of network development work when the need for new connections warrants expansion and reinforcement, working closely with Asset Operations, Asset Planning & Asset Delivery and/or 3rd party delivery partners.

• Design conceptual technical solutions for infrastructural extensions/upgrades or developments, large housing projects and commercial non-standard new connection installations.

• Investigate any potential future plans for the site that may influence the technical assessment.

• Determine requirement for any additional technical planning in relation to the customer enquiry/application.

• Generate quotes and calculate fees for non-standard connections.

• Develop outline designs for connections and network extensions for further development by the CDS regional contractors.

• Provide support and input to achieving overall compliance with UÉ governance procedures; inclusive of generating reports on proposals, offers and draft agreements.

• Act as escalation point for customer disputes over quotes, estimates and solution design.

• Update UÉ work and asset management systems to request invoices be sent to customer for payment of non-standard connection fees, via customer call centre.

• Review self lay developer designs and agree quality assurance handover to the self lay field engineering team.

• Utilise Uisce Éireann IT systems and Work and Asset Management systems to manage works.

• Provide support to the Line Manager.

• Perform other such duties in relation to work and asset management as Uisce Éireann may reasonably require.

General Duties and Responsibilities

• Collaboration with key internal stakeholders across the UÉ business.

• Responsible for promoting and delivering health and safety commitments across UÉ and its supply chain, reinforcing positive behaviours and delivering health and safety objectives and requirements to the highest industry standards.

• Support the delivery of the Uisce Éireann Transformation Programme, driving results required within the Directorate and supporting organisation-wide objectives.

• Conducts duties and responsibilities in accordance with Uisce Éireann's Information Security policies, standards, processes and controls to protect the confidentiality, integrity and availability of UÉ business information and delivery of critical services, in accordance with the NIS Directive and any other relevant cybersecurity regulation.

• Other duties as required.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Third level qualification (Level 8) in Engineering, or a related degree, with at least 5 years' experience working in connections or Engineering Design.

• Relevant experience of asset management in a utility is required; experience in water/wastewater is desirable.

• Strong knowledge of water & wastewater design, planning applications and connections regulation is desirable but not essential.

• Demonstrated people management experience, with strong people, change management and conflict resolution skills.

• Highly motivated individual who creates a collaborative working environment within teams and with internal and external stakeholders.

• Experience providing coaching in the development of the technical skills and abilities in others.

• Experience of monitoring adherence to policies and controls and leading teams to work to the highest ethical and professional standards.

• Demonstrable experience to continuously developing and improving ways of working and points of escalation for customers.

• Strong analytical skills and ability to identify and analyse problems and potential improvements, and propose and implement solutions.

• Demonstrate adaptability and the ability to change focus and direction in line with business strategy requirements.

• History of successfully challenging current processes and encouraging creative thinking to aim for and achieve standards.

• Ability to be a strong advocate for safety and wellbeing practices and ensure these are constantly being followed within your team.

The closing date for receipt of applications for this vacancy is 30th July 2026.

Please note that applications submitted after this closing date will not be accepted.

Please be advised that if successful you will be placed on the salary range based on your skills and experience. The Market reference point (midpoint) of the range is generally the upper end of the offer where someone is deemed to be fully competent to take on the duties of the role, and leaves room for the employee to progress through the pay range as their experience develops further.

Uisce Éireann is an equal opportunities employer.

We are committed to providing a diverse and inclusive place of work and have a robust strategy and framework called ibelong to enable this. We are an equal opportunity employer and through our recruitment process we welcome and encourage applications from interested and suitably qualified individuals regardless of gender, age, racial or ethnic origin, membership of the traveller community, religion or beliefs, family or civil status, sexual orientation/gender identity or disability.