Principal Mechanical Design Engineer

Vital Energi Utilities Limited; Cambridgeshire and Peterborough; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading renewable energy firm in Cambridgeshire is seeking an experienced Principal Mechanical Design Engineer to lead the design team for innovative renewable heat projects. The ideal candidate will have a solid background in mechanical design, with at least 5 years of experience, and will be responsible for guiding the team in delivering complex engineering solutions. This role offers the opportunity to contribute to pioneering projects in the renewable heat sector while ensuring compliance with industry standards.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years' experience in commercial building services or heat network design.
• Membership to an applicable engineering institution.
• Demonstrable experience in line management.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design of distributed energy schemes and other major projects.
• Mentor and manage the mechanical design team.
• Ensure compliance with design processes and deliverables.

Skills

Team leadership

Design process leadership

Knowledge of regulations

Proficiency in digital design tools

Education

HNC/HND in Mechanical or similar Engineering

Bachelor or Master degree in engineering

Job description

Mechanical Design Engineer - Principal Level

Are you an experienced Mechanical Design Engineer in East Anglia? Do you want to lead the design of pioneering renewable heat projects? Now’s your opportunity to join Vital Energi!

Due to a growing pipeline, we are looking for a Principal Mechanical Design Engineer to lead our East Anglia Design Team, based in Cambridgeshire.

About the role

As Principal Engineer, you will take an active role in growing and leading the East Anglian office of our Operational Design department. The team produces a broad range of conceptual to technical design of major district and communal heating systems, energy centres, commercial heat pump retrofits and industrial low‑carbon energy generation systems.

The role involves direct leadership of the East Anglia mechanical design team. You will collaborate design team leaders across the UK, helping to shape our continued growth in the renewable heat market and deliver our industry‑pioneering design solutions.

Key responsibilities.

• Lead the design of distributed energy schemes, energy centres, district heating networks and other major projects
• Provide mentorship, workload management and technical oversight of direct report design engineers
• Maintain statutory and regulatory compliance in design processes and deliverables
• Contribute to our continued innovation in engineering practices, digital design techniques and technology deployment
• Ensure time, cost and quality outcomes are achieved in design
• Provide technical support to adjacent project stages, from early pipeline development to construction and commissioning

What you will need

• Educated to at least HNC/HND level in Mechanical, Building Services or similar Engineering discipline
• Membership to an applicable engineering institution
• A minimum of 5 years’ experience in commercial building services, industrial heat generation or heat network design
• Demonstrable team leadership skills, including past experience in direct line management duties
• Demonstrable design process leadership skills, including the delivery of complex multidisciplinary engineering solutions
• Extensive knowledge of applicable laws, regulations and industrial design standards

The following attributes could give you an advantage:

• Bachelor or masters degree in engineering
• Chartership to an applicable engineering institution
• Leadership of renewable heat‑led energy centre design
• Proficiency in standard industrial digital design tools

Applications will be processed within 28 days of receipt. If you have not heard from us within this time period it will mean that your application has unfortunately been unsuccessful.

The company is opposed to all forms of discrimination and will select for employment, training and promotion on the basis of suitability for the job and/ or merit. It is company policy that no job applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment than another on the grounds of sex, race, colour, age, ethnic or national origins, political affiliations, religious beliefs, marital status, physical disability or is disadvantaged by unjustifiable conditions or requirements.

Applicants must have the unrestricted and ongoing right to work in the UK for the duration of employment, without the need for sponsorship. Due to the nature of this role, we are unable to support visa sponsorship or employ individuals with time‑limited permission or conditions attached to their right to work in the UK

Notice to Agency and Search Firm Representatives:

Vital Energi Utilities Ltd is not accepting unsolicited CVs from agencies and/or search firms for this job posting. CVs submitted to any Vital Energi Utilities Ltd employee by a third party agency and/or search firm without a valid written & signed search agreement, will become the sole property of Vital Energi Utilities Ltd. No fee will be paid if a candidate is hired for this position as a result of an unsolicited agency or search firm referral. Thank you