Principal Mechanical Engineer

EET Fuels; England; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in the energy sector is seeking a Principal Mechanical Engineer to lead their engineering team, ensuring compliance with safety standards and optimizing plant performance. This role involves significant responsibilities, including management of engineering projects and team development, in the context of the company's low-carbon initiatives with competitive salary and benefits.

Benefits

Competitive Salary

10% Company Contribution Pension (rising to 15%)

25 days Holiday (increasing with service)

Private Medical Insurance

Employee Assistance Programme and discounts

Free Secure On-Site Car Parking

Qualifications

• Knowledge of petrochemical process equipment and safety standards.
• Experience in managing fitness-for-purpose assessments and code-based calculations.
• Proven leadership in mechanical engineering teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead Mechanical Engineering support for plant performance and compliance.
• Ensure adherence to safety and engineering standards.
• Develop and manage Non-Standard Revenue Expenditure Plans.

Skills

Problem Solving

Analytical Thinking

Team Leadership

Communication

Education

Relevant Mechanical Engineering Degree

Chartered Engineer

Job description

Ellesmere Port

Competitive Salary + Excellent Benefits

Do you want to work for a company playing a leading role in delivering the North West’s low carbon future? EET Fuels (Trading name of Essar Oil (UK) Limited) produces over 16% of the UK’s road transport fuels, provides key feedstocks to Britain’s petrochemical industry, and is investing in developing low carbon fuels.

We are a major supplier in the North West and beyond, with customers including major retail brands operated by international oil companies and supermarkets, Manchester Airport, leading commercial airlines, and regional trains and buses.

We’re central to the HyNet project, redefining energy to meet regional low carbon ambitions and national policy targets.

Our company employs over 800 colleagues who are at the heart of everything we do. We have an embedded safety culture, technically challenging work across all business parts, and some of the best training in the energy industry.

For more information, please visit www.eetfuels.com

Please note, we work with a select set of recruitment agencies and are not looking to expand our preferred suppliers list. We cannot accept representations from agencies not on that list.

The Role

We currently have an exciting opportunity for a dynamic and experienced individual to join our Engineering department as a Principal Mechanical Engineer. This role acts as the Subject Matter Expert for Mechanical Engineering support primarily to the Asset Production Unit (PU). Additionally, the role includes line management responsibility for the PU-based Mechanical Engineering team and providing Engineering Technical Assurance for specific PU/Maintenance/Inspection organizations regarding mechanical assets. The role will oversee the development of the PUs' annual Non-Standard Revenue Expenditure, typically $3.5 million per year.

Primary Accountabilities

• Lead Mechanical Engineering support to optimize plant availability, performance, equipment reliability, and ensure compliance with engineering standards.
• Provide assurance for the Production Unit regarding Corrective Action Inspection Requests and Inspection events, managing activity deferrals as per process.
• Contribute to planning and preparation of Turnarounds, including scope definition and optimization, and lead during execution.
• Design and develop day-to-day Maintenance Plant Changes.
• Assess performance, manage the bad actor process for mechanical assets, and support investigations and improvements.
• Facilitate and contribute to the site Risk-Based Inspection process.
• Manage own time effectively, seek guidance when priorities conflict, and support out-of-hours needs and site duty rota.

Strategic Development and Monitoring Planning

• Develop and maintain a 5-year Non-Standard Revenue Expenditure Plan, including budget management.
• Act as PU Focal Point for Capex projects and develop the 5-year Capex plan.
• Work closely with the PU Manager to translate engineering strategies into delivery plans.

Health, Safety, and Compliance

• Ensure compliance with the COMAH Safety Case and manage the Management of Change process.
• Act as a Health and Safety Champion within Mechanical Engineering.
• Ensure adherence to engineering standards and asset integrity to meet process safety and HSE requirements.
• Lead asset assurance activities and approve operational risk assessments and FFP studies.

Leadership and Team Management

• Develop and coach team members, promote a culture of safety and reliability, and support professional development and chartership programs.
• Ensure effective communication within the engineering discipline and lead the Mechanical Engineering Team daily, managing performance and delivery.

About You

Job Knowledge, Skills, and Experience

The ideal candidate will possess:

• Essential: Relevant Mechanical Engineering Degree
• Essential: Chartered Engineer

Experience should include:

• Knowledge of petrochemical process equipment, safety procedures, and systems.
• Experience in multi-disciplinary teams and engineering standards (e.g., ASME, API, British Standards).
• Managing fitness-for-purpose assessments and integrity issues.
• Code-based calculations and procurement experience.
• Frontline Assurance Engineering experience in a Production Unit environment.
• Experience working on a Tier 1 COMAH site, with static and rotating equipment experience.
• Proven leadership in Mechanical Engineering teams and problem-solving in complex environments.

Skills and Attributes

• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and multitasking skills.
• Ability to see the bigger organizational picture.
• Experience developing high-performing teams and mentoring.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to challenge professionally.
• Preferred to be or become a Nominated Engineer (MOC signatory) and an Authorised Engineer (Permit Signatory).
• Willingness to participate in Turnaround activities and Engineering Duty Rota.

Closing Date

This vacancy will close on 16th July 2025.

Benefits

• Competitive Salary
• 10% Company Contribution Pension (rising to 15%)
• 25 days Holiday (increasing with service)
• Private Medical Insurance
• Additional Flex Benefits, including Holiday Purchase
• Employee Assistance Programme and discounts
• Free Secure On-Site Car Parking