Principal Process Design Engineer

Alexander Associates; Stretford; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Alexander Associates seeks an experienced Principal Process Engineer to provide technical leadership across water and wastewater projects in the UK. You will own process design activities from concept through delivery, ensuring robust, compliant solutions and tight collaboration with multidisciplinary teams.

The role requires Chartered Engineer status or near-chartered progression, with extensive experience in treatment processes, process design and regulatory compliance.

Qualifications

• Significant process design experience in the regulated water industry.
• Degree or HND in engineering or equivalent industrial background.
• Chartered Engineer status or near-chartered progression.
• Strong IT and digital engineering skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of practical, efficient, robust process solutions.
• Own process design activities from concept through delivery.
• Review and approve technical deliverables and design documents.
• Check mass balances, process calculations, plant sizing, hydraulics and PFDs.
• Review control philosophies and support commissioning strategies.
• Provide technical input into planning, design development and tenders.
• Mentor and develop engineers and graduates on the team.
• Guide multidisciplinary project teams and ensure standards compliance.
• Manage design changes and document control within procedures.
• Support design programmes, resource planning and engineering hours.
• Lead technical reviews such as HAZOP and risk assessments.
• Stay up-to-date with technical standards and industry developments.
• Contribute to methods, standards and best practice.

Skills

Process design

Water treatment

Technical leadership

Regulatory compliance

HAZOP experience

Chartered Engineer

Education

Engineering degree or HND

Job description

We are looking for an experienced Principal Process Engineer to provide technical leadership and deliver high-quality process engineering solutions across water and wastewater projects.

This is a senior-level opportunity for a Chartered or near-Chartered Engineer with extensive experience in treatment processes and process design. The successful candidate will combine strong technical expertise with a practical, delivery-focused approach, helping to develop robust, efficient and compliant engineering solutions.

You will work closely with multidisciplinary teams, providing technical direction throughout the project lifecycle while ensuring designs meet client expectations, industry standards and regulatory requirements.

As Principal Process Engineer, you will take a leading role in process design activities, providing technical assurance and supporting the successful delivery of projects.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Leading the development of practical, efficient and technically robust process solutions.
• Taking technical ownership of process design activities from concept through to delivery.
• Reviewing and approving technical deliverables, including reports, specifications and design risk assessments.
• Checking and approving mass balances, process calculations, plant sizing, hydraulic assessments and process flow diagrams.
• Reviewing process control philosophies and supporting commissioning and operational strategies.
• Providing technical input into project planning, design development and tender submissions.
• Leading, mentoring and developing engineers and graduate team members.
• Providing technical guidance to multidisciplinary project teams.
• Ensuring designs meet applicable industry standards, professional guidance and client requirements.
• Managing and reviewing design changes to ensure they are appropriately implemented and documented.
• Working within established engineering, quality and design management procedures.
• Supporting the preparation of design programmes, resource requirements and estimated engineering hours.
• Participating in and leading technical reviews, including HAZOP and other structured design and risk assessment workshops.
• Keeping up to date with relevant technical standards, procedures and industry developments.
• Contributing to the development and continual improvement of process engineering methods, standards and best practice.

Essential Experience

• Significant process design experience within the regulated water industry, ideally 10+ years.
• Extensive technical knowledge of water and/or wastewater treatment processes.
• Proven experience delivering process engineering solutions for major water or wastewater projects.
• A relevant engineering qualification such as a degree or HND, or substantial practical experience gained through progression from a technical or technician background.
• Strong IT and digital engineering skills.
• Chartered Engineer status, or demonstrable progression towards Chartered status.

Desirable Experience

• Experience working across both clean water and wastewater projects.
• Experience participating in or chairing HAZOP and other process safety/design review workshops.
• Experience contributing to tenders, bids and technical proposals.
• Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle.

This role offers the opportunity to take a senior technical position within a project environment, influencing process design, supporting the development of engineering teams and contributing to the delivery of complex water and wastewater infrastructure.

The successful candidate will be someone who can combine technical authority, sound engineering judgement and a practical approach to project delivery, while working effectively with colleagues, clients and other project stakeholders.

Only those with proof of right to work in the UK should apply for this role