Blast & Security Consultant

Joining Arup

Arup’s purpose, shared values and collaborative approach has set us apart for over 75 years, guiding how we shape a better world.

Our risk, security and resilience practice has helped organisations to understand their exposure to threats and make better risk-informed decisions since it was formed in the mid-1990s. Our team of experts are trusted advisors to private and public-sector clients, providing strategic risk management, technical risk assessment, operational planning, security engineering and counter-terrorism design measures that suit their business needs. Our team apply their knowledge, critical thinking and experience to help our clients to understand and anticipate what could go wrong, and we help with finding better solutions to ensure that risks are effectively managed and controlled. Our team has consistently delivered high-quality advisory and engineering services to clients across a range of markets and industries, including Rail, Energy, Data Centres, Highways, Healthcare, Property and Scientific research facilities.

Watch this short clip to discover how Arup are shaping a better world and how you could be a part of it!

The Opportunity

You will join Arup as a Consultant working in our protective design engineering team with a focus on sustainable development across a range of market and industries. The types of projects you will be involved range from advisory to engineering solution based blast engineering and hostile vehicle mitigation across a range of project lifecycle stages (such as research & development, feasibility to concept and detailed design).

You will work closely with design team disciplines both within and outside Arup on a regular basis including architecture, SMEP, façade engineering, transport and logistics, civil and highways engineering, fire engineering and computational structural mechanics. The candidate has an opportunity to gain a breadth of experience from a broad range of projects in a range of geographic locations, including opportunities for travel where desired.

You will undertake the blast engineering design of a variety of projects, and will quickly developing both technical and business-orientated competencies. Our priority is to attract quality staff who have the ability to work in a collaborative, challenging environment, and who show the potential for technical excellence in their field.

The successful candidate will be able to confidently and articulately communicate concepts of threat, risk and risk mitigation, supported by our threat specialists, will be able to develop and present conceptual ideas, understand the planning, design and construction process in the development of design solutions in a multi-disciplinary design environment and will be able to manage the detailed analysis.

You will: Utilise your knowledge of mainstream structural engineering design practice and develop your understanding of how to model such structures against transient dynamic loading; Provide technical input across a broad range of projects across the resilience, security and risk practice; Support the preparation of threat and vulnerability risk assessments for malicious threats (including terrorism, crime and civil disruption); Carry out blast modelling using engineering software including computational fluid dynamic modelling and finite element methods; Undertake the façade blast engineering design of a wide range of glazed and non-glazed façade systems; Undertake the design of hostile vehicle mitigation measures

Is this role right for you?

We are seeking talented structural engineers who have a broad knowledge of structural engineering design and an interest in specialising in resilient structural design, to join our London team but possibly to be deployed to projects being led from other centres and to further the development of our blast engineering services globally. Arup has one of the most significant protective design teams globally, with teams in London, Manchester, New York, San Francisco, Melbourne and Singapore working together as one global team. 

Unlike traditional codified design, blast engineering requires a very different approach to the design but requires a designer’s empathy with regard to aesthetic, form and function of any proposed facility. As such, this is a great opportunity for an existing practitioner to build their professional and tactical position in the industry, or for a talented structural engineer to move up the food chain, provide strategic input and undertake first-principles design as traditional forms of mainstream structural engineering design are increasingly being automated and undertaken by code-compliant software.

The successful candidate will be able to confidently and articulately communicate concepts of threat, risk and risk mitigation, supported by our threat specialists, will be able to develop and present conceptual ideas, understand the planning, design and construction process in the development of design solutions in a multi-disciplinary design environment and will be able to manage the detailed analysis, design and specification of blast and vehicle hardening measures. Experience in blast engineering or a related discipline is desirable but not essential.

We are looking for the following skills and experience:

• Masters degree in civil/structural engineering with a strong track record in mainstream structural engineering design /  Chartered or close to becoming chartered with the Institution of Civil Engineers, the Institution of Structural Engineers or an equivalent professional institution.
• Relevant professional experience, including experience working on challenging infrastructure or building structures projects
• Experience in the design of structures in steel, reinforced concrete, timber and/or masonry in accordance with British Standards and Eurocodes
• Coding skills such as Python, JavaScript, C# / Ability of using Rhino/Grasshopper
• An understanding of construction methodologies and consideration of buildability issues within the design process
• Knowledge of relevant legislation, regulations, codes of practice and guidelines.

The candidate will be based in the Arup London or Manchester offices and travel out of the UK to meet project requirements will be necessary upon occasion.

Not ready to apply just yet, or have a few questions? Contact Kylie O’Hanlon  - kylie.ohanlon@arup.com Please note, to ensure we remain GDPR compliant do not send your CV directly to us via this email.

What we offer you
At Arup, we care about each member’s success, so we can grow together.

Guided by our values, we provide an attractive total reward package that recognises the contribution of each of our members to our shared success. As well as competitive, fair and equitable pay, we offer a career in which all of our members can belong, grow and thrive – through benefits that support health and wellbeing, a wide range of learning opportunities and many possibilities to have an impact through the work they do.

We are owned in trust on behalf of our members, giving us the freedom, with personal responsibility, to set our own direction and choose work that aligns with our purpose and adds to Arup’s legacy. Our members collaborate on ambitious projects to deliver remarkable outcomes for our clients and communities. Profit Share is a key part of our reward, enabling members to share in the results of our collective efforts.

We also provide Private medical insurance, Life assurance, Accident insurance and Income protection cover. In addition, you’ll have access to flexible benefits to help you look after all aspects of your wellbeing and give you the freedom and flexibility to find the best solutions for you, your family, and your individual needs.

Different people, shared values

Arup is an equal opportunity employer that actively promotes and nurtures a diverse and inclusive workforce. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, regardless of age (within legal limits), gender identity or expression, marital status, disability, neurotype or mental health, race or ethnicity, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, and whether you’re pregnant or on family leave. We are an open environment that embraces diverse experiences, perspectives, and ideas – this drives our excellence.

Guided by our values and alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, we create and contribute to equitable spaces and systems, while cultivating a sense of belonging for all. Our internal employee networks support our inclusive culture: from race, ethnicity and cross-cultural working to gender equity and LGBTQ+ and disability inclusion – we aim to create a space for you to express yourself and make a positive difference. Discover more about life at Arup at www.arup.com/careers/your-life-at-arup

We are committed to making our recruitment process and workplaces accessible to all candidates. Please contact Kylie O’Hanlon at kylie.ohanlon@Arup.com to let us know if you need any assistance or reasonable adjustments throughout your application or interview process, and/or to perform the essential functions of the role. We will do everything we can to support you.

Our Application Process

To understand what to expect next, please visit  https://www.arup.com/careers/arup-careers-uk-application-process

Stay safe online – Arup will never ask for your bank details as part of our recruitment process.

Recruitment Agencies - We have a Preferred Supplier List of trusted partners to assist us when required and do not acknowledge any speculative CVs or unsolicited candidate introductions from agencies not on the list.

Closing Date: 31-04-25