Associate/Associate Director Mechanical Engineer( Flexible across various locations in UK)

AtkinsRéalis; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

AtkinsRéalis is seeking an Associate or Associate Director Mechanical Engineer to join the Water team and lead delivery of significant water infrastructure projects. You will mentor engineers, drive best practice, and coordinate multidisciplinary teams across AtkinsRéalis, clients, and partners.

The role offers hybrid working across multiple UK hubs, with opportunities for career progression into technical or leadership pathways and a focus on innovative, sustainable solutions.

Qualifications

• Degree in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent.
• Chartered Mechanical Engineer or extensive industry experience delivering value.
• Proven experience leading technical delivery of multidisciplinary projects within the UK water sector.
• Extensive knowledge of water and wastewater treatment processes, including mechanical equipment, pumping systems, and sludge handling.
• Experience leading and mentoring engineers and technical teams.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills, with a collaborative approach to problem solving.
• Commitment to innovation, sustainability and technical excellence.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a team of Mechanical Engineers, delivering high-quality solutions for water projects.
• Provide technical leadership across the D&AT practice, driving best practice and capability growth.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary teams to deliver integrated solutions and maximise project value.
• Develop and maintain strong client relationships to support growth and bids.
• Collaborate with UK and international teams to deliver compliant, commercially successful outcomes.
• Support practice development initiatives and share knowledge across AtkinsRéalis.

Skills

Team leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Mechanical engineering

Education

Degree in Mechanical Engineering

Job description

Overview

Apply Your Expertise Across One of the Industry's Most Significant Water Portfolios

At AtkinsRéalis, our Design & Advanced Technology practice brings together some of the UK's most diverse engineering and design expertise to tackle the most complex challenges facing our clients, communities, and the environment.

Overview

Apply Your Expertise Across One of the Industry's Most Significant Water Portfolios

At AtkinsRéalis, our Design & Advanced Technology practice brings together some of the UK's most diverse engineering and design expertise to tackle the most complex challenges facing our clients, communities, and the environment. We are looking for an Associate or Associate Director Mechanical Engineer to join our growing Water team delivering a diverse portfolio of projects for UK water companies, local authorities, and environmental organisations. Join us at a pivotal moment for the UK water industry. AMP8 represents a step change in investment, creating opportunities to work on some of the UK's most significant infrastructure programmes in a generation, including strategic reservoir developments, water resource schemes, treatment works upgrades, and major resilience projects that will help secure water supplies for decades to come. This is an opportunity to work on some of the UK's most cutting edge, iconic projects for leading water companies. Alongside these flagship projects, you'll contribute to major engineering programmes across the UK and internationally. We're committed to providing industry-leading solutions throughout the project lifecycle, adding value through client-side and construction-phase support. When you join us, you'll become part of a collaborative community of experts who challenge conventional thinking and push the boundaries of engineering excellence.

You’ll Benefit From

• Working on some of the UK's most complex and high-profile projects.
• Contribute to nationally significant infrastructure programmes
• Shape the future of water services for generations to come.
• A culture that encourages innovation, technical excellence and professional growth.
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements that support work-life balance.
• Structured career development and opportunities to propel your career into technical or leadership pathways.

We offer hybrid working which involves 3 days per week being office or site based. This position is available in any of our main hub offices of London Nova, Epsom, Bristol, Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow or Belfast. It can also be based from one of our regional offices of Leeds, Newcastle, Exeter, Derby, Cardiff, Swansea, Cambridge, or Edinburgh.

Your role

As an Associate or Associate Director Mechanical Engineer, you will play a key role in the delivery of significant water infrastructure projects while supporting the growth and development of the Mechanical Engineering and Water teams.

You Will

• Lead and develop a team of Mechanical Engineers, delivering high-quality technical solutions for complex water and wastewater projects.
• Provide technical leadership across the regional and national D&AT practice, driving best practice, capability growth, and continuous improvement.
• Build, lead, and coordinate multidisciplinary teams across AtkinsRéalis, clients, and partners to deliver integrated solutions and maximise project value.
• Develop and maintain strong client relationships, supporting business development, framework growth, and work-winning activities, including bid and proposal opportunities.
• Collaborate with UK and international teams to deliver innovative, compliant, and commercially successful project outcomes.
• Play an active role in strengthening AtkinsRéalis' technical community, sharing knowledge and supporting practice development initiatives.

About You

We're seeking technically strong, commercially aware engineers who enjoy collaborative working and take a proactive approach to solving complex challenges. You will be confident leading multidisciplinary teams, developing client relationships, and delivering high-quality solutions while supporting and mentoring less experienced engineers.

You’ll Ideally Bring

• A degree in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent.
• Chartered Mechanical Engineer with an accredited UK institution OR extensive industry experience with a proven track record of delivering value.
• Proven experience leading the technical delivery of multidisciplinary projects within the UK water sector.
• Extensive knowledge of water and wastewater treatment processes, including the design and integration of mechanical equipment, pumping systems, sludge handling systems, and chemical dosing infrastructure.
• Experience leading, mentoring, and developing engineers and technical teams, fostering a collaborative and high-performing culture.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills, with a collaborative approach to problem solving.
• A commitment to innovation, sustainability and technical excellence.

Rewards & benefits

Explore the rewards and benefits that help you thrive – at every stage of your life and your career. Enjoy competitive salaries, employee rewards and a brilliant range of benefits you can tailor to suit your own health, wellbeing, financial and lifestyle choices. Make the most of a myriad of opportunities for training and professional development to grow your skills and expertise. And combine our hybrid working culture and flexible holiday allowances to balance a great job and fulfilling personal life. Flexible working is a central part of our culture. So talk to us about what's'ideal for you – full time, part time or buying more leave to cover school holidays. And if you're returning from a career break, ask us how we can help you transition back into work with us. Be rewarded. Find out more.

About AtkinsRéalis

We're AtkinsRéalis, a world-class engineering services and nuclear organization. We connect people, data and technology to transform the world's'infrastructure and energy systems. Together, with our industry partners and clients, and our global team of consultants, designers, engineers and project managers, we can change the world. We're committed to leading our clients across our various end markets to engineer a better future for our planet and its people.

Additional information

This role may require security clearance and offers of employment will be dependent on obtaining the relevant level of clearance. If this is necessary, it will be discussed with you at interview. The vetting process is delivered by United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) and may require candidates to provide proof of residency in the UK of 5 years or longer. If applying to this role please do not make reference to (in conversation) or include in your application or CV, details of any current or previously held security clearance.

We are committed to creating a culture where everyone feels that they belong - a place where we can all be ourselves, thrive and develop to be the best we can be. So, we offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements and employee resource groups to support all employees. As an Equal Opportunities Employer, we value applications from all backgrounds, cultures and ability.

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