Senior / Principal Mechanical Design Engineer

RGB Recruitment; Farmoor; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A building services consultancy is seeking a Senior to Principal Mechanical Design Engineer in the Oxford area. The role involves leading mechanical design on various sustainable projects including education and heritage. Candidates should have a degree in Mechanical Engineering, extensive consultancy experience, and skills in HVAC systems and design tools like Revit and AutoCAD. The position offers a competitive salary and support for career progression.

Benefits

Competitive salary: £55,000-£70,000 (DOE)

Flexible/hybrid working

25+ days holiday

Private healthcare

Cycle-to-work scheme

Qualifications

• 6+ years of consultancy experience delivering mechanical design.
• Experience across education, commercial, healthcare, or heritage projects.
• Chartered (CEng/MCIBSE) or working toward chartership preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead mechanical design from RIBA Stage 2 to handover.
• Collaborate with clients, architects, and internal teams.
• Oversee technical documentation, drawings, and specifications.

Skills

Mechanical design

HVAC systems

Energy-efficient design

Communication

Project management

Education

Degree in Mechanical Engineering or Building Services

Tools

Revit

AutoCAD

IES

Hevacomp

Job description

Overview

Senior to Principal Mechanical Design Engineer

Location: Oxford | Sectors: Low Carbon, Heritage, Education, Healthcare

About the Company

Join a well-established, independent building services consultancy in Oxford, known for delivering sustainable, technically robust solutions across heritage refurbishments, modern low-energy campuses, and complex infrastructure projects. Our integrated team combines mechanical, electrical, lighting, Passivhaus, and building physics expertise under one roof.

With a strong pipeline of work and investment in people, this role offers long-term progression and a chance to shape meaningful projects.

The Role

• Lead mechanical design from RIBA Stage 2 to handover: HVAC, hot/cold water, and sustainable strategies.
• Collaborate with clients, architects, and internal teams to create energy-efficient, technically sound solutions.
• Apply building physics and performance analysis where relevant.
• Oversee technical documentation, drawings (AutoCAD/Revit), and specifications.
• Attend site visits, manage design coordination, and support construction.
• Mentor junior engineers and contribute to knowledge sharing.
• At Principal level: influence fee proposals, resourcing, and client development.

What We're Looking For

• Degree-qualified in Mechanical Engineering or Building Services.
• 6+ years of consultancy experience delivering mechanical design.
• Experience across education, commercial, healthcare, or heritage projects.
• Strong understanding of HVAC systems, regulations, and energy-efficient design.
• Proficiency in Revit, AutoCAD, IES, Hevacomp, or similar.
• Excellent communication and coordination skills.
• Chartered (CEng/MCIBSE) or working toward chartership preferred.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary: £55,000-£70,000 (DOE)
• Flexible/hybrid working, 25+ days holiday, private healthcare, cycle-to-work scheme
• Varied project portfolio: listed buildings, modern low-energy campuses, sustainability-led projects
• Support for professional growth: chartership, leadership development, career progression to Associate and beyond
• Collaborative team culture with low staff turnover

If you're a Senior or Principal Mechanical Engineer looking to work on sustainable, heritage-focused projects with career progression, this is your chance to make a tangible impact