Principal mechanical engineer (Nuclear)

Burnside Resource Management; Manchester; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Costain is seeking a Nuclear Principal Mechanical Engineer to lead mechanical design activities across projects in North and North West England. The role emphasizes management of technical resources, alignment with regulatory requirements, and delivering multi-discipline design outputs.

The successful candidate will bring extensive experience across the full design lifecycle, leadership capability, and a strong ability to interface with delivery teams while ensuring quality and on-time delivery.

Qualifications

• Extensive engineering design experience across the full engineering lifecycle (tendering to close-out).
• Leadership and mentoring experience to support career development.
• Strong project reporting, KPI tracking, change and risk/opportunity reporting.
• In-depth knowledge of the UK Regulatory framework (CDM, PESR, Machinery Safety Regulations, ATEX).
• Knowledge of design codes and standards (BS EN, API, ASME, WIMES, CIBSE / ASHRAE).
• Experience in Nuclear Mechanical Handling.
• Experience delivering design tasks such as design reviews, drawings, plant/layouts and datasheets.

Responsibilities

• Deliver key design elements on projects by managing technical resources and ensuring quality and timeliness.
• Interface management between delivery teams to drive progress and resolve complex challenges.
• Act as the single point of contact for the project discipline team with budget and resource responsibility.
• Undertake hands-on design production, checking and approval.

Skills

Engineering design

Leadership

Regulatory knowledge

Design reviews

Technical interface management

Job description

A Nuclear Principal Mechanical Engineer is an engineer with specific knowledge and experience within their specialist field and discipline. (Suitably Qualified Experienced Person).

A Nuclear Principal Engineer is capable of carrying out Lead Mechanical Engineers roles on a project or group of projects and may support the career development of fellow engineers.

Typically a minimum of 12 years experience in their discipline or a closely related one.

Proficiency in the delivery of engineering design across a number of work categories.

Experience in the following specialist mechanical engineering fields:

• Nuclear Mechanical Handling

Experience with the following mechanical engineering and design deliverables and activities:

• Technology Readiness Level
• Single Discipline Design Review
• Multi Discipline Design Review
• Design Justification Report
• Mechanical Flow Diagrams
• Mechanical Handling Diagrams
• Design Proposal Drawings
• Plant and Building Layout
• Equipment Specifications and Datasheets

As a Principal Mechanical Engineer, you will be responsible for delivering key elements of design work on projects, primarily through the management of technical resources to deliver on company and client promises. This role requires significant technical interface management between delivery teams, driving progress, ensuring compliance and quality, and resolving complex challenges. You may act as the single point of contact for the project discipline team, hold budget and resource responsibility, and maintain line management duties while executing hands‑on design production, checking, and approval.

This role will make a key contribution to development of Costain’s capability in the specialist area of Nuclear Mechanical Handling to support exciting projects for a number of clients based in North and North West Englan.

Knowledge, Skills, and Experience

Essential

• Extensive engineering design experience across the full engineering lifecycle (from tendering to close-out) within a design consultancy or contractor environment.
• Leadership Support and mentoring experience with the ability to support career development.
• Proficient in project reporting data (KPIs, carbon tracking, change management, and risk/opportunity reporting).
• Extensive working knowledge of the UK Regulatory framework associated with the discipline (e.g., CDM, PESR, Machinery Safety Regulations, ATEX).
• Extensive working knowledge of relevant design codes and standards (e.g. BS EN, API, ASME, WIMES, CIBSE / ASHRAE etc).
• Excellent organisation, communication, and time-management skills with a collaborative approach.
• Experience in the following specialist mechanical engineering fields:
• Nuclear Mechanical Handling
• Experience with the following mechanical engineering and design deliverables and activities:
• Technology Readiness Level
• Single Discipline Design Review
• Multi Discipline Design Review
• Design Justification Report
• Mechanical Handling Diagrams
• Design Proposal Drawings
• Plant and Building Layout
• Equipment Specifications and Datasheets

Desirable

• Experience with supply chain management and in site/construction environments.
• Experience in multiple sectors and an innovative approach to driving new engineering delivery methods.
• Strong working knowledge of stress analysis methods and software.
• Extensive knowledge and experience in one or more specialist areas of mechanical engineering design and delivery (e.g. wastewater pumping systems and treatment technologies, rotating or static process equipment, mechanical handling and lifting equipment, stress analysis methods and software, HVAC & Building Services design)