Principal Mechnical Engineer

Aldwych Consulting; Leeds; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave

Private medical cover

Electric vehicle salary sacrifice

Share/stock options

Flexible and hybrid working

9-day fortnight

Professional development programmes

Employee networks

Wellbeing initiatives

Job summary

Aldwych Consulting seeks a Principal Mechanical Engineer to lead data centre and mission-critical projects in Leeds. You will guide design delivery from concept through construction, manage client and consultant teams, and ensure technical excellence and timely delivery.

Candidates should have Chartered status or equivalent, strong building services expertise in data centres, and hands-on experience with Revit, Navisworks and AutoCAD; hybrid working is supported.

Qualifications

• Strong mechanical/building services expertise, ideally in data centres or mission‑critical environments.
• Proven experience leading mechanical design teams on complex projects.
• Good knowledge of relevant regulations and design standards.

Responsibilities

• Lead mechanical design delivery on significant and technically complex projects.
• Manage design quality, technical performance and project delivery.
• Develop and agree project briefs with clients.
• Coordinate with other disciplines and external consultants.
• Support development and progression of engineers within the team.

Skills

Mechanical/building services eng

Team leadership

Revit

Navisworks

AutoCAD

Client relations

Regs & standards

Tools

Revit

Navisworks

AutoCAD

Job description

Principal Mechanical Engineer - Data Centre & Mission Critical

Location: Leeds

Job Type: Full-time

Level: Principal

The Opportunity

A leading engineering consultancy is looking for a Principal Mechanical Engineer to join its specialist Data Centre and Mission Critical team in Leeds.

This is a senior technical leadership role, ideal for an experienced mechanical engineer with a strong background in data centres, mission‑critical environments or other highly technical building services projects.

You’ll take the lead on significant and complex projects, managing design delivery from early stages through to completion while working closely with clients, consultants and multidisciplinary engineering teams.

The role offers exposure to projects across the UK and Europe, covering areas such as data halls, critical engineering systems, live plant upgrades, close‑control environments, trading floors and technical assessments of existing facilities.

The Role

• Lead mechanical design delivery on significant and technically complex projects.


• Take responsibility for design quality, technical performance and project delivery.


• Develop and agree project briefs with clients.


• Manage client and consultant relationships throughout the project.


• Represent the business at client, design and project meetings.


• Lead, manage and prioritise internal project teams and specialist disciplines.


• Coordinate mechanical design with other engineering disciplines and external consultants.


• Delegate, review and check technical work completed by other team members.


• Support the development and progression of engineers within the team.


• Monitor project costs, expenditure and resource requirements.


• Identify and manage technical, commercial and project risks.


• Consider procurement routes and contractual requirements when delivering projects.


• Ensure work is delivered to the required quality, programme and technical standards.


• Contribute to business development and help strengthen existing client relationships.


• Share technical knowledge and best practice across the wider engineering team.

About You

We’re looking for someone with:

• Strong experience in mechanical/building services engineering, ideally within data centres or other mission‑critical environments.


• Proven experience leading mechanical design teams on complex projects.


• Strong technical knowledge of relevant mechanical systems, regulations and design standards.


• Experience working across multidisciplinary design teams.


• Excellent client‑facing and communication skills.


• The confidence to manage challenging situations professionally.


• Good commercial awareness, including project costs, scope and risk.


• Strong organisation and planning skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities.


• Experience representing an engineering consultancy with clients and external stakeholders.


• Strong IT skills and experience with relevant software such as Revit, Navisworks and AutoCAD.


• A commitment to professional development and supporting the development of others.


• Chartered status is preferred, or equivalent professional experience and qualifications.

What’s on Offer

You’ll be joining an established engineering consultancy with a strong specialist portfolio and the opportunity to work on some of the most technically demanding projects in the mission‑critical sector.

The wider benefits package includes:

• 25 days’ annual leave, increasing with service


• Private medical cover


• Electric vehicle salary sacrifice scheme


• Share/stock options


• Flexible and hybrid working


• Opportunity to participate in a 9‑day fortnight


• Professional and technical development programmes


• Employee communities and networking opportunities


• Social and wellbeing initiatives


• Long‑term career progression opportunities

This would suit a Principal Mechanical Engineer who wants to take technical ownership of major data centre and mission‑critical projects while developing client relationships and leading high‑performing engineering teams.

Aldwych Consulting values diversity and promotes equality. No terminology in this advert is intended to discriminate against any of the protected characteristics that fall under the Equality Act 2010. We encourage and welcome applications from all sections of society and are happy to discuss reasonable adjustments and/or additional arrangements as required to support your application.

Candidates must be eligible to live and work in the UK.

For the purposes of the Conduct Regulations 2003, when advertising permanent vacancies we are acting as an Employment Agency, and when advertising temporary/contract vacancies we are acting as an Employment Business.