Principal Mechanical Engineer (Water)

Sweco; Ledston; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible and hybrid working (Flexworks

Policy

Job summary

Sweco is seeking a Principal Mechanical Engineer in Leeds to lead mechanical design for water and wastewater projects. You will guide feasibility through detailed designs, ensure technical quality, and review deliverables such as P&IDs, calculations, and specifications.

You’ll oversee design reviews, support procurement and handover, and mentor engineers while promoting sustainable water solutions. A Chartered or Incorporated Engineer is preferred, with broad collaboration across disciplines.

Qualifications

• A degree in Mechanical Engineering (or equivalent).
• Chartered Engineer or Incorporated Engineer status with the IMechE.
• Extensive knowledge and experience of mechanical design for the water industry.
• The ability to work with engineers from all disciplines and other industry professionals to optimise and develop bespoke and innovative designs.
• Experience in the delivery of water designs and specifications on water related projects for Water Companies, Contractors and industry.
• An appreciation of the implications of works on the environment and knowledge of sustainable solutions, water and wastewater processes and health and safety legislation.

Responsibilities

• Providing technical leadership and acting as Technical Authority for mechanical engineering across a portfolio of projects and frameworks.
• Leading the delivery of feasibility, optioneering, outline and detailed mechanical design packages for water and wastewater projects.
• Taking overall responsibility for the technical quality, consistency and governance of mechanical engineering deliverables.
• Approving design deliverables including P&IDs, calculations, specifications, datasheets, schedules, technical reports and procurement documentation.
• Chairing or providing senior technical input to design reviews, constructability reviews, hazard studies and ALMs.
• Championing CDM compliance and ensuring robust identification, assessment and mitigation of design risks throughout the project lifecycle.
• Providing strategic technical support during procurement, construction, commissioning and operational handover.
• Developing strong relationships with clients, regulators, contractors, suppliers and framework partners.
• Identifying opportunities, shaping project scopes and contributing to bids, proposals and business development activities.
• Supporting recruitment, succession planning, mentoring and the development of engineering capability within the business.
• Driving continuous improvement, standardisation and best practice across mechanical engineering delivery.

Skills

Technical leadership

Mechanical design

Water industry experience

Stakeholder collaboration

Education

Degree in Mechanical Engineering

Chartered Engineer or Incorporated Engineer (IMechE)

Job description

Job Description

Do you have what it takes to transform society?

We are currently looking for a talented and motivated Principal Mechanical Engineer to join our design team in Leeds as part of a multi-disciplinary department providing detailed designs for water related projects in the UK. This role can be worked flexibly with a minimum of 3 days per week in the office and the option of adjusted start and finish times.

Sweco have over 22,000 designers, engineers and consultancy experts across the UK and Europe and, together with our clients, we co-create solutions that address urbanisation, capture the power of digitalisation and make our societies more sustainable.

Our water teams have a global knowhow of industry leading technologies and are providing skills and inventive solutions across the full spectrum of lifecycle services in both water engineering and wider water management. These abilities are recognised by our clients, evidenced not least in our work on AMP8 Frameworks.

We’ll support you to continue to develop your technical expertise so that you can become a real difference maker and develop sustainable and innovative solutions (to address these issues). You’ll join a growing team of Engineers working together towards the best client outcomes.

We are looking for individuals who can challenge conventional thinking and work collaboratively to meet a wide range of business, environment and regulatory challenges for these clients. The role offers an opportunity for successful candidates to broaden and diversify their expertise.

What does the role involve?

• Providing technical leadership and acting as Technical Authority for mechanical engineering across a portfolio of projects and frameworks.
• Leading the delivery of feasibility, optioneering, outline and detailed mechanical design packages for water and wastewater projects.
• Taking overall responsibility for the technical quality, consistency and governance of mechanical engineering deliverables.
• Approving design deliverables including P&IDs, calculations, specifications, datasheets, schedules, technical reports and procurement documentation.
• Chairing or providing senior technical input to design reviews, constructability reviews, hazard studies and ALMs.
• Championing CDM compliance and ensuring robust identification, assessment and mitigation of design risks throughout the project lifecycle.
• Providing strategic technical support during procurement, construction, commissioning and operational handover.
• Developing strong relationships with clients, regulators, contractors, suppliers and framework partners.
• Identifying opportunities, shaping project scopes and contributing to bids, proposals and business development activities.
• Supporting recruitment, succession planning, mentoring and the development of engineering capability within the business.
• Driving continuous improvement, standardisation and best practice across mechanical engineering delivery.

To be successful in this role you will have:

• A degree in Mechanical Engineering (or equivalent).
• Chartered Engineer or Incorporated Engineer status with the IMechE.
• Extensive knowledge and experience of mechanical design for the water industry.
• The ability to work with engineers from all disciplines and other industry professionals to optimise and develop bespoke and innovative designs.
• Experience in the delivery of water designs and specifications on water related projects for Water Companies, Contractors and industry.
• An appreciation of the implications of works on the environment and knowledge of sustainable solutions, water and wastewater processes and health and safety legislation.

What’s in it for you?

This is an exciting time to join Sweco, and if you want to be part of a company who is small in all the best ways but large enough to provide a diverse and exciting workload, this may be the job for you.

If you believe you have the skill set required, are keen to join a business with genuine opportunities for career progression, then we’d love to hear from you.

Let’s transform society together!

Employee Benefits

• Flexible and hybrid working (Flexworks Policy)
• Competitive pension contribution
• Life Assurance
• Private Medical Insurance
• Company car or car allowance
• Discretionary Annual Bonus Scheme
• Payment of two relevant professional subscriptions
• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays (with the option to purchase up to 5 additional days per year)
• Cycle2Work Scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme (wellbeing, mental health, financial and work advice)
• Employee discounts via Sweco Benefit Select (Faircare)
• Salary Sacrifice Electric Vehicle Scheme
• We plant a tree for all new starters!