Senior Lighting Designer

Our exceptional Lighting team are looking for a contract Senior Lighting Designer to help shape exceptional, sustainable environments that leave a lasting impact. From cultural landmarks to complex urban spaces, you’ll lead projects that blend creativity, science, and storytelling - pushing the boundaries of what light can do. This is your chance to take ownership, influence design at every stage, and bring bold ideas to life in a collaborative, forward-thinking environment.

The Role

• Lead from the front - driving lighting design projects from early concept through to final delivery
• Be a trusted voice for clients, representing Buro Happold with confidence in meetings, workshops, and reviews
• Craft imaginative, elegant, and technically robust lighting solutions across interiors, exteriors, and daylight strategies
• Turn ideas into compelling outputs, producing clear reports, beautiful visuals, and precise Revit-based documentation
• Take charge of project delivery, coordination, site visits, and commissioning stages
• Champion sustainable design considering energy, ecology, and dark skies in every decision
• Support and inspire junior designers, helping shape the next generation of talent
• Contribute to the growth, reputation, and creative culture of the lighting team

Your Skills And Experience

• Degree or Master’s in Lighting, Architecture, Engineering, or a related discipline
• Significant experience delivering exceptional lighting design projects within an engineering consultancy or specialist lighting design studio
• A strong design sensibility paired with solid technical expertise and confidence in specification
• Fluent in industry tools such as Dialux Evo, Relux, Revit, Adobe Creative Suite, and 3D modelling software
• Comfortable leading projects, managing client relationships, and guiding teams to successful outcomes
• Experience managing project delivery, performance, and client relationships
• Strong knowledge of relevant standards, regulations, and best practice
• A genuine passion for sustainability and the wider impact of light on people, place, and planet
• Curiosity about innovation, including the use of automation and smart tools to enhance workflows and design thinking
• Experience with Rhino, Grasshopper, Ladybug, Honeybee, or similar environmental tools is a plus
• Commitment to continuous learning and professional development

Please note you will need to evidence this through submitting a professional portfolio to accompany your CV.

We’d love to see how you think, not just what you’ve delivered. Please include a portfolio showcasing:

• Hand sketches and creative exploration
• Photoshop renders or visual storytelling
• Concept development and design thinking
• Technical drawings (CAD/Revit)

A place for everyone Buro Happold values an individual's flexible approaches to working patterns as an important part of how you work and achieve balance. We welcome applications from those who are seeking flexibility in their careers.

Our exceptional portfolio of projects is the result of the diversity of thought, identities, backgrounds, and experiences that shape us. Appreciating each other’s differences is key, we want employees to feel they don’t have to mask elements of their identity to thrive.

We are working to change the lack of representation of marginalised groups in the built environment. We are particularly keen to hear from anyone who feels they are underrepresented in the industry. We have much to learn from one another. Embracing differences allows us to develop the most innovative and elegant solutions.

Please let us know if there are any adjustments we could make to the application process to make it easier and more comfortable for you. Contact [email protected] so we can work with you to support you throughout your application.

#Hybrid