Principal Process Engineer

Rullion; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Rullion is seeking a Principal Process Engineer to lead water and wastewater process design across projects in the Manchester area. The role combines technical leadership with hands-on delivery, shaping robust, compliant solutions from design through commissioning.

The ideal candidate has 10+ years in process design within water, with chartered status or near-charter, strong IT skills, and experience mentoring engineers; you will guide multidisciplinary teams and support tenders and technical

Qualifications

• 10+ years in process design within the regulated water industry.
• Extensive knowledge of wastewater treatment processes and plant design.
• Proven experience delivering process design for water and/or wastewater projects.
• A relevant degree, HND, or significant practical engineering progression.
• Strong IT skills and ability to work effectively with engineering tools.
• Chartered Engineer status.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of efficient, robust process design solutions.
• Review and approve design deliverables, technical reports and DRAs.
• Check and approve mass balances, process sizing, hydraulic calculations and PFDs.
• Review control philosophies and commissioning strategies.
• Provide technical guidance and oversight across projects.
• Support tender submissions, technical proposals and project planning.
• Direct, mentor and develop engineers and graduates.
• Ensure designs comply with relevant standards and water company requirements.
• Record and control design changes and ensure compliant documentation.
• Participate in HAZOP, ALM, KM and other technical reviews.

Skills

Process design

Water & wastewater

Technical leadership

Mentoring

Education

Degree or HND

Chartered Engineer

Tools

Engineering tools

Job description

Principal Process Engineer - Water

Location: [Manchester / Hybrid]

My client are looking for an experienced Principal Process Engineer to take a leading role in delivering innovative, robust and practical process engineering solutions across water and wastewater projects.

This is a senior technical position suited to a Chartered or near-Chartered Engineer with extensive experience in treatment processes and process design. You will combine technical leadership with hands-on design delivery, helping to shape solutions that meet client, regulatory and operational requirements.

You will play a key role in developing and approving process designs, providing technical direction to multidisciplinary teams and supporting the successful delivery of projects from design through to commissioning.

The Role

As Principal Process Engineer, you will take ownership of process engineering activities across a range of projects, providing technical leadership and ensuring consistently high-quality design solutions.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Leading the development of efficient, practical and technically robust process design solutions.
• Reviewing and approving design deliverables, technical reports, specifications and Design Risk Assessments (DRAs).
• Checking and approving mass balances, process sizing, hydraulic calculations and Process Flow Diagrams (PFDs).
• Reviewing control philosophies and commissioning strategies.
• Providing technical guidance and oversight across projects.
• Supporting tender submissions, technical proposals and project planning.
• Directing, mentoring and developing engineers and graduates.
• Ensuring designs comply with relevant technical standards, professional guidance and water company requirements.
• Ensuring design changes are appropriately implemented, controlled and recorded.
• Working in accordance with formal design processes, procedures and quality requirements.
• Estimating design hours and contributing to project programmes and resource planning.
• Attending and leading HAZOP, ALM, KM and other technical review meetings.
• Reviewing and communicating technical standards, procedures and industry updates.
• Supporting the continuous improvement of process engineering standards, tools and practices.

About You

Essential Experience & Qualifications

• 10+ years' process design experience within the regulated water industry.
• Extensive knowledge of wastewater treatment processes and plant design.
• Proven experience delivering process design for water and/or wastewater projects.
• A relevant degree, HND, or significant practical engineering experience gained through progression from technician level.
• Strong IT and digital skills, with the ability to work effectively with engineering and design tools.
• Chartered Engineer status.

Desirable

• Experience across both clean water and wastewater projects.
• Experience participating in or leading HAZOP studies, ideally as Chair.
• Experience supporting tenders, bids and technical proposals.
• A full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle.

Rullion celebrates and supports diversity and is committed to ensuring equal opportunities for both employees and applicants.