Principal Process Engineer

JN Bentley; West of England; On-site; GBP 85,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension contributions

Annual bonus scheme

Private medical insurance

Flexible benefits

Job summary

Mott MacDonald Bentley, a capital delivery partner serving the UK water market, requires a Principal Process Engineer to lead process design from concept through commissioning. You will guide studies, models, and technical standards for wastewater schemes around Bournemouth, Poole and South Dorset, ensuring safe, compliant solutions.

You will mentor graduates and engineers, collaborate with commercial and construction teams, and drive innovations to reduce whole-life costs and meet net-zero

Qualifications

• Minimum degree in chemical or process engineering with relevant chartered status.
• Experience delivering wastewater process design and plant projects in water sector.
• Familiarity with HAZOP studies.
• Proven ability to deliver high-quality outputs meeting design, quality and safety standards.

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee design and deliverables for process engineering on projects.
• Analyse site performance and identify risks; develop mitigations.
• Challenge process selection for best value solutions; drive innovation.
• Collaborate with commercial, operational and construction teams to develop safe solutions.
• Mentor Graduates and Engineers to develop their knowledge and skills.
• Engage with clients and manage relationships to support aims.
• Undertake site reviews to ensure buildability and integration with existing systems.

Skills

Water/wastewater process design

HAZOP facilitation

Project delivery of water/wastewater

Quality and safety standards adherence

Education

Chemical Engineering or Process Engineering degree

Chartered membership (ICE/IMechE) or equivalent

Job description

Internal applicants are welcome. Mott MacDonald Bentley have been named a capital delivery partner on two multi-million‑pound "lots" that will see the company deliver projects across the region through to 2030 - with the potential for a five‑year extension into AMP9 thereafter.

Wessex Water serves 2.9 million customers with water and sewerage services across the south west of England. Set for record investment in AMP8 – more than double that of AMP7 – MMB will bring its strong track record of innovation and direct‑delivery to drive a programme of work. We will be delivering schemes located around Bournemouth, Poole and South Dorset area.

As Principal Process Engineer, you will contribute to projects that significantly impact our environment and communities. Working primarily in the UK water market, MMB provides the feasibility, design, construction, and commissioning services needed to keep water flowing and wastewater treated.

You will play a pivotal role in shaping the process functions throughout the lifecycle of various projects. From concept design to commissioning, you will ensure that all process aspects are meticulously considered and integrated.

The role of a Principal Process Engineer includes:

• Lead and oversee the design, planning, and execution of process engineering on projects. Lead development of process design process deliverables such as process models, mass balances, control philosophies.
• Analyse site performance and identify risks that may impact project delivery. Develop mitigation to avoid negative impacts or exploit opportunities.
• Challenge the process selection and delivery effectiveness of initial solutions to ensure we always offer our clients the best value solutions.
• Identify opportunities for innovation to meet whole‑life cost and net‑zero drivers.
• Preparing and reviewing designs for schemes and ensuring all designs are fit for purpose and meet current legislation and standards.
• Producing and reviewing technical specifications and schedules for procurement activities, reviewing supplier tender bids and technical submissions.
• Identifying opportunities to improve delivery processes including development and implementation of standard designs, sustainable solutions, and digital tools.
• Acting as technical checker on project documents, and undertaking technical reviews for projects across teams.
• Working closely and collaboratively with the commercial, operational and construction teams to develop efficient, practical and safe solutions throughout design stages, construction and beyond.
• Supervising and mentoring our Graduates and Engineers assisting them to develop their knowledge and skills.
• Positively engage with the client, managing relationships and adopting a one‑team approach to supporting them in achieving their aims.
• Undertaking site reviews to ensure buildability of solutions and integration within the existing systems.

What you’ll need:

• Chemical Engineering or relevant Process Engineering related degree, or related field
• Chartered member of professional institution e.g ICE, IMechE, etc, or equivalent experience
• Experience and understanding of water and/or wastewater unit processes and treatment plant, with experience of delivering process design for wastewater projects.
• Experience of HAZOP studies as chair or team member would be advantageous
• Experience with water, or wastewater, non‑infrastructure or infrastructure projects
• Experience of successfully delivering high quality outputs in accordance with design, quality and safety standards

What’s in it for you:

Financial wellbeing

• MMB match employee pension contributions between 4.5% and 7%.
• As an independently owned business we share the financial success of the business with all our colleagues including our annual bonus schemes.
• Payment of annual professional institution subscription costs.

Health and wellbeing

• A minimum of 33 days holiday each year, inclusive of public holidays, with the ability to buy, sell or carry over annual leave through our flexible benefits programme.
• Access to Life Assurance / Private Medical Insurance / Critical Illness Insurance and Health Screening options.
• We are happy to talk openly about flexible working and how we can support your responsibilities beyond the workplace.
• Join a wide range of groups including our Advanced Employee Networks which support our LGBTQ+, gender, race and ethnicity, disability, and parents/carers communities.

Enhanced family and carers leave

• Enhanced family leave policies, including 26 weeks paid maternity and adoption leave, and two weeks paid paternity/partner leave plus the option for shared parental leave.
• Up to 2 paid additional days leave are provided for those with significant caring responsibilities.

Learning and development

• MMB are committed to empowering our people to grow professionally and thrive in their careers. We offer structured development schemes that support your journey towards professional chartership. From day one, employees are fast‑tracked towards chartership reviews and benefit from mentorship, hands‑on experience, and tailored training opportunities.
• Mott MacDonald Bentley are not currently offering sponsorship to candidates under the Skilled Worker visa route in the UK. This decision is as a consequence of the changes made to the Skilled Worker route by the UK Government in April 2024. We continue to welcome applications from candidates who are eligible for alternative immigration routes in the UK, that do not require sponsorship as a Skilled Worker now or in future.*