Specialist Inspector - Mechanical Engineering

Webrecruit Ltd; Exeter; On-site; Confidential; Full time

Job summary

A national regulator for workplace safety seeks a Specialist Inspector in Mechanical Engineering. This permanent role involves assessing mechanical engineering risks, conducting inspections, and influencing safety management. Ideal candidates have a degree in Mechanical Engineering and experience in high-hazard industries. Flexible working options and competitive salary packages are offered. Closing date: December 15, 2025.

Benefits

Salary of £55,063 - £66,338 per annum

Access to Civil Service Pension Scheme with 28.97% contribution

25 days annual holiday increasing to 30 days

Family-friendly policies

Parental leave benefits

Flexible working options

Learning and development tailored to role

Qualifications

• Experience working in a high‑hazard industry.
• A degree or equivalent qualification in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related subject.
• Membership of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (or similar), Chartered status and registration with the Engineering Council.

Responsibilities

• Assess, investigate, and influence the safe management of mechanical engineering risks.
• Conduct inspections of major hazard installations.
• Assess safety reports and verify them against legislation.

Skills

Experience working in a high-hazard industry

Membership of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers

A full, valid driving licence

Education

Degree or equivalent qualification in Mechanical Engineering

Job description

Specialist Inspector - Mechanical Engineering

Aberdeen, Ashford (Kent), Basingstoke, Birmingham, Bootle, Bristol, Buxton, Cardiff, Carlisle, Carmarthen, Chelmsford, Crewe, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Leeds, Milton Keynes, Newcastle‑upon‑Tyne, Norwich, Nottingham, Oxted, Plymouth, Sheffield, Wrexham, or York

About Us

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. Our work helps to protect people and places, ensuring everyone can lead safer and healthier lives at work.

We are now looking for two individuals from a mechanical engineering background to join us as Specialist Inspectors on a permanent basis. We can accept part‑time applicants who can commit to working a minimum of 27 hours per week.

The Benefits

• Salary of £55,063 - £66,338 per annum
• Access to the highly competitive Civil Service Pension Scheme, to which HSE contributes 28.97%
• 25 days’ annual holiday increasing to 30 days after 5 years’ service, plus bank holidays and 1‑day Civil Service privilege leave
• Family‑friendly policies and working hours to support work‑life balance
• Carer‑friendly policies to create a supportive working culture
• Parental leave benefits
• Access to a wide range of additional benefits such as the Cycle to Work Scheme and E‑Gift Card Vouchers via EdenRed
• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity

This is a terrific opportunity for mechanical engineering professionals to re‑focus their careers and take on inspector positions with our essential organisation. You’ll be supported through a Specialist Training Programme (STP) to gain the skills and expertise to become an inspector. You will enrol on the STP and undertake a combination of study, practical experience and a final assessment, ensuring you are equipped to operate at the forefront of your specialist area.

What’s more, in this unique and rewarding role, you’ll contribute to critical national safety decisions, seeing first‑hand how your work protects communities, industries, and the nation’s workforce every day.

The Role

As a Specialist Inspector, after completing our Specialist Training Programme, you will assess, investigate, and influence the safe management of mechanical engineering risks.

Specifically, you will join our Chemicals, Explosives and Microbiological Hazards Division (CEMHD) and focus on high‑hazard industries – companies whose products are essential to our everyday life, but where failures in safety management and risk control can lead to catastrophic harm to workers and the public at large.

Conducting inspections of major hazard installations, you will aim to prevent losses of containment, review mechanical failures and investigate accidents and incidents.

You will also be involved in enforcement action in a primary or supporting role, providing technical reports or expert evidence in legal proceedings, as well as assisting with the development of technical and operational strategy. You will also have the opportunity to engage with industry stakeholders on technical matters, broadening our sphere of influence and helping to shape future regulatory activities.

Additionally, you will:

• Assess safety reports and verify them against legislation
• Represent us at meetings across industry, committees, training, and professional events

Please note, enrolment in the Specialist Training Programme (STP) is mandatory, which you will be required to study for and successfully complete.

About You

To be considered as a Specialist Inspector, you will need:

• Experience working in a high‑hazard industry
• A degree or equivalent qualification in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related subject
• Membership of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (or similar), Chartered status and registration with the Engineering Council
• A full, valid driving licence

You will need, as business requires, to frequently travel to sites and other HSE offices, which may necessitate overnight stays.

The closing date for this role is 15th December 2025.

Other organisations may call this role Mechanical Engineering Inspector, Mechanical Engineer, Safety Inspector, Quality Inspector, Mechanical Engineering Assessor, or Engineering Risk Inspector.

Equal Opportunities

Webrecruit and the Health and Safety Executive are equal opportunities employers, value diversity and are strongly committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all employees and all applicants for employment. Equal opportunities are the only acceptable way to conduct business and we believe that the more inclusive our environments are, the better our work will be.