Lead Design & Estimating Engineer
Location: Office-based (Northampton NN6 7NY) with occasional travel to project sites across the UK. There may be some scope for hybrid working after an initial period of 6 months.
Hours: Full-time, 9.00 – 5.30pm Monday – Friday
Salary: £50,000-60,000 dependant upon experience
Reporting to: Head of Technical & Design
Who are we?
CTSG is a small, high-growth engineering business that specialises in perimeter security solutions for the solar farming sector. We are trusted by our clients to deliver high-quality, technically robust and efficient systems that protect critical infrastructure across the UK. With demand for our services growing fast, we are expanding our team and looking for an experienced Lead Design & Estimating Engineer to take things to the next level.
What this role is all about
This is a dual-function role that combines hands-on system design and cost estimation with a growing focus on bid-support. You’ll play a central part in helping us respond to tenders and client opportunities – bringing technical precision, commercial awareness and a keen eye for detail to every proposal.
You’ll be working closely with our in-house teams to:
- Produce technical designs and drawings using AutoCAD
- Carry out desk-top surveys and interpret client specifications
- Build detailed, accurate quotations that stack up commercially
- Liaise with manufacturers and suppliers to cost and specify components
- Support (and hopefully, in time, help lead) the bid process, influencing bid / no-bid decisions
- Help shape how we work by actively contributing to the continuous improvement of our systems and processes, and ensuring that best-fit practices are the default.
Why this role…and why now?
We are growing fast. The work is flowing in and we need someone who can confidently and competently pick up the reins on design and estimating – and who has the commercial head to help us win the right work, not just any work.
We are also thinking ahead. There’s great potential for this role to evolve into a more senior position in time, depending upon how things shape up internally. If you are ambitious and keen to step up, that’s something we’ll want to discuss and plan for!
Who we’re looking for
This role needs someone with a solid background in electronic security system design – ideally in solar or perimeter protection – and a good grasp of how bids and tenders work in the real world. We’re not expecting you to know everything on day one but we do need someone confident, curious and willing to role up their sleeves.
You’ll need:
- Strong experience in technical design and cost estimation
- Proficiency in AutoCAD & MS Projects
- A commercial mindset. You’ll understand that good design has to make good business sense too
- An ability to juggle tight deadlines and shifting scopes without losing your cool
- A collaborative approach – we’re a small team and we all muck in
What it’s really like here
We’re proud to be a values-led business, committed to:
Consistency – doing the basics brilliantly
Togetherness – being part of one, united, team
Solutions-orientation – looking for answers, not obstacles or excuses
Gumption – showing courage, resourcefulness and initiative, coupled with positive energy
Let’s be honest – this isn’t a sit-back-and-coast-along kind of role. The pace can be FULL-ON. Turnaround times are tight and things change. A lot. Scope creep? It happens. Curved balls? Yep, frequently. But if you like variety, a decent amount of autonomy, and making a tangible impact in a business where you are genuinely seen and valued, this could be just the job for you.
We are building the plane while flying it, and we’re looking for someone who is energised by that. Someone who is highly adaptable and is comfortable with change, not someone whose success is dependent upon the processes and procedures they rely on.
What can we offer
- Your starting salary will be between £50,000 – 60,000 p.a., depending upon your precise skill-set and experience. We appreciate true value and recognise that this comes in many forms, gained in a variety of ways
- A tight-knit yet inclusive and values-led team, trusted to work autonomously
- The opportunity to grow into a senior leadership role
On top of that, you can expect some fun! We are a passionate and hard-working bunch and whilst we won’t deny that the pressure to perform is felt by us all at times, we know how to kick back and have a laugh, too. Hopefully you’ll like the sound of our CTSG socials and you’ll enjoy celebrating our continued success with us. We also care about our team outside of work. We get that life can be challenging, and we really value the wellbeing of everyone in the business so as part of our benefits package we will offer you membership to Westfield Health. There’s plenty more on offer, too, including a bonus day off on us to celebrate your Birthday. We can share the detail when we meet you…
Think we could be a good match for you?
If you like what you’ve read, we hope you’ll apply! Please forward an up-to-date copy of CV and a brief note explaining why, to: recruitment@ctsg.tech
We’re all about unlocking people potential here at CTSG, and transferable skills are always welcome! We are looking for talented and enthusiastic team players to join us as we grow, and we welcome speculative applications – we’d be delighted to have a chat with anyone who thinks we could be a good match for them.
CTSG is an equal opportunities employer, committed to a culture of equity and inclusion. If you have any additional requirements during the recruitment process or beyond, please feel confident in speaking to us about these.
