Senior Principal Process Engineer 1

Mott MacDonald; Madrid; Hybrid; EUR 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working policy

Private medical insurance

Life insurance

Professional development

Job summary

Mott MacDonald in Spain seeks a Senior Principal Process Engineer to lead our Energy Transition thermal design team, coordinating with colleagues in Italy, the UK and beyond. You will shape engineering delivery and provide technical authority on complex projects.

You will guide feasibility, FEED and detailed design, mentor engineers, support bids, and ensure safe, robust solutions that meet client objectives while promoting innovation and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Extensive process/ mechanical design experience in thermal power plants.
• Lead multiple projects with international teams.
• Chartered status with the IMechE or progress toward chartered status.

Responsibilities

• Act as senior technical lead and technical authority for process/ mechanical engineering on complex, multi‑disciplinary projects.
• Lead the Process Engineering team across feasibility, conceptual, FEED and detailed design stages.
• Provide technical direction, ensure safety and commercial alignment with client objectives.
• Mentor and develop the Process Engineering team and support bids.

Skills

Process engineering

Thermal design

Technical leadership

Project management

Independent judgement

Multidisciplinary teams

Client engagement

Education

Chartered engineer (IMechE) or equivalent

Tools

CAD

P&ID software

Job description

Select how often (in days) to receive an alert:

Mott MacDonald is a global engineering, management, and development consultancy with over 20,000 employees across more than 50 countries and 140+ offices.

We work across incredible global industries, delivering exciting work that is defining our future and making an important societal impact in the communities we serve. Our people power our performance – we succeed when they do. With countless opportunities to collaborate, learn, and grow, the possibilities for excellence are as varied as every individual.

Whether you want to grow as a subject matter expert or broaden your experience with roles across our international community, you’re surrounded by global specialists who want to combine their expertise and champion you to be your best. As a proudly employee‑owned business, we benefit our clients, our communities, and each other, investing in creating the right space for everyone to feel empowered, included, and valued. Whatever your ambition, Mott MacDonald is where people come to be brilliant.

About thebusinessunit

The Energy unit delivers services to clients globally across several sectors including hydropower, nuclear, waste, renewable generation and transmission & distribution networks. Together we provide integrated engineering and project management services across the project lifecycle – from concept and design to construction and operations, to decommissioning or repowering and life extension. Together with our clients, we’re helping to deliver the energy transition globally.

Overview of the role

Due to recent project wins and with further exciting opportunities in the pipeline, we are looking for a Senior Principal Process Engineer to join our Energy Transition business to help lead our growing thermal design team, who are predominantly based in Genoa, Italy.

This is a senior technical leadership role with responsibility for shaping engineering delivery, providing technical authority on complex assignments, developing others and supporting strategic client engagement across thermal, energy transition and related infrastructure projects. The role will contribute to multi‑disciplinary project delivery for thermal and wider energy clients, working with colleagues in Italy, UK and internationally.

You will work closely with our existing team members, clients and subcontractors to build on this success and be a key part of Mott MacDonald’s Energy Transition team’s growth.

The role will suit an experienced process/ mechanical engineering leader who can combine deep technical judgement with commercial awareness, client confidence and the ability to guide multi‑disciplinary teams through feasibility, FEED, detailed design, technical advisory and owner's engineer commissions.

Key responsibilities and duties include:

