Our Developer Services team plays a vital role in enabling growth across the region, ensuring new customers can access life’s essential services for generations to come. From supporting preplanning applications to delivering new connections, the team manages everything from new infrastructure to diversions, abandonments and the adoption or building over of existing sewers. 

What you’ll be doing as a Senior Designer 

Within Mains Design, we create over 100,000km of new mains each year, supporting customers from households to major developers, SLPs and NAVs. As a Temporary Senior Design Estimator, you’ll manage a varied project portfolio, providing technical expertise throughout the lifecycle and delivering safe, cost-effective designs and quotations that balance customer needs with longterm asset performance and compliance. You’ll also play a key role in guiding customers from initial enquiry to quote acceptance, payment and connection, supported by clear communication, proactive updates and strong stakeholder engagement. 

 

  • Prepare accurate designs and quotations for water mains, diversions, abandonments and new connections. 
  • Prepare and issue work packages to Project Managers and field teams, ensuring smooth progression into delivery while ensuring asset protection, adherence to CDM requirements, and compliance with Health & Safety legislation. 
  • Deliver first-class customer service by acting as a trusted point of contact, responding promptly and professionally to queries, providing proactive project updates, and ensuring the best technical solutions are identified, while maintaining focus on statutory timeframes, SLAs, escalations and complaints to support a smooth end-to-end customer journey. 
  • Support colleagues and design teams with technical guidance and problem-solving. 
  • Manage workload to meet WaterUK and DMeX requirements, contributing to overall team performance targets. 

 

This is a Hybrid role based in the Clearwater Court office in Reading. 

 

What you should bring to the role 

 

  • Proven experience in the water industry with a strong record of delivering high-quality technical outputs. 
  • Strong technical capability, including proficiency in CAD software (e.g., AutoCAD). 
  • Excellent organisational skills with the ability to manage high volumes of work in a fast-paced environment. 
  • Strong analytical and PC skills, including confidence with MS Office and technical documentation. 
  • A collaborative mindset paired with the ability to work independently. 
  • Good understanding of Health & Safety requirements and a customer-focused approach to solution delivery. 

 

What’s in it for you? 

  • Competitive hourly rate of £18.00 - £20.00 per hour depending on skills and experience 
  • 24 days holiday per year, increasing to 28 with the length of service (plus bank holidays)  
  • Generous Pension Scheme through AON 
  • Access to lots of benefits to help you take care of you and your family’s health and wellbeing, and your finances – from annual health MOTs and access to physiotherapy and counselling, to Cycle to Work schemes, shopping vouchers and life assurance. 

Find out more about our benefits and perks (Please note different T&Cs apply if on secondment)

 

Who are we? 

We’re the UK’s largest water and wastewater company, with more than 16 million customers relying on us every day to supply water for their taps and toilets. We want to build a better future for all, helping our customers, communities, people, and the planet to thrive. It’s a big job, and we’ve got a long way to go, so we need help from passionate and skilled people, committed to making a difference and getting us to where we want to be in the years and decades to come. 

 

Learn more about our purpose and values. 

 

Working at Thames Water 

Thames Water is a unique, rewarding, and diverse place to work, where every day you can make a difference, yet no day is the same. As part of our family, you’ll enjoy meaningful career opportunities, flexible working arrangements and excellent benefits. 

 

If you’re looking for a sustainable and successful career where you can make a daily difference to millions of people’s lives while helping to protect the world of water for future generations, we’ll be here to support you every step of the way. Together, we can build a better future for our customers, our region, and our planet. 

 

Real purpose, real support, real opportunities. Come and join the Thames Water family. Why choose us? Learn more. 

 

We’re committed to being a great, diverse, and inclusive place to work. We welcome applications from everyone and want to ensure you feel supported throughout the recruitment process. If you need any adjustments, whether that’s extra time, accessible formats, or anything else, just let us know, we’re here to help and support. 

 

When a crisis happens, we all rally around to support our customers. As part of Team Thames, you’ll have the opportunity to sign up to support our customers on the frontline as an ambassador. Full training will be given for what is undoubtedly an incredibly rewarding experience. It’s also a great opportunity to learn more about our business and meet colleagues. 

 

Disclaimer: Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we may close the advert earlier than the advertised date, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.