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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for a Junction Designer Assistant

💰 $45,000 - $65,000

EngineeringCivil EngineeringTransportation DesignCADInfrastructure

🎯 Role Definition

The Junction Designer Assistant plays a crucial role in the successful delivery of highway and infrastructure projects. This individual works under the guidance of Senior and Principal Engineers to produce high-quality design documentation, including 2D drawings and 3D models. The role involves applying fundamental civil engineering principles to the design of road geometry, drainage, and associated infrastructure, ensuring compliance with all relevant standards and regulations. It is a developmental role, offering significant opportunities for learning and professional growth within the field of transportation design.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Graduate Civil Engineer
  • Civil Engineering Technician
  • CAD Technician or Apprentice

Advancement To:

  • Highway Engineer / Junction Designer
  • Senior CAD Technician (Highways)
  • Project Engineer

Lateral Moves:

  • Traffic Engineer
  • Pavement Engineer
  • Drainage Design Engineer

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Assist senior designers in the conceptual and detailed design stages of highway junctions, including roundabouts, signalized intersections, and grade-separated interchanges.
  • Develop detailed and accurate 2D and 3D CAD models for highway junction layouts, including alignments, profiles, and cross-sections, using software like AutoCAD Civil 3D or MicroStation.
  • Prepare high-quality technical drawings, plans, and visualizations for various road and junction schemes in compliance with project and industry standards.
  • Undertake horizontal and vertical alignment design for new and modified road networks, ensuring strict adherence to national and local design standards (e.g., DMRB, AASHTO).
  • Conduct thorough vehicle swept path analysis using specialized software like AutoTURN to verify the operational feasibility of proposed junction layouts for a range of design vehicles.
  • Contribute to the development of comprehensive highway drainage designs, including the layout of pipe networks, culverts, and sustainable drainage systems (SuDS).
  • Produce detailed schedules for essential road elements such as markings, traffic signs, street lighting, and other street furniture to support the overall design package.
  • Collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary teams, including traffic engineers, structural engineers, geotechnical specialists, and environmental consultants, to deliver integrated design solutions.
  • Assist in the preparation of comprehensive design reports, technical notes, and other project documentation required for client submissions and statutory approvals.
  • Perform accurate quantity take-offs from drawings and models to assist the commercial team in developing robust cost estimates for construction.
  • Ensure all design activities are carried out in accordance with current Health and Safety legislation, including CDM (Construction Design and Management) Regulations.
  • Actively participate in design review meetings, clearly presenting your work to senior team members and proactively incorporating feedback to refine and improve design outcomes.
  • Manage and organize project-related CAD data and design files, maintaining strict version control and adhering to the company's quality assurance (QA) procedures and BIM protocols.
  • Provide technical support in the preparation of contract documents and tender packages by supplying essential drawings, schedules, and specifications.
  • Conduct occasional site visits to gather critical survey information, assess existing site conditions, and provide support to construction supervision teams.
  • Utilize GIS software to analyze spatial data, which informs the preliminary stages of junction and highway layout planning and option assessment.
  • Assist in responding to technical queries from clients, contractors, and other project stakeholders throughout the project design and construction lifecycle.
  • Contribute to the production of feasibility studies and option appraisal reports, providing technical input to help clients make informed decisions on potential junction improvements.
  • Apply the principles of road safety audits by meticulously reviewing designs to identify and mitigate potential safety hazards for all road users.
  • Create clear and compelling visualizations, renderings, and presentation materials to effectively communicate complex design concepts to non-technical audiences and stakeholders.

Secondary Functions

  • Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis related to traffic flow or topographical information.
  • Contribute to the organization's goals for digital transformation by adopting new tools and efficient workflows.
  • Collaborate with business units to translate data needs and project requirements into actionable engineering tasks.
  • Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies within the data engineering and project delivery teams.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • CAD Software Proficiency: High level of competence in AutoCAD, with developing skills in Civil 3D and/or MicroStation/OpenRoads for 3D modeling and design.
  • Swept Path Analysis: Experience using vehicle swept path analysis software such as AutoTURN or Vehicle Tracking.
  • Highway Design Standards: Strong understanding of fundamental highway design principles and familiarity with national standards (e.g., DMRB, AASHTO).
  • Drainage Design Principles: Foundational knowledge of highway drainage concepts and, ideally, some exposure to software like MicroDrainage or WinDes.
  • 3D Modeling & Visualization: Ability to work within a 3D design environment and contribute to the production of project visualizations.
  • Technical Documentation: Skill in producing clear, concise, and accurate technical drawings, schedules, and reports.
  • GIS Software: Basic familiarity with GIS software (e.g., ArcGIS, QGIS) for data analysis and presentation.

Soft Skills

  • Attention to Detail: A meticulous and precise approach to all design and drafting work, ensuring accuracy and quality.
  • Problem-Solving: Strong analytical and critical thinking skills to identify issues and assist in developing effective solutions.
  • Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills for collaborating with team members and documenting work.
  • Teamwork & Collaboration: A cooperative mindset with the ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary project team.
  • Eagerness to Learn: A proactive and enthusiastic attitude towards learning new software, techniques, and engineering principles.
  • Time Management: Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks and meet project deadlines.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • HNC/HND, Associate's Degree, or equivalent diploma in Civil Engineering or a closely related technical field.

Preferred Education:

  • Bachelor's Degree (BEng, BSc, or BS) in Civil Engineering.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Civil Engineering
  • Transportation Engineering

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 0-3 years in a civil engineering design office, consultancy, or related environment.

Preferred:

  • Prior internship or co-op experience within a highways, transportation, or infrastructure design team is highly advantageous.
  • A portfolio demonstrating academic or professional project work involving CAD and highway design principles.
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