Principal / Associate Mechanical Engineer

Pertemps; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual discretionary bonus

Hybrid working arrangement

Central London office location

25 days annual leave + bank holidays

Direct access to senior leadership

Job summary

Pertemps seeks an experienced Principal/Associate Mechanical Engineer in London to lead complex building services projects from feasibility to delivery, across commercial offices, student accommodation and healthcare environments. You’ll mentor junior engineers, manage client relationships and provide technical leadership across teams.

The role combines site inspections, design reviews and business development within a design-led consultancy.

Qualifications

• Degree in Mechanical Building Services Engineering or equivalent.
• Approximately 8+ years’ experience within Building Services Consultancy.
• Strong understanding of mechanical building services design.
• Experience delivering projects across all RIBA stages.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary project teams.
• Strong client-facing and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience attending site inspections, surveys and construction-stage activities.
• Excellent report writing and communication skills.
• Commercial awareness and understanding of project delivery processes.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities.
• Chartered Engineer status or working towards Chartership.
• Membership of CIBSE, IMechE or a similar professional body.
• Experience within commercial office projects.
• Exposure to healthcare, residential, education or mixed-use developments.
• Experience undertaking technical due diligence and building surveys.
• Contractor or client-side experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead the delivery of mechanical building services projects from feasibility through to completion.
• Act as Lead Mechanical Engineer across multiple projects and sectors.
• Manage client relationships and act as a trusted technical advisor.
• Undertake mechanical design reviews and provide technical leadership across project teams.
• Oversee technical due diligence, surveys, feasibility studies and building assessments.
• Attend site inspections and construction reviews, ensuring designs are properly implemented.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary design teams and manage project programmes.
• Review calculations, reports, specifications and technical documentation.
• Identify project risks and develop practical engineering solutions.
• Mentor and support junior and intermediate engineers.
• Assist with resource planning and project delivery management.
• Contribute to business development, proposal preparation and client growth initiatives.
• Work closely with company leadership in helping shape future business strategy.

Skills

Client management

Leadership

Communication

Project delivery

Education

Mechanical Building Services Engineering degree

Chartered Engineer status / working towards Chartership

Professional body membership (CIBSE/IMechE)

Job description

Principal / Associate Mechanical Engineer

Principal / Associate Mechanical Engineer | London | Hybrid Working | Building Services Consultancy

Exceptional candidates seeking a higher package will also be considered.

Are you an experienced Mechanical Building Services Engineer looking for a role that combines technical leadership, client engagement, project delivery and genuine influence within a growing consultancy?

This is an opportunity to join a highly regarded, design-led building services consultancy that has built an impressive reputation for delivering technically robust, commercially focused engineering solutions across a diverse range of sectors.

Working alongside an experienced leadership team, you'll play a key role in project delivery, client management, technical oversight and mentoring junior engineers, whilst helping shape the continued growth of the business.

This role would suit a well-rounded engineer who enjoys being involved in every aspect of a project, from technical design and site inspections through to client advisory services, team management and business development.

The Opportunity

As the consultancy continues to expand, they are seeking a Principal or Associate Mechanical Engineer capable of leading projects, developing client relationships and acting as a senior technical figure within the business.

The successful candidate will have broad experience across building services consultancy and be comfortable operating both technically and commercially.

You’ll work across a varied portfolio including:

• Commercial offices
• Student accommodation
• Specialist technical environments

Beyond traditional MEP design, the business is regularly involved in:

• Design management
• Asset reviews
• Construction-stage support
• Decarbonisation projects
• Occupier advisory services
• Pre-acquisition and landlord / tenant technical assessments

As a result, this role offers exposure far beyond a typical mechanical design position.

What You’ll Be Doing

As a Principal / Associate Mechanical Engineer, you will:

• Lead the delivery of mechanical building services projects from feasibility through to completion.
• Act as Lead Mechanical Engineer across multiple projects and sectors.
• Manage client relationships and act as a trusted technical advisor.
• Undertake mechanical design reviews and provide technical leadership across project teams.
• Oversee technical due diligence, surveys, feasibility studies and building assessments.
• Attend site inspections and construction reviews, ensuring designs are properly implemented.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary design teams and manage project programmes.
• Review calculations, reports, specifications and technical documentation.
• Identify project risks and develop practical engineering solutions.
• Mentor and support junior and intermediate engineers.
• Assist with resource planning and project delivery management.
• Contribute to business development, proposal preparation and client growth initiatives.
• Work closely with company leadership in helping shape future business strategy.

What We’re Looking For

• Degree qualified in Mechanical Building Services Engineering or a related discipline.
• Approximately 8+ years’ experience within Building Services Consultancy.
• Strong technical understanding of mechanical building services design.
• Proven experience delivering projects across all RIBA stages.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary project teams.
• Strong client-facing and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience attending site inspections, surveys and construction-stage activities.
• Excellent report writing and communication skills.
• Commercial awareness and understanding of project delivery processes.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities effectively.
• Chartered Engineer status or working towards Chartership.
• Membership of CIBSE, IMechE or a similar professional body.
• Experience within commercial office projects.
• Exposure to healthcare, residential, education or mixed-use developments.
• Experience undertaking technical due diligence and building surveys.
• Contractor or client-side experience.

Why This Role Stands Out

Many Principal and Associate-level opportunities focus heavily on either technical design or management.

This position offers the opportunity to remain involved across all aspects of project delivery, including:

• Site inspections and surveys
• Strategic project advice
• Business growth initiatives

The consultancy operates with a lean structure, meaning senior engineers enjoy a level of visibility, influence and responsibility rarely available within larger organisations.

You’ll have direct access to decision-makers and the opportunity to play a meaningful role in the future direction of the business.

For ambitious engineers looking beyond a traditional Principal or Associate role, there is genuine scope for long‑term progression.

You’ll benefit from

• Direct collaboration with experienced company leaders.
• Exposure to high‑profile clients and technically challenging projects.
• Significant autonomy and influence.
• Opportunities to develop business leadership skills.
• Involvement in strategic decision‑making.
• Clear progression towards Associate Director and beyond.

The business actively encourages senior staff to contribute ideas, challenge convention and help shape future growth.

Company Culture

The consultancy has built a collaborative and supportive environment where technical excellence, professionalism and trust form the foundation of project delivery.

Engineers are encouraged to take ownership, build strong client relationships and contribute beyond their immediate responsibilities.

The culture promotes:

• High‑quality engineering
• Professional trust and autonomy
• Collaboration and knowledge sharing
• Strong client relationships
• Entrepreneurial thinking

With direct access to leadership and a highly collaborative team environment, individuals have the opportunity to make a genuine impact on both projects and the wider business.

• £70,000 - £85,000 salary depending on experience
• Higher package considered for exceptional candidates
• Annual discretionary bonus
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Hybrid working arrangement
• Central London office location
• Clear progression opportunities
• Direct access to senior leadership

Location & Working Pattern: Central London | Hybrid Working

The role offers a combination of office, home and project-based working. Employees typically attend the office around three days per week, alongside client meetings and site visits as required.

Interested?

This is an outstanding opportunity for a well-rounded Principal or Associate Mechanical Engineer seeking a role that combines technical leadership, client engagement, project delivery and genuine career progression within a growing consultancy.

If you’re looking for a position where you can influence projects, mentor engineers, strengthen client relationships and play an active role in shaping a successful business, we’d be keen to hear from you.