Principal Mechanical Engineer

Severn Trent Water; Coventry; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

28 days holiday + bank holidays

Annual bonus up to £2,250

Enhanced pension contribution

Sharesave scheme

Training and development with Academy

Electric vehicle scheme

Family friendly policies

Two paid volunteering days per year

Job summary

Severn Trent Water is seeking a Principal Mechanical Engineer to lead mechanical design and delivery for water treatment and clean water infrastructure. Based at Finham office in Coventry, you will guide projects from feasibility through to handover, ensuring safe, compliant, and cost-effective solutions.

You will lead multidisciplinary teams, provide technical authority, mentor engineers, and uphold high engineering standards across regulatory and operational requirements.

Qualifications

• Degree in Mechanical Engineering or related discipline.
• Chartered Engineer (CEng) status or progress toward chartership.
• Extensive experience in water treatment and clean water infrastructure projects.
• Strong knowledge of UK water treatment processes, assets, and standards.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary engineering teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead mechanical design and technical delivery of major water projects from feasibility to handover.
• Act as mechanical engineering technical authority on assigned projects.
• Provide coaching and mentoring to engineers and designers.
• Coordinate with Process, Civil, Structural, Electrical, ICA, and Operations teams.
• Support design reviews, HAZOP, constructability reviews, and value engineering.

Skills

Chartered Engineer (CEng)

Engineering leadership

Education

Degree in Mechanical Engineering

Job description

Join Our Team as a Principal Mechanical Engineer working with Water Treatment Works (WTW) & Clean Water Infrastructure!

At Severn Trent, our people are at the heart of everything we do. We’re in the top 5% of utility companies worldwide for employee engagement, and we’re equally proud of our strong Glassdoor score — reflecting how much our people love working here.

Join us to make a positive impact on the environment and our communities, while being valued and supported in a truly inclusive workplace.

If you want to do more, because you care, we want you on our team.

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

Severn Trent Water is seeking an experienced and motivated Principal Mechanical Engineer to join our Engineering and Design team.

This is a permanent position based at our Finham office in Coventry.

You will be responsible for leading the mechanical design and technical delivery of major clean water infrastructure projects. The successful candidate will provide technical leadership across the project lifecycle, from feasibility and outline design through to detailed design, construction support, commissioning and handover.

Working within multidisciplinary teams, you will ensure designs are safe, efficient, sustainable, and aligned with Severn Trent’s operational requirements and engineering standards.

LET’S TELL YOU MORE

Mechanical Engineering Leadership

• Lead the development and delivery of mechanical engineering solutions for water treatment and clean water infrastructure projects.
• Act as the mechanical engineering technical authority on assigned projects.
• Provide technical leadership, mentoring, and support to engineers and designers.
• Promote engineering excellence, innovation, and best practice throughout project delivery.

Outline & Detailed Design

• Develop mechanical solutions for:
• Water Treatment Works (WTW)
• Raw water abstraction assets
• Booster pumping stations
• Clean water storage and distribution facilities
• Progress designs through concept, outline, and detailed design stages.
• Ensure designs meet project objectives, regulatory requirements, budget constraints, and operational needs.

Design Coordination

• Collaborate with Process, Civil, Structural, Electrical, ICA, and Operations teams.
• Ensure mechanical designs integrate effectively with treatment processes and operational requirements.
• Support multidisciplinary design reviews, ALM, HAZOP studies, constructability reviews, and value engineering workshops.
• Resolve technical interfaces and design challenges throughout project development.

Technical Assurance & Governance

• Undertake and coordinate mechanical design reviews and approvals.
• Ensure compliance with:
• Relevant British Standards and Eurocodes
• Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) requirements
• Health and Safety legislation
• Water industry standards and guidance
• Support engineering assurance and risk management activities.
• Provide technical support during construction, installation, testing, and commissioning phases.
• Assist contractors and suppliers in resolving technical queries.
• Support project handover and operational integration.

WHAT YOU’LL BRING TO THE ROLE

• Degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline.
• Chartered Engineer (CEng) status, or demonstrable progress towards chartership.
• Ample experience within water treatment and clean water infrastructure projects.
• Strong knowledge of UK water treatment processes, assets and standards.
• Proven experience delivering outline and detailed mechanical design for complex infrastructure projects.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.

Of course, it’s important that we attract the right skill sets and those with the right experience but we value character, positivity and a caring attitude in equal weight.

We want people who show up and get involved. Those who are ready to be part of something bigger and who want to make a difference because they care. Is that you?

WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU

Working here isn’t just a job. You can build a career at Severn Trent. We’ll reward you for it, too. We have a range of benefits that recognise great work and award-winning training to help you reach your potential.

Here are just some of our favourite's perks that you’ll get being part of the Seven Trent family:

• 28 days holiday + bank holidays (and the ability to buy/ sell up to 5 days per year)
• Annual bonus scheme (of up to £2,250, which is subject to eligibility)
• Leading pension scheme – we will double your contribution (up to 15% when you contribute 7.5%)
• Sharesave – the chance to buy Severn Trent Plc shares at a discounted rate
• Dedicated training and development with our Academy
• Electric vehicle scheme and retail offers
• Family friendly policies
• Two paid volunteering days per year

WHATS NEXT?

And if your curiosity has peaked and you're wanting to find out even more, search #LifeAtSevernTrent on social media.