Senior Mechanical Design Engineer - Water Industry

Tetra Tech Europe; Glasgow; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Tetra Tech Europe is seeking a Senior Mechanical Design Engineer to lead and contribute to wastewater and water treatment projects from feasibility through detailed design. You will work with clients, senior engineers and project teams to develop mechanical solutions, review site infrastructure and produce specifications, calculations, drawings, reports and design risk assessments.

Travel across the UK will be required as part of project delivery while flexible working patterns may be available.

Qualifications

• Degree in mechanical engineering, ideally IMechE accredited.
• Significant water industry experience and working towards chartership.
• Strong understanding of mechanical systems, P&IDs, specifications, procurement and CDM regulations.

Responsibilities

• Lead multidisciplinary wastewater and water treatment projects from feasibility to detailed design.
• Produce specifications, calculations, drawings, reports and design risk assessments.
• Mentor engineers and support delivery across major frameworks.

Skills

Mechanical design

P&IDs

CDM regulations

Water industry experience

Leadership potential

Education

Degree in mechanical engineering (IMechE accredited)

Tools

AutoCAD

Inventor

Job description

Take the next step in your career by helping deliver major AMP8 and AMP9 wastewater programmes across the UK. Join Tetra Tech’s growing Water Consultancy team and play a key role in shaping engineering solutions that address pollution, flooding and long‑term water industry challenges.

Purpose And Scope Of The Role

As Senior Mechanical Design Engineer, you will lead and contribute to multidisciplinary wastewater and water treatment projects from feasibility through to detailed design. Working closely with clients, senior engineers and project teams, you will develop mechanical solutions, review existing site infrastructure, and produce technical outputs including specifications, calculations, drawings, reports and design risk assessments. You will support delivery across major frameworks and help guide the work of less experienced engineers.

Your Impact In This Position

You will help deliver high‑quality engineering solutions that improve water services and support communities across the UK. In the short term, you will strengthen design delivery on major projects. Over time, you will influence technical standards, mentor others and take on leadership responsibilities as a package manager, project manager or design team lead.

Core Capabilities

• Mechanical design expertise – Apply strong mechanical engineering knowledge to size and design pumping and aeration systems, develop technical outputs and support complex wastewater projects.
• Multidisciplinary coordination – Work collaboratively with clients, engineers and other disciplines to develop practical solutions and keep projects aligned with delivery goals.
• Technical leadership and mentoring – Provide oversight, check the work of junior colleagues and help develop capability across the wider team.
• Design governance and safety – Support CDM compliance, contribute to design risk assessments and maintain high standards of quality assurance.
• Communication and delivery focus – Present technical information clearly, contribute to workshops and reviews, and manage work to time, cost and quality requirements.

Skills, Qualifications and Experience

A degree in mechanical engineering or a closely allied subject, ideally IMechE accredited, is required. You should have significant water industry experience, be chartered or working towards chartership, and have a strong understanding of mechanical systems, P&IDs, specifications, procurement and CDM regulations. AutoCAD or Inventor experience would be advantageous, and you must be willing to travel to operational and construction sites.

Work patterns and locations

This role will involve work across the UK, with travel to project and site locations as required. Flexible working may be available depending on project demands and team needs.

In alignment with the Equality Act 2010, we will make reasonable adjustments to support candidates and employees requiring additional arrangements. This could include adaptations to work schedules, training approaches, or the physical workspace. Please inform us if you need any accommodations during the recruitment process or in your day‑to‑day role.