Head of Process Engineering - Nuclear

MOTT MACDONALD; Bristol; On-site; GBP 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private medical insurance

Pension contributions match 4.5–7%

Life assurance up to 4× salary

Flexible benefits

Job summary

Mott MacDonald is seeking a Head of Process Engineering to lead the Nuclear, Defence and Civil team. The role shapes projects from feasibility to detailed design, guiding multidisciplinary teams while delivering technically challenging solutions for clients in a highly regulated sector.

The successful candidate will line-manage the nuclear process team, hold Chartered IChemE status, and ensure safety is integral to all process engineering design.

Qualifications

• Provide quality assurance of others’ work and supervise the nuclear process team.
• Line-manage the nuclear process team and ensure safe, compliant design delivery.
• Lead process engineering aspects of multi-discipline design projects.
• Demonstrate broad knowledge of industry standards and legislation.

Responsibilities

• Guide projects from feasibility to detailed design.
• Mentor engineers and provide expert guidance across projects.
• Prepare and review technical documentation; represent the business at client meetings and site visits.

Skills

Leadership

Client-facing

Mentoring

Multidisciplinary collaboration

Communication

Education

Chartered IChemE

Job description

Location: Altrincham, Glasgow, Bristol; UK

Recruiter contact: Erinda Hazizi

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

Overview of the role

Are you an experienced Process Engineering leader looking for a role where you can shape projects, influence clients, and develop high‑performing teams? We are looking for a Head of Process Engineering to join our Nuclear, Defence and Civil team. This senior leader will guide multidisciplinary projects from feasibility to detailed design, working closely with clients and delivering technically challenging solutions.

Key Responsibilities

The role covers all stages of engineering delivery, from feasibility and concept development to detailed design. You will mentor and support engineers, provide expert guidance across multidisciplinary projects, prepare and review technical documentation, and represent the business at client meetings and site visits.

Candidate Specification

• Provide quality assurance of others’ work through surveillance and checking.
• Line‑manage the nuclear process team.
• Hold chartered status with the IChemE or other relevant professional body.
• Lead process engineering aspects of multi‑discipline design projects.
• Possess a broad knowledge of industry standards and legislation.
• Present and defend solutions to complex problems to clients.
• Ensure safety is an integral part of process engineering design.
• Have technical chemical/process engineering experience.
• Demonstrate experience in process engineering design.
• Show excellent communication skills.
• Adapt and work on multiple projects.
• Have client‑facing experience and commercial awareness of FEED projects.
• Support or mentor more junior engineers.
• Actively seek input from other engineers, specialists, facility and project team members to improve understanding and deliver fit‑for‑purpose solutions.

Security Clearance: Offers for this role are conditional upon obtaining the appropriate level of security clearance.

Internal Job Title

Senior Principal Process Engineer

Benefits

Financial wellbeing

• We match employee pension contributions between 4.5% and 7%.
• Life assurance equal up to 4× your basic salary, with an option to increase the level of cover to 6× your salary.
• Our income protection scheme provides a financial benefit, as well as absence and return to work support due to long‑term illness or injury.
• Flexible benefits, including increased life assurance cover, critical illness insurance, payroll saving and will writing.
• Annual bonus schemes reflect our independent ownership.

Employee Ownership

• No external investors; a culture of shared success.
• Employees have a stake and a voice in the business, with direct connection to success through performance bonuses.
• Your stake grows with your career, recognising long‑term impact.
• Opportunities to connect directly with senior leadership through formal channels.
• Senior roles have a direct pathway towards ownership from day one.

Health and wellbeing

• Private medical insurance for all UK colleagues.
• Health cash plan to support everyday health costs and treatments.
• Access to Peppy, providing free menopause support for all UK colleagues.
• Wellbeing program available to you and your family.
• Flex salary to opt into a wide range of health benefits, extendable to family.

Lifestyle

• Minimum of 33–35 days holiday each year, plus the ability to buy or sell leave.
• 10 days additional paid leave for Armed Forces Reservists and Cadet Force Adult Volunteers.
• Holiday entitlement increases to a minimum of 35 days after 5 years’ service.
• Employee saving schemes and discounts from retailers.

Enhanced family and carers leave

• 26 weeks paid maternity and adoption leave, two weeks paid paternity/partner leave.
• Shared parental leave matches maternity leave, up to 24 weeks at full pay.
• Up to five additional days leave for significant caring responsibilities, two paid.
• Policies and dedicated support for military families.

Learning and development

• Primary annual professional institution subscription.
• Opportunities to enhance technical and soft skills via mentoring, formal training, and self‑development.

Networks, communities, and social outcomes

• Wide range of groups including Advanced Employee Networks supporting LGBTQ+, gender, race, ethnicity, disability, and parents/carers.
• Armed Forces Covenant and Gold Award signatories with a dedicated internal Armed Forces Network.
• Social outcomes enabling community impact.