Senior Mechanical Engineer

University of Exeter; Exeter; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Annual leave

Pension contributions

Wellbeing initiatives

Job summary

University of Exeter invites applications for a Senior Mechanical Engineer to oversee mechanical maintenance across a large university estate. The role is full-time on a fixed-term basis to cover maternity until 24 September 2027, with hybrid working requiring at least 3 days on site weekly.

Working within Estate Services/Engineering, the post focuses on safety, compliance, and continuous improvement of asset reliability and decarbonisation efforts, including Carbon Management Strategy delivery

Responsibilities

• Strategic management and technical oversight of mechanical maintenance contracts across a large university estate.
• Ensure mechanical systems are maintained safely, efficiently and in compliance with statutory requirements.
• Manage contractor performance and drive service delivery to agreed standards.
• Support capital projects and long-term asset planning; contribute to net zero and resilience objectives.
• Deliver low/zero carbon projects and refurbishment works to decarbonise the estate.

Job description

22 Sep 2026

All Locations: Exeter (Hybrid)

Type of Contract: Fixed-term contract

Starting salary from £50,253 on Grade G, depending on qualifications and experience.

About The Role

This new full-time post is available immediately on a fixed term basis to cover a maternity until 24 September 2027.

This role offers the opportunity for hybrid working with a minimum of 3 days working on site per week.

The starting salary will be from £50,253 on Grade G, depending on qualifications, skills and experience.

Summary Of The Role

The Senior Mechanical Engineer is responsible for the strategic management and technical oversight of mechanical maintenance contracts across a large, complex university estate. The role ensures that all mechanical systems—particularly those supporting critical teaching, research, and residential environments—are maintained safely, efficiently, and in full compliance with statutory requirements.

Acting as the University’s technical authority, the post holder manages contractor performance, ensures service delivery meets agreed standards, and drives continuous improvement in asset reliability, sustainability, and value for money. The role also supports capital projects, contributes to long-term asset planning, and plays a key part in delivering the institution’s net zero and operational resilience objectives.

Assist in the delivery of the University’s Carbon Management Strategy by the delivery of low carbon and zero carbon projects and renewable technologies. such projects will include the construction of new build projects and extensive refurbishment works to decarbonise the estate as the University moves towards net zero in 2040. input into smaller capital refurbishment works and long-term maintenance projects.

The successful candidate will work within Estate Services, Engineering and Direct Works and alongside the Sustainability Team, Built Estate, Space Management and Administrative Teams, based at Streatham Farm, Streatham Campus, Exeter.

Working together within a small team of dedicated estates mechanical and electrical engineers implementing and delivering maintenance contracts, long term maintenance projects and capital construction projects.

The role involves close collaboration with other professionals within Estates, professional and academic services teams, stakeholders throughout the university and external consultants and contractors.

Additional Screening May Be Required For This Role.

Please ensure you read the Job Description and Person Specification for full details of this role by clicking on the attachment.

The University of Exeter

We are a member of the prestigious Russell Group of research-intensive universities and in the top 150 universities in the world (Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2023 and the 2022 Academic Ranking of World Universities released by Shanghai Rankings). Our research income in recent years means we’re the fastest growing UK Research University with some of the world’s most influential scientists, and we seek to answer some of the most fundamental issues facing humankind today. More than 99% of our research is of international quality and our world-leading research impact is growing faster than any other Russell Group university (2021 Research Excellence Framework). We are using the power of our education and research to create a sustainable, healthy and socially just future. Our shared purpose and vision continually moves us forward to make a difference to our people, our communities, our partners and the world around us. Read about our world leading research on Green Futures and how we are transforming education for a changing world. We are located in a beautiful part of the country and Exeter (a fast growing tech hub) is one of only a few UK cities to have been designated as a UNESCO City of Literature.

Our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Commitment

Whilst all applicants will be judged on merit alone, we particularly welcome applications from groups currently underrepresented within our working community. Reasonable adjustments are available for interviews and workplaces.

With over 30,000 students and 7,000 staff from 150 different countries we offer a diverse and engaging environment where our diversity is celebrated and valued as a major strength. We are committed to creating an inclusive culture where all members of our community are supported to thrive; where diverse voices are heard through our engagement with evidence-based charter frameworks for gender (Athena SWAN and Project Juno for Physics), race equality (Race Equality Charter Mark), LGBTQ+ inclusion (Stonewall Diversity Champion) and as a Disability Confident employer.

Further information

Please contact David Hinder, [e-mail]

About The Division

Not Specified

About Us

Transform Your Career and Help Shape a Greener, Healthier, and Fairer Future

Why our colleagues love working here

• Flexible working opportunities and leading parental leave initiatives
• Generous annual leave (39-41 days including bank holidays)
• Competitive pension contributions
• A genuine dedication to supporting the health and wellbeing of all colleagues – see initiatives here

How We Can Help

If you’re considering applying and need support to do so, please get in touch with us at [e-mail]. You can request reasonable adjustments within your application or by contacting us. You can also choose to be considered under our Disability Confident Scheme and find out here how this is managed during our recruitment and onboarding process.