• Act as senior technical lead and technical authority for process/ mechanical engineering on the design and also technical advisory of complex, multi‑disciplinary thermal and energy transition projects
• Lead the Process Engineering team and work with wider project teams to develop cost‑effective, efficient and innovative solutions to complex problems
• Lead the development, review and assurance of process engineering deliverables across feasibility, concept, FEED and detailed design stages
• Provide technical direction, independent judgement and proportionate challenge to project teams, ensuring solutions are safe, robust, commercially sound and aligned with client objectives
• Own technical quality for significant packages of work, including design reviews, checking strategies, surveillance, governance and compliance with relevant standards and legislation
• Support the development of proposals and bids for the Process Engineering discipline, including contribution to multi‑disciplinary proposals
• Build and maintain trusted client relationships, representing Mott MacDonald in senior technical discussions, workshops, design reviews and bid/client presentations
• Mentor and develop the Process Engineering team, supporting capability growth, knowledge transfer and succession planning
• Contribute to work winning, scope definition, fee build‑up, delivery strategy and risk management for new and existing opportunities
• Coordinate effectively with mechanical, electrical, civil & structural, control & Instrumentation and project management colleagues to deliver integrated, fit‑for‑purpose solutions
• Identify and manage technical, delivery, commercial and safety risks, maintaining ALARP principles and safety‑by‑design are embedded in decision making
• Promote continuous improvement, lessons learned and innovation across the portfolio
• Chartered status with the IMechE or other relevant professional body (or equivalent experience with progress toward chartered status)
• Demonstrable process engineering design experience in thermal power plants
• Strong collaborative skills, with the ability to work effectively with functional teams, sectors, services and people from varied backgrounds
• Experience on international projects, design standards and environments
• Proven understanding of the design process, including working knowledge of briefs, scope documents, design concepts and engineering calculations
• Experience preparing and checking process design deliverables for detailed design and advisory projects
• Understanding of mechanical systems, rotating/static equipment, piping interfaces, plant layout and applicable industry standards
• Experience supporting owner's engineer, lender's engineer, technical advisory, due diligence or design review assignments
• Ability to adapt and work on multiple projects simultaneously in a dynamic, fast‑paced environment
• Strong communication skills with the ability to work collaboratively in multi‑disciplinary and international teams and including the ability to engage with clients, contractors and internal stakeholders
• Experience mentoring junior engineers
• Excellent oral and communication skills, with proficiency in English
• Experience across all stages of the project lifecycle, including feasibility, concept, FEED, detailed design, construction support, operations, decommissioning, repowering or life extension
• Site experience, commissioning support, construction monitoring or contractor/supplier technical review experience
• Experience and supporting work winning activities
• Proficiency in other languages, including Italian and/or Spanish

We are actively recruiting a diverse workforce that is reflective of the communities we serve. We recognise that differences in ability, skills and experience are a strength and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds.

We offer some fantastic benefits including:

• Competitive annual leave
• Life insurance
• An annual professional institution subscription
• Private medical insurance
• Optional benefits via salary sacrifice (restaurant voucher/transport card/day care voucher)
• Continuous development opportunities – because we want you to thrive
• Agile/flexible working – because life isn’t 9-5
• Wellbeing support including access to an independent Employer Assistance Scheme, wellbeing champions and access to learning and support resources
• Access to our Advanced Employee Networks which support our LGBTQ+, gender, race and ethnicity, disability and parents/carers communities
• Our employee ownership model means no external investors, just us, creating a culture of shared success.
• Our employees have a stake and a voice in our business, giving them a direct connection to our success through our personal and group performance bonuses.
• As your career grows, so does your stake, recognising your long‑term impact and contribution.
• Your voice matters, with the opportunity to connect directly with senior leadership through formal channels to help shape our future.
• For our senior roles you will have a direct pathway towards ownership from day one.

At Mott MacDonald, we believe it makes business sense for you and your manager to choose how you can work most effectively to meet your client, team, and personal commitments. We offer a hybrid working policy that embraces your well‑being, flexibility, and trust.

Equality, diversity, and inclusion

We put equality, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of our business, seeking to promote fair employment procedures and practices to ensure equal opportunities for all. We encourage individual expression in our workplace and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels they can contribute.

AI Usage

At Mott MacDonald, we see the value AI can bring, but we take a people‑first approach to hiring. While AI tools can help candidates prepare and build confidence, every application and hiring decision is reviewed by our recruitment and hiring teams. We encourage the responsible use of AI while ensuring we get to know the real person behind the application.

Accessibility

We want you to feel supported and able to perform at your best throughout our recruitment process. If there is anything we can do to make applying or interviewing with us more accessible, please contact us at [e-mail] and we’ll be happy to discuss how we can help.