Mechanical Design Engineer

Costain Group PLC; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading construction and engineering company is seeking a Mechanical Project Engineer to assist in delivering AMP8 projects for United Utilities. This role requires a mix of office and site work across the North West and Cumbria. The successful candidate will manage mechanical packages, promote health and safety, and ensure project success through strong stakeholder engagement and collaboration. Ideal candidates will possess relevant qualifications, CSCS certification, and a driving license, with experience in mechanical project delivery preferred.

Qualifications

• Experience delivering mechanical packages across project lifecycle.
• Ability to engage and build relationships with stakeholders.
• Knowledge of regulations including Construction Design & Management Regulations.

Responsibilities

• Promote health, safety and wellbeing in design and delivery.
• Manage mechanical packages and coordinate installations.
• Provide accurate project performance reports.

Skills

Stakeholder engagement

Mechanical project delivery

Regulatory knowledge

Collaboration

Flexible problem-solving

Education

Relevant engineering or project management qualification

CSCS certification

Driving licence

Job description

Costain have won extensive work across the water sector this year to support the AMP 8 investment cycle. We have been appointed by United Utilities as one of seven partners to Enterprise, delivering £5.5bn of projects in the Asset Management Period 8 (AMP8) between 2025 – 2030, and AMP 9 (2030 – 2035). Our scope is to provide project management, design, construction and commissioning services on design‑and‑build schemes throughout the North West and Cumbria region covered by United Utilities. Projects vary in value from £10m – c£600m covering both infrastructure and non‑infrastructure assets on water and wastewater sites with wider Enterprise partners. We are recruiting for a Mechanical Project Engineer to support the delivery of our United Utilities (UU) AMP8 projects from outline design through to commissioning and handover. Working across the project lifecycle there will be a mix of office, remote and site‑based demand. You will work within the wider construction delivery team, engaging with designers to challenge and support efficient design development, supporting procurement and managing subcontractor delivery and commissioning both at their locations through manufacture, and on‑site during installation and commissioning. Throughout this you will support the development of programmes and budgets and once in delivery, manage works aligned to these whilst also proactively monitoring safe and high‑quality delivery. You will be able to communicate and engage with a variety of stakeholders confidently and maintain relationships with all stakeholders and partners (from internal teams to secure specialist inputs, site operators, client teams and supply chain partners).

Responsibilities

• Proactively promote health, safety and wellbeing in every aspect of design and delivery
• Manage mechanical packages, design and installation and all necessary coordination
• Support relevant HAZOP/HAZCON and wider project meetings as required
• Collaborate with the wider engineering team to ensure a robust and realistic sequence of construction, programme and budget for the whole project and support the development of mechanical aspects and interfaces with wider delivery
• Co‑ordinate with the pre‑construction, delivery and wider teams to develop compliant, safe, considered solutions and address technical challenges
• Champion high‑quality delivery from the outset of design, developing processes, systems and initiatives to drive a high‑quality, right‑first‑time culture
• Ensure good working relationships are established with site operating teams, our supply chain partners and wider stakeholders
• Provide accurate and timely project performance reports, ensuring projects are on track and contract requirements are met and share and celebrate success while developing improvement plans and implementing mitigation strategies as required
• Ensure appropriate permits, records and checks are undertaken through installation to meet contract requirements
• Collaborate with the wider Costain framework team (including supply chain) to support efficient and effective delivery to drive continuous improvement

Key Qualifications & Experience

• Relevant engineering or project management qualification
• CSCS certification
• Driving licence
• Experience of delivering mechanical packages across the project lifecycle in a collaborative delivery environment
• Ability to engage and build strong relationships with stakeholders, motivating, influencing and striving for mutual success
• Excellent knowledge of relevant regulations including but not limited to Construction Design & Management Regulations and the Costain Way Requirements in respect of temporary works, lifting, commissioning and handover
• Ability to understand relevant engineering technical standards
• Package management experience and contract awareness to effectively manage subcontract teams
• Solution‑focused and passionate about improving performance in the sector through best practice, process improvements and continuous improvement practices
• Ability to work and learn quickly in a fast‑paced, fun and dynamic environment
• Dedication to doing a great job and exceeding expectations with the quality of what you do
• Flexibility and adaptability to respond rapidly to unexpected events and shape responses appropriately
• Water industry experience (desirable)
• Bio‑resources experience (desirable)
• Experience supporting multidisciplinary teams over multiple locations (desirable)
• Experience of working with both construction and design teams (desirable)
• A personal drive for continued professional development (desirable)

A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that discloses they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer.