Principal Mechanical Engineer

ibse; Maidenhead; Hybrid; GBP 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible & hybrid working

Pension & life assurance

Private healthcare

Car allowance or company vehicle

Annual bonus

Professional membership support

Generous annual leave

Wellbeing programmes

Employee discounts

EV salary sacrifice

Job summary

ibse is seeking a Principal Mechanical Building Services Engineer to lead the design of innovative, sustainable building services across a diverse UK portfolio. You will own delivery from concept to completion, guiding teams, mentoring staff and maintaining client relationships.

The role requires Chartered Engineer status, a Mechanical Engineering degree, and extensive building services experience across sectors, with a strong grasp of UK regulations and energy-conscious design practices.

Qualifications

• Degree in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent.
• Chartered Engineer status (CEng) or equivalent.
• Experience delivering mechanical building services across multiple sectors.
• Ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and manage client relationships.
• Strong knowledge of UK regulations, guidance and standards.
• Excellent communication with technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead mechanical design from concept through to project completion on complex schemes.
• Interface with clients, translating business needs into practical engineering solutions.
• Support inception activities including briefs, technical workshops and design reviews.
• Embed low-carbon and energy-conscious design principles across delivery stages.
• Provide technical direction and mentoring to engineers and technicians.
• Manage project deliverables to meet programme, budget and quality targets.
• Promote use of digital design tools and BIM-enabled workflows.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of processes, standards and technical excellence.
• Collaborate across regional teams to support business growth.

Skills

Leadership

Client relationship management

Project management

Communication

Mentoring

Low-energy design awareness

Education

Degree in Mechanical Engineering

Chartered Engineer (CEng)

Tools

BIM

Job description

A leading multidisciplinary engineering consultancy is seeking an experienced and forward-thinking Principal Mechanical Building Services Engineer to join its growing UK team. This is a key leadership role focused on delivering innovative, sustainable building services solutions while acting as a trusted advisor to a diverse client base. This organisation is committed to delivering sustainable, future-focused solutions to the built environment’s most pressing challenges. You’ll be joining a collaborative team of experts working at the forefront of engineering design, with the autonomy to make an impact and the support to grow your career.

Role:

You will take ownership of mechanical design delivery across a broad portfolio of projects spanning sectors such as commercial, residential, hospitality, and energy efficiency. Working within collaborative, cross-disciplinary teams, you will play a central role in shaping both technical outcomes and team development.

Responsibilities:

• Leading mechanical design from early concept through to project completion on complex schemes
• Acting as a primary client interface, translating business needs into practical engineering solutions
• Supporting project inception activities including brief development, technical workshops, and design reviews
• Embedding low-carbon and energy-conscious design principles into all stages of delivery
• Providing technical direction and mentoring to engineers and technicians
• Managing project deliverables to meet programme, budget, and quality expectations
• Promoting the effective use of digital design tools and coordinated workflows (e.g. BIM environments)
• Contributing to continuous improvement of processes, standards, and technical excellence across the business
• Collaborating across regional teams to support wider business growth and capability

Requirements:

You will be a confident leader with strong technical grounding and a collaborative approach.

• Degree-qualified in Mechanical Engineering or similar discipline
• Chartered Engineer status (or equivalent)
• Extensive experience in building services design across multiple sectors
• Demonstrated ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and manage client relationships
• Strong understanding of UK regulations, industry guidance, and best practice standards
• Proven experience delivering sustainable and low-energy design solutionsExcellent communication skills with both technical and non-technical stakeholders

Strengths:

• Deep knowledge of HVAC and integrated building systems
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capability
• Commercial awareness and ability to balance innovation with deliverability
• Organised and proactive, with the ability to manage competing priorities
• Passion for mentoring and developing others

Offer:

• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements
• Competitive pension and life assurance
• Private healthcare provision
• Car allowance or company vehicle option
• Annual bonus scheme
• Professional membership support
• Generous annual leave with option to purchase additional days
• Wellbeing and employee support programmes
• Access to retail and lifestyle discounts
• Electric vehicle salary sacrifice scheme