Mechanical Project Engineer / Junior Project Manager

James Lewis Recruitment; Reading; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading recruitment firm is looking for a Mechanical Project Engineer / Junior Project Manager for a large CAT B programme in Reading, UK. You will oversee mechanical systems delivery within a Tier 1 environment, coordinating teams and ensuring compliance with project deadlines and standards. Applicants should have a strong mechanical services background, excellent communication skills, and the ability to meet BPSS security requirements. A competitive salary of £70,000 to £75,000 with travel is on offer.

Qualifications

• Experience delivering mechanical building services in fast-track environments.
• Strong verbal communication and issue resolution skills on-site.
• Ability to work under NDA and meet BPSS security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Support project programme and sequencing.
• Lead and coordinate subcontractor progress meetings.
• Manage quality control and technical administrations.
• Oversee health and safety practices on-site.
• Assist in commissioning management and readiness for handover.

Skills

Mechanical systems

CAT B interiors logistics

Controls/BMS enablement

Health and Safety

Commercial awareness

Tools

BIM 360

Navisworks

Job description

Mechanical Project Engineer / Junior Project Manager

£70,000 - £75,000 + travel | CAT B | £10m mechanical package | 80 weeks | Morgan Sindall (Principal Contractor)

Client under NDA | BPSS security clearance required

We are hiring a hands‑on Mechanical Project Engineer / Junior Project Manager to help deliver a large, phased CAT B programme for a confidential client. This is a mechanical‑only package within a Tier 1 environment, with Morgan Sindall as PC. You will support the lead Mechanical PM in driving delivery, coordination and commissioning to a clean handover over an 80‑week programme, taking ownership of defined areas as you develop.

What you are delivering

• Plantrooms and distribution takeover: landlord/base interfaces, LTHW/CHW hook‑ups, pressurisation/expansion, DPCVs/commissioning sets, strainers and flushing bypasses.
• Airside completion: main and secondary duct runs, VAV/CAV boxes, FCU/VRF terminals, fire/smoke dampers, attenuators, final drops to ceiling grids, GRD set‑out and acoustic compliance.
• Waterside and public health: CHW/LTHW headers/branches, BCWS/HWS to tea points and welfare, sanitaryware 1st/2nd fix, local booster/POU heaters, full valving/insulation/labelling.
• Controls and integration: BMS field devices, networks and panels, panel mods, IO testing, graphics and alarms; interlocks with FA, access control and metering for tenant splits.
• Life‑safety interfaces: smoke extract enablement, damper proving, shutdown sequences, black‑building/fail‑safe tests.
• Firestopping and BWIC: sleeves, collars, seals and penetration records; openings, plinths and fixings.
• Testing, commissioning and handover: pressure tests, chlorination/sterilisation, dynamic balancing (air/water), water quality certs, BMS P2P, seasonal commissioning plan, asset tagging, O&M and training.

What you will run day to day

• Programme and sequencing: support 2‑4 week look‑aheads, area drops and ceiling‑close sequencing; coordinate risers, plant lifts, deliveries and access with other trades.
• Subcontractor leadership: assist with progress/coordination meetings, production targets, labour/materials tracking and off‑site fabrication to keep milestones on track.
• Quality control: help manage ITPs, hold/witness points, snag prevention, red‑lines/as‑builts; verify valve charts, damper schedules and asset registers match install.
• Technical administration: manage submittals/samples, plant/kit trackers, O&M data capture and closure of technical queries alongside the senior PM.
• Health and Safety: support RAMS reviews, permits (hot works/WAH), daily briefings/TBTs, housekeeping in congested voids/risers, area sign‑offs pre‑ceiling close.
• Commissioning management: assist in authoring and driving the Cx plan; flushing/chemical cleans, pre‑commissioning checks, TAB, BMS IO, alarms/graphics and client witnessing to PC.
• Commercial awareness: support take‑offs, variation/EWN logs tied to site conditions and late changes; help protect prelims and productivity.
• Handover readiness: compile certs (pressure, chlorination, balancing), BMS trend logs, training agendas, asset lists/QR tags and seasonal commissioning calendars.

What you need knowledge in

• CAT B interiors logistics and micro‑phasing in live environments.
• Mechanical systems: AHUs, FCUs/VRF, VAV/CAV, CHW/LTHW, BCWS/HWS, pressurisation and water treatment.
• Controls/BMS enablement and life‑safety interfaces.
• UK compliance and best practice: CIBSE guides, Building Regs, SFG20‑style maintenance data, water hygiene.
• Tools and reporting: look‑aheads, progress trackers, QA packs, commissioning trackers; BIM 360/Field, Navisworks (view‑only), snagging apps.

What you need experience in

• Strong mechanical building‑services delivery on CAT A/B or similar fast‑track interiors (as Project Engineer, Site Manager or Junior PM).
• Track record helping to drive trades to programme with clean QA and commissioning outcomes.
• Calm, clear communication and the ability to unblock issues quickly on site, escalating where needed.
• Able to work under NDA and meet BPSS security requirements.

Interested? Send your CV and we will run you through the role in detail.