Senior Process Engineer - Water (Engineering and Design)

Costain; Greater Manchester; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

An innovative firm is seeking a Senior Process Engineer to join their Asset Optimisation Team. This role involves leading teams in wastewater process engineering consultancy, focusing on optimising assets and programmes for major UK water utilities. You will drive process optimisation initiatives, provide strategic consultancy, and enhance team capabilities within AMP Frameworks. If you have a strong background in wastewater treatment and project management, this is a unique opportunity to make a significant impact in a dynamic and supportive environment.

Qualifications

• Experience in design and optimization of wastewater treatment plants.
• Knowledge of the UK water utility asset life cycle process.

Responsibilities

• Lead teams to execute optimisation studies ensuring quality and budget adherence.
• Develop process optimisation initiatives at site and programme levels.

Skills

Proven experience in wastewater treatment

Project management

Strong interpersonal skills

Proactive and solutions-oriented

Education

Degree in process-related discipline

Chartered Engineer (CIWEM or IChemE)

Job description

Job Description

The Costain Asset Optimisation Team provides wastewater process engineering consultancy to support our clients across the UK in optimizing their assets and programmes. We are an agile team of process engineers working closely with operational teams to develop innovative practical and digital process solutions. Our team conducts optimisation studies at various stages, including feasibility, concept, optioneering, and preliminary design, to mitigate risks, ensure compliance, and enable low or no build solutions.

Currently, we are experiencing increased engineering and design workload in the water sector and are recruiting a Senior Process Engineer to support AMP8 for clients such as United Utilities, Severn Trent Water, Southern Water, Thames Water, and Northumbrian Water.

Responsibilities

• Lead teams to execute optimisation studies, ensuring quality, budget, and schedule adherence.
• Develop process optimisation initiatives and solutions at site and programme levels.
• Provide technical thought leadership and strategic consultancy advice to clients and joint venture partners.
• Collaborate with business development, work winning, and marketing teams to develop and tender new opportunities.
• Approve process design calculations, reports, presentations, and proposals.
• Enhance team capability and service delivery within our AMP Frameworks.

Qualifications

Essential

• Proven experience in the design, operation, and optimisation of wastewater treatment plants.
• Knowledge of the UK water utility asset life cycle process.
• Project management experience.
• Background in engineering consultancy or contracting design environments, along with operational utility experience.
• Ability to independently lead teams and projects.
• Proactive, self-motivated, and solutions-oriented.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to collaborate and influence senior colleagues.

Desirable

• Comprehensive knowledge of the UK Regulatory environment.
• Experience across the full project lifecycle: scoping, design, construction support, commissioning, and handover.
• Proven expertise in process engineering, including mass balance development, data analysis, design calculations, technology selection, equipment specification, process flow diagrams, control philosophies, and P&IDs.
• Excellent commercial awareness and business development skills.

Qualifications

• A degree in a process-related discipline (Essential).
• Chartered Engineer and member of a relevant institution such as CIWEM or IChemE (Desirable).
• Postgraduate qualifications (if applicable).

About Us

Costain is committed to improving lives through smart infrastructure solutions across energy, water, transportation, and defense markets in the UK. We focus on strategic, digitally optimized solutions to help our clients enhance performance, resilience, and sustainability. Our culture and values guide everything we do.

We are a Disability Confident employer, offering interviews to applicants with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria. For more information, visit Disability Confident Campaign.