Principal Mechanical Engineer - Water / Wastewater

Egisgroup; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid and flexible working

26+ days annual leave

Professional development and chartered

Global mobility

Job summary

Egis is expanding its UK Water Business and building a high-performing Mechanical Engineering team to deliver major water and wastewater programmes. This role leads mechanical design delivery across the full design lifecycle and acts as the technical lead on multidisciplinary projects.

You will mentor engineers, drive coordination with Process, civil and MEP teams, and support bids and client engagements while promoting lean, digitally enabled delivery and standardised workflows.

Qualifications

• BEng/MEng in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent.
• Chartered Engineer status with a relevant professional institution (e.g., IMechE) is preferred.
• Typically 8–10+ years of mechanical engineering design experience in water/wastewater.
• Experience leading mechanical discipline on multidisciplinary projects.
• Strong knowledge of mechanical treatment/process systems and equipment selection.
• Solid understanding of UK water industry standards and safety regulations.
• Ability to coordinate interfaces across multiple disciplines and resolve complex issues.
• Experience applying modelling, data analysis, and digital workflows.

Responsibilities

• Lead mechanical design delivery on water/wastewater projects across the full design lifecycle.
• Act as mechanical technical lead, owning design strategy, interfaces, risks and deliverables.
• Review and approve mechanical calculations, specs, datasheets, drawings and submissions.
• Lead equipment selection for pumps, piping, valves, tanks and treatment equipment.
• Drive multidisciplinary coordination across Process, EICA, civil, MEP, construction and operations teams.
• Promote lean, digitally-enabled delivery with BIM/3D coordination and standardised workflows.
• Provide technical assurance and support project managers on risk, scope and change control.
• Mentor and develop engineers and support chartership progression.
• Contribute to bids, client engagement and growth of mechanical capability.

Skills

Mechanical design leadership

Client-facing communication

Multidisciplinary coordination

Mentoring engineers

Problem solving

Education

BEng/MEng or equivalent in Mechanical Engineering

Chartered Engineer (CEng) or IEng

Tools

BIM/3D coordination

P&ID review

Hydraulic analysis tools

Job description

About the Role

The UK water sector is entering a period of unprecedented investment and transformation. As Egis accelerates the growth of its Water Business in the UK, we are building a high-performing Mechanical Engineering team to help shape this next chapter.

We are inviting applicants who want to play a meaningful role in delivering major water and wastewater programmes in the UK. Working within a collaborative, multidisciplinary environment, you will contribute to technically robust, sustainable and innovative treatment solutions across nationally significant projects.

This is a rare opportunity to join at a key stage of our UK growth journey, helping to establish, shape and expand a Mechanical engineering capability built on Egis' global infrastructure expertise and long-term commitment to the sector.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead mechanical design delivery on multidisciplinary water/wastewater treatment projects across the full design lifecycle.
• Act as mechanical technical lead on projects, owning design strategy, key decisions, interfaces, risks and quality of deliverables.
• Review and approve mechanical calculations, specifications, datasheets, reports, P&IDs, layouts, schedules, drawings and supplier/contractor submissions.
• Lead equipment selection and mechanical design for pumps, pipework, valves, tanks, lifting systems, packaged plant, treatment equipment and associated process systems.
• Lead mechanical input to optioneering, value engineering, design reviews, HAZOP/SWIFT, constructability, maintainability and commissioning reviews.
• Drive multidisciplinary coordination across Process, EICA, civil/structural, architectural, MEP, construction and operations teams.
• Promote lean and digitally enabled delivery through standardised tools, BIM/3D coordination, hydraulic analysis, data-led design and reusable templates.
• Provide technical assurance and support project managers with technical risk, scope, resourcing, programme and change control.
• Mentor and manage engineers where appropriate, supporting recruitment, development and chartership progression.
• Contribute to bids, client engagement, opportunity shaping and growth of the mechanical capability.

Minimum Requirements

• BEng/MEng or equivalent in Mechanical Engineering.
• Chartered Engineer or Incorporated Engineer status with a relevant professional institution, such as IMechE.
• Typically 8-10+ years' relevant mechanical engineering design experience.
• Background must be from water, wastewater, biosolids/bioresources or oil & gas.
• Proven ability to act as mechanical discipline lead or senior technical lead on multidisciplinary projects.
• Strong technical expertise in mechanical treatment/process systems, including equipment selection, pumping, pipework, valves, hydraulics, layouts and packaged plant.
• Strong understanding of UK water industry standards, CDM 2015, safety-by-design, regulatory drivers and common delivery models.
• Ability to coordinate multidisciplinary interfaces and resolve complex mechanical design issues.
• Strong digital mindset, with experience applying modelling, automation, BIM/3D coordination, data analysis or standardised workflows.
• Confident client-facing communicator with experience leading workshops, technical reviews and design discussions.
• Experience mentoring or managing engineers and supporting technical capability development.

Desirable Skills / Knowledge

• Deep experience in wastewater treatment, clean water treatment, sludge/bioresources, water reuse, pumping stations, chemical dosing, odour control, energy recovery, package plant or complex process systems.
• Experience delivering AMP8, WINEP, SRO, D&B, framework, alliance or contractor-led projects.
• Experience developing mechanical design standards, calculation tools, equipment specifications, QA processes or reusable digital workflows.
• Experience contributing to recruitment, resource planning, bid writing, technical proposals, client presentations or new service development.

Please note that you must have the right to work in the UK to be considered for this position.

What's in It for You?

• An exciting new growth role in a fast‑organic growing UK business, offering clear and accelerated career progression
• Top Employers 2025 - Egis recognised across four continents for excellence in HR practices, having been awarded the prestigious Top Employer 2025 certification. Top Employers Institute is the global authority on recognising excellence in people practices.
• A global leader in green infrastructure - we're proud to lead the way in sustainable infrastructure, mobility and energy, innovating across the entire value chain and every aspect of the built environment.
• Highly competitive leadership‑level reward package
• Hybrid and flexible working
• 26+ days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Professional development, chartership support & global mobility
• Supportive, inclusive culture driven by sustainability and long‑term community impact

Ready to Lead?

Join Egis and play a pivotal role in shapin