Senior Consultant - Smart City Design

Want to shape spaces where digital infrastructure and urban life move as one? Your expertise in smart‑city planning might make you the perfect smart city design expert on our team.

Here at Buro Happold, expect the exceptional.

From the projects you will work on to the clients we work with. From career-defining opportunities to an inclusive and diverse practice where we all contribute to a more equitable world. From our reputation to our relationships. Wherever your Buro Happold career takes you, it’ll be anything but ordinary.

Your next role

Buro Happold has a clear strategic plan, strong learning culture and entrepreneurial mindset that will allow you to thrive.

You’ll be part of something bigger than us all where sustainability, equity, social and performance outcomes matter. All of Buro Happold is committed to doing the right thing, even when that’s the hardest thing. This is a genuine opportunity to make impact - and leave real legacy.

Your key duties

We are seeking an experienced smart city design expert to lead the planning and design of integrated, data driven urban environments that leverage digital technologies to improve quality of life, sustainability, and operational efficiency. The role focuses on shaping smart city strategies, designing connected infrastructure and services, and translating technology concepts into practical, people centric solutions for districts, cities, and large mixed use developments. The Smart City Design Expert will collaborate closely with urban planners, engineers, technologists, and public and private stakeholders to deliver holistic smart city visions and implementation roadmaps

As a smart city design senior consultant, you will take a leading role in conceptualizing, developing, and delivering innovative smart city solutions. Your responsibilities will include:

• Develop smart city strategies, frameworks, and concept masterplans that integrate mobility, energy, utilities, public realm, and digital services.
• Define smart city use cases and service portfolios (e.g., smart mobility, smart buildings, digital public services, safety and security, environmental monitoring).
• Lead the design of smart infrastructure layers, including connectivity, IoT, data platforms, and integration with urban systems and assets.
• Translate user needs and stakeholder priorities into requirements for smart city solutions, platforms, and services.
• Prepare smart city design guidelines, standards, and reference architectures to ensure scalability, interoperability, and security.
• Work with technical teams to evaluate and select technologies, partners, and platforms aligned with the overall smart city vision.
• Develop implementation roadmaps, investment plans, and phasing strategies for smart city programmes and projects.
• Support stakeholder engagement, workshops, and co creation sessions with government entities, developers, operators, and communities.
• Contribute to bids and proposals, providing smart city content, methodologies, and thought leadership material.

Your skills and experience

• Minimum 5 years of experience in smart city design, digital urban planning, or related roles in consulting, government, real estate, or technology.
• Strong understanding of smart city domains such as mobility, energy, utilities, public safety, environment, and digital citizen services.
• Experience working with IoT, urban data platforms, GIS, and digital twin concepts in the context of cities or large developments.
• Proven ability to translate strategic visions into concrete requirements, use cases, and design documentation.
• Familiarity with international best practices, standards, and frameworks for smart cities and digital infrastructure.
• Excellent analytical, conceptual thinking, and problem solving skills, with the ability to balance innovation with practicality.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including experience preparing reports, presentations, and client facing materials.

Academic qualifications

The role is suitable for candidates with a strong digital and design background. We would welcome applications from those with degrees in:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering
• Urban Planning
• or a related discipline (or equivalent relevant experience).

Personal Attributes

• Visionary yet pragmatic, able to connect long term city ambitions with realistic implementation steps.
• Collaborative and confident, comfortable working with multidisciplinary teams and diverse stakeholders.
• Passionate about technology, sustainability, and improving urban life through data and innovation.
• Self driven, curious, and adaptable, with a strong commitment to continuous learning and excellence.

What we offer you

• Bring your knowledge and expertise to one of the world’s most respected consultancies.
• Hybrid working arrangements
• Attractive salary and benefits package
• A strong commitment to your continuous development. Whatever stage in your career, we have a learning and development programme that will enable and empower you
• Entitlement to two memberships to professional bodies or subscriptions
• An international culture that wherever your career takes you at Buro Happold, you won’t be far from the exceptional.

At Buro Happold, everyone else’s extraordinary is just our everyday. Apply today and be a part of our legacy.

A place for everyone

Buro Happold values individual's flexible approaches to working patterns as an important part of the way 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 and are particularly keen to hear from anyone who feels they are underrepresented in the industry. We have much to learn from one another. Embracing difference 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 recruitment@burohappold.com so we can work with you to support you throughout your application.

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