Senior Mechanical Design Engineer

Carrington West; Preston; On-site; GBP 81,000 - 92,000; Full time

Job summary

Carrington West is seeking a Senior Mechanical Design Engineer for water projects on the AMP8 framework. The role is hybrid with 1-2 days in Preston and involves delivering design and technical assurance for water treatment schemes.

You will operate within a multidisciplinary team, contributing to concept through to commissioning, and mentoring junior engineers. A degree in mechanical engineering and 5+ years post-graduate experience are required; chartered status is preferred.

Qualifications

• Degree-qualified in Mechanical Engineering or similar.
• Chartered status or working towards chartership preferred.
• Minimum 5 years' post-graduate experience.
• Experience delivering mechanical design in a consultancy or design-led environment.
• Familiarity with AMP7 or AMP8 frameworks is highly desirable.
• Strong communication skills and proactive delivery

Responsibilities

• Deliver mechanical design solutions for water and wastewater infrastructure.
• Provide input across concept, feasibility, optioneering and preliminary design.
• Conduct condition assessments, asset surveys and root cause analysis.
• Contribute to whole-life cost analysis, briefs and technical reports.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to resolve mechanical challenges.
• Ensure solutions are robust, compliant and aligned with industry best practices.
• Support delivery and commissioning phases with technical review and assurance.
• Provide mentorship to junior engineers as required.

Skills

Mechanical design

Water sector experience

Regulatory compliance

Team mentoring

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Chartered Engineer (preferred)

Tools

CAD

3D modelling

Job description

Job Title: Mechanical Design Engineer - Water Projects (AMP8 Framework) Location: Hybrid 1-2 days a week in Preston Rate: £350 - £400 per day - Outside IR35 (Depending On Experience) Contract Type: Initial 12-month contract with potential for extension. Start Date: ASAP

Overview:

We are seeking a Senior Mechanical Design Engineer with strong experience in the water sector to support high-profile projects as part of the AMP8 investment programme. This role is embedded within a multidisciplinary engineering team and focuses on delivering design and technical assurance for water and wastewater treatment schemes across the multiple Water regions. This is a fantastic opportunity to contribute to long-term, sustainable water infrastructure improvements through technically rewarding project work in a flexible and collaborative setting.

Key Responsibilities:

• Deliver mechanical design solutions for complex water and wastewater treatment infrastructure.
• Provide engineering input across all design stages - including concept, feasibility, optioneering, and preliminary design.
• Carry out condition assessments, asset surveys, and root cause analysis for plant and equipment failures.
• Contribute to whole-life cost analysis, project briefs, and technical reports.
• Work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams to resolve mechanical challenges on operational assets.
• Ensure all solutions are technically robust, compliant with regulations, and aligned with best practices in the water industry.
• Support project delivery and commissioning phases through technical review and assurance.
• Provide engineering advice and mentorship as required to junior members of the team.

Requirements:

• Degree-qualified in Mechanical Engineering or similar.
• Chartered status or working towards chartership with a relevant professional institution (e.g., IMechE) preferred.
• Minimum 5 years' post-graduate experience.
• Experience delivering mechanical design work in a consultancy or design-led environment.
• Familiarity with AMP7 or AMP8 frameworks is highly desirable.
• Strong communication skills and a proactive, solution-oriented approach to engineering delivery.

Desirable Background:

Candidates who have previously worked on frameworks for UK water utilities such as:

• Thames Water
• Wessex Water
• Welsh Water
• Northern Ireland Water
• Anglian Water
• Severn Trent
• United Utilities
• Southern Water
• South West Water
• Northumbrian Water

will be at a distinct advantage.

If you're an experienced mechanical engineer looking to apply your expertise to vital UK water infrastructure projects, we'd love to hear from you