Principal Building Physics Engineer

Stantec; Bristol; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading engineering consultancy is looking for a Principal Building Physics Engineer to enhance its capacity in the Southwest UK. This role involves leading technical delivery and providing expertise in energy modelling and building performance. Ideal candidates will possess extensive experience and a strong technical background. The position requires collaboration with multidisciplinary teams and client interaction, along with a commitment to net-zero design solutions and mentoring junior staff.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in building physics and energy modelling in a consultancy.
• Advanced proficiency in IES-VE including complex simulation and calibration.
• Strong understanding of passive design and low-carbon buildings.

Responsibilities

• Lead the delivery of building physics workstreams across projects.
• Provide expert guidance on building performance and sustainability topics.
• Mentor early-career engineers and develop training materials.

Skills

Building physics

Energy modelling

Communication skills

Technical leadership

Project management

Education

Degree in Building Physics, Mechanical/Environmental Engineering or related field

Chartership (CEng) via CIBSE, IMechE or equivalent

Tools

IES-VE

TAS

DesignBuilder

Job description

The Opportunity

We are recruiting a Principal Building Physics Engineer to help lead and grow our national capability across the Southwest. Working closely with the senior leadership team, the role will ideally require weekly travel to the Plymouth office.

About The Team

Our Building Physics specialists play a critical role in shaping our design strategy, influencing early-stage decisions, driving energy performance, and ensuring our solutions stand up to technical scrutiny. We work across a broad portfolio that includes science & technology, healthcare, education, commercial, transport hubs, and regeneration projects throughout the UK and internationally.

At Stantec, we create the connections that get people and communities moving. Across our Buildings & Sustainability teams, we design high‑performing, low‑carbon, human‑centred environments. Our collaborative culture brings together engineers, designers, modellers and sustainability specialists to deliver buildings that are resilient, efficient, and ready for a net‑zero future.

When we say community, we mean everybody with a stake in the work we do – from the clients we collaborate with across many sectors, to the populations we reach, to the thousands of us working together to serve them.

Our promise, our values, and our voice support our purpose and guide us in all that we do.

We are defined by more than our services. We are defined by what we stand for, what we believe, and why we do what we do. We make a difference in the world by creating communities.

This is our purpose, learn more here: Purpose & Values | Stantec

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the technical delivery of building physics workstreams across large and complex projects.
• Oversee dynamic modelling (IES‑VE, TAS, DesignBuilder) including thermal, energy, daylight, overheating, natural ventilation and comfort analysis.
• Develop and review energy strategies, operational energy assessments (TM54), embodied carbon considerations and net‑zero design solutions.
• Provide expert guidance on façade performance, passive design strategies, solar control and building fabric optimisation.
• Ensure compliance with relevant UK regulations (Part L, TM52/TM59, EPC requirements) and support BREEAM/WELL/LEED credits.
• Author high‑quality technical reports and present findings to clients, design partners and stakeholders.
• Work closely with Stantec’s MEP, Architecture, Sustainability and Digital Engineering teams to embed building physics into integrated design solutions.
• Influence early‑stage design decisions including massing, orientation, façade hierarchy, glazing ratios, shading strategies and natural ventilation feasibility.
• Support the development of digital workflows and modelling best practices across the Buildings business.

Client & Project Leadership

• Act as a key client‑facing representative for building performance and sustainability topics.
• Support bidding, project scoping, programme planning and technical strategy for major opportunities.
• Build long‑term relationships with public and private‑sector clients including developers, local authorities, universities, healthcare trusts and major infrastructure bodies.
• Mentor and develop graduates, building physics engineers and early‑career sustainability specialists.
• Provide internal technical training and champion excellence in building physics across the UK offices.
• Contribute to shaping Stantec’s national building physics capability, thought leadership and innovation roadmap.

Essential Requirements

• Extensive experience delivering building physics and energy modelling work in a consultancy environment.
• Advanced proficiency in IES‑VE (or equivalent) including complex simulation, calibration and modelling QA.
• Strong technical understanding of passive design, low‑carbon buildings, façade performance and dynamic environmental behaviour.
• Demonstrable project leadership experience and ability to coordinate multi‑disciplinary project teams.
• Excellent communication skills with the confidence to engage clients and present technical information clearly.

Desirable

• Experience supporting net‑zero carbon strategies, operational energy modelling, heat decarbonisation or embodied carbon analysis.
• Knowledge of digital tools, parametric modelling or workflow automation.
• Experience in mentoring and line management.

Qualifications

• Degree (and ideally MSc/MEng) in Building Physics, Mechanical/Environmental Engineering, Building Services Engineering or related field.
• Chartership (CEng) via CIBSE, IMechE or equivalent.

#BuildingPhysics

About Stantec

The Stantec community unites more than 34,000 employees working in over 450 locations across 6 continents. We have been working with our clients and communities in the UK for over 150 years. We plan, design, deliver and manage the development and infrastructure needed to support the creation of sustainable, healthy and prosperous communities.

Our teams provide effective and relevant solutions, translating our clients’ vision into valuable consents, deliverable plans for projects and programmes, and efficient designs for delivery, based on technical excellence and deep market insights. We deal with today’s challenges, but also keep a fairer, better tomorrow in sight, looking at how we deliver clean growth, support radical changes in our economy and meet the needs of future communities.

Stantec provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified employees and applicants for future and current employment and prohibits discrimination on the grounds of race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, genetic information, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. We prohibit discrimination in decisions concerning recruitment, hiring, referral, promotion, compensation, fringe benefits, job training, terminations or any other condition of employment. Stantec is in compliance with laws and regulations and ensures equitable opportunities in all aspects of employment.

Building an inspired, inclusive work environment that attracts, supports and develops world‑class talent is a crucial key to our success. If you are excited by this role but worry that your experience doesn’t exactly align, we encourage you to apply.

At Stantec we want you to perform your best at every stage of the recruitment process and are committed to ensuring it is accessible to all. If you need any support or require adjustments to be made, please contact [email protected] and we will talk to you about how we can support you.