Senior Principal Mechanical Engineer - Water Sector

Stantec; Manchester, Warrington; Hybrid; GBP 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid / Flexible working

Training & development

Professional subscriptions

Chartered progression

Job summary

Stantec in the North West is recruiting a Senior Principal Mechanical Engineer to lead the mechanical design of significant water and wastewater projects in Manchester or Warrington. You'll provide technical leadership across the full lifecycle, from feasibility to commissioning, and act as the technical authority on complex solutions.

You'll mentor engineers, drive governance, and build strong client relationships while supporting growth across our regional water business and delivering

Qualifications

• Degree qualified in Mechanical Engineering or related discipline.
• Chartered or Incorporated Engineer (CEng/IEng).
• Significant UK water sector mechanical engineering experience.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams on complex projects.
• Experience producing technical specifications and designs.
• Excellent stakeholder management and client relationship skills.
• Mentoring and line managing engineers.

Responsibilities

• Lead mechanical design across major water and wastewater infrastructure projects.
• Provide technical governance and quality assurance across project teams.
• Act as a trusted advisor to clients and support key strategic decisions.
• Lead multidisciplinary design reviews and collaborate with Project Managers, contractors and supply chain partners.
• Provide line management, mentoring and technical development for engineers across the region.
• Support business growth through client engagement, framework development and technical innovation.

Skills

Mechanical leadership

Stakeholder management

Mentoring engineers

Technical governance

Team leadership

Education

Degree in Mechanical Engineering

CEng/IEng chartered

Job description

The North West is at the heart of one of the UK's largest programmes of water infrastructure investment, and Stantec is playing a leading role in delivering it. Through our long-standing partnerships with clients including United Utilities, we're helping deliver major treatment works, pumping stations and network improvements that will enhance resilience, improve environmental performance and support sustainable growth across the region.

We're looking for a Senior Principal Mechanical Engineer to join our growing Water team in Manchester or Warrington. This is an opportunity to take a senior leadership role within our Mechanical Engineering capability, providing technical direction across complex programmes while helping shape the continued growth of our business in the North West.

You'll be joining a collaborative multidisciplinary team where you can:

• Lead the mechanical design of nationally significant water and wastewater infrastructure projects.
• Provide technical leadership across multidisciplinary teams and major client frameworks.
• Mentor, develop and inspire engineers while strengthening our regional capability.
• Build trusted relationships with clients and influence the future direction of project delivery.

ABOUT THE ROLE

As a Senior Principal Mechanical Engineer, you will provide technical leadership across the full project lifecycle, from feasibility and optioneering through to detailed design, construction support and commissioning. You'll act as the technical authority for complex mechanical engineering solutions, ensuring projects are delivered safely, efficiently and to the highest technical standards.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Leading mechanical design across major infrastructure and non-infrastructure projects.
• Providing technical governance and quality assurance across project teams.
• Acting as a trusted advisor to clients and supporting key strategic decisions.
• Leading multidisciplinary design reviews and collaborating with Project Managers, contractors and supply chain partners.
• Providing line management, mentoring and technical development for engineers across the region.
• Supporting business growth through client engagement, framework development and technical innovation.

YOUR IMPACT

Your leadership will help deliver infrastructure that secures water supplies, improves wastewater services and protects the environment. Through your technical expertise you'll influence engineering decisions across nationally significant programmes, helping clients respond to increasing environmental, operational and regulatory challenges.

Beyond project delivery, you'll play a vital role in developing future engineering leaders, strengthening client relationships and driving technical excellence across the business. Your contribution will help shape the future of Stantec's Mechanical Engineering capability while delivering long-lasting benefits for communities across the North West and the wider UK.

ABOUT YOU

We're looking for an accomplished Mechanical Engineer with exceptional technical knowledge, leadership capability and a passion for developing people.

Essential

• Degree qualified (or equivalent) in Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline.
• Chartered or Incorporated Engineer (CEng/IEng)
• Significant experience delivering mechanical engineering solutions within the UK water sector.
• Strong experience leading multidisciplinary engineering teams on complex infrastructure projects.
• Experience producing and reviewing technical specifications, calculations and mechanical designs.
• Excellent stakeholder management and client relationship skills.
• Experience mentoring, developing and line managing engineers.

Desirable

• Experience working alongside delivery contractors.
• Experience supporting framework growth, bids and business development.
• Experience leading innovation and continuous improvement initiatives.

WHY JOIN US

We put people first: We're proud of our friendly, inclusive and collaborative environment where everyone feels valued and driven to succeed.

We are driven to achieve: Named in the top 50 companies to work by Glassdoor 2025. Recognised by Corporate Knights as one of the world's top 10 most sustainable companies 2025. Named ‘Best Place to Work’ and ‘International Consulting Firm of the Year’ at the NCE Awards 2024.

We do what is right: Industry leading training and development as well as paid for professional subscriptions. A professional progression plan, supporting you to become chartered with ICE.

We are better together: A supportive and collaborative team environment and Early Careers peer group and wider ERG network (see more on our ERGs here: Stantec Employee Resource Groups).

Growth: We're on an exciting growth journey across the UK - we want you to be part of it!

Great Benefits: Competitive salary, bonus schemes, enhanced pension plan, annual leave with the option to buy/sell additional days, private medical insurance, group income protection & life assurance included as standard as well as discounted gym membership and lots more.

Hybrid / Flexible working: Enjoy a healthy work-life balance with our hybrid approach to flexible working.

If you're ready to provide technical leadership on some of the UK's most significant water infrastructure projects while helping shape the future of Mechanical Engineering at Stantec, we'd love to hear from you.