Technical Director - Mechanical Engineering

Snc-Lavalin; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working culture

Flexible holiday allowances

Professional development

Job summary

AtkinsRéalis is recruiting a Technical Director for Mechanical Engineering to lead the national D&AT practice in the UK. You will provide technical leadership on high‑impact projects, drive cross‑functional initiatives, and act as a key client interface to deliver robust, compliant solutions across water, nuclear and defence sectors.

The role requires Chartered status, extensive leadership of complex programs, and a strong track record in delivering design integration, governance and business

Qualifications

• Degree in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent
• Chartered Mechanical Engineer
• Experience leading complex high‑risk cross‑disciplinary projects
• Subject matter expertise in pumping systems and water/wastewater design
• Experience in the UK Water market
• Knowledge of design standards and best practices including CDM and DSEAR

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership within the national D&AT practice and drive initiatives
• Serve as a recognised Mechanical Engineering expert across the D&AT Practice
• Represent AtkinsRéalis' Mechanical Engineering capabilities to clients
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders
• Improve processes, services and technical practices with governance in mind
• Oversee technical input into bid proposals and delivery strategy
• Identify cross‑selling opportunities and grow client relationships
• Grow and manage the Mechanical engineering capability within the national practice

Skills

Technical leadership

Mechanical engineering

Water treatment design

Pumping systems

Cross-disciplinary leadership

Communication skills

Strategy development

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Chartered Engineer

Tools

CDM Regulations

DSEAR

Job description

Job Description Overview

Shape the Future of our cities and environments. The Design & Advanced Technology (D&AT) Practice of AtkinsRéalis is seeking a Technical Director for Mechanical Engineering to join our team in the UK. We are looking for an energetic and experienced Mechanical Engineer that can both lead as technical expert in mechanical design as well as drive forward business results. AtkinsRéalis specialise in all aspects of mechanical engineering within the Water Sector in the UK and internationally. Mechanical Engineering project opportunities also stretch to other sectors such as nuclear and defence. We’re committed to providing industry-leading engineering solutions right through the project lifecycle from feasibility to commissioning, with value added through client-side support as well as construction phases. As a key member of our technical leadership team, you’ll play a vital role in delivering transformational programmes for critical UK infrastructure, with opportunities to work on landmark engineering projects for our Water market clients – clients like Thames Water, Anglian Water, Environment Agency, Welsh Water, United Utilities, Scottish Water, and more. We’re committed to providing industry-leading solutions throughout the project lifecycle, adding value through client-side and construction-phase support. By providing technical leadership across the organisation you’ll drive results, by contributing to functional strategy, influencing senior stakeholders and leading within the mechanical group and multidisciplinary project teams, to deliver measurable outcomes.In this role, you will set direction for complex, high-impact projects and initiatives, anticipate business and regulatory challenges, and develop innovative solutions and offerings that move the business forward. Become part of a team where every voice matters, and together we can tackle our clients’ toughest challenges. We foster a diverse and inclusive environment where world-class talent thrives without boundaries. For us, collaboration isn’t a buzzword.We value the different perspectives our people bring and recognise everyone for their contributions equally. We also know that different people have different priorities, which is why we’re here to support you with whatever you need. Being a Technical Director with us involves UK wide travel. We offer hybrid working which involves 3 days per week travel/office based. This position can be based at any of our main locations: Epsom, London, Bristol, Exeter, Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle, or Glasgow. It can also be based in our other offices but may require additional travel to main locations as needed: Peterborough, Cambridge, Cardiff, Swansea, Derby, Leeds, Belfast, Edinburgh.

Your role

• Provide Technical Leadership within discipline for the national D&AT practice and influence D&AT Practice wide initiatives and recommend best practices to improve internal process and services.
• Serve as a recognised expert and technical authority in Mechanical Engineering across the D&AT Practice and wider AtkinsRéalis business.
• Provide visible representation of your and AtkinsRéalis’ Mechanical Engineering technical expertise to our current and prospective clients.
• Collaborate with stakeholders at all levels, including internal and external clients, operational staff, project teams, or external stakeholders.
• Recommend and drive improvements to processes, services, and technical practices while ensuring robust engineering governance is consistently upheld.
• Oversee technical input into bid proposals, defining the delivery strategy and working with cross‑functional teams to prepare high‑quality, compliant, competitive submissions.
• Proactively identify opportunities for cross‑selling and business growth, using commercial insight to strengthen and expand client relationships and selling our value proposition to clients.
• Grow, develop, and manage the Mechanical engineering capability within the national practice, supporting talent development and succession planning.
• Anticipate emerging business, regulatory, and technology challenges, identifying risks and opportunities early and advising senior leadership.
• Provide strategic oversight across multiple complex, multidisciplinary projects, ensuring technical excellence, safe delivery, and alignment with client and practice objectives.
• Work independently even in the most challenging situations.
• Act as the point of escalation for the most complex technical matters and exercise personal judgement to find solutions.

About you

• A degree in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent.
• Chartered Mechanical Engineer.
• Extensive experience in progressively senior technical roles, including significant leadership of complex, high‑risk, cross‑disciplinary projects and programmes.
• Nationally or international recognised subject matter expertise in areas such as pumping systems and water and wastewater treatment design.
• Experience in the UK Water market is essential.
• Takes broad perspective to identify innovative solutions, challenges the status quo.
• Comprehensive knowledge and proven practical experience in the design integration of a wide range of mechanical equipment, including pumps, blowers, screens, and chemical dosing systems with experience across all design phases including construction.
• Expert knowledge of current design codes and standards as well as industry best practices, including CDM Regulations and DSEAR.
• Commercially astute, with experience shaping winning proposals and driving practice or business growth.
• Champion continuous improvement, driving enhancements to processes, services, technical standards, and innovation across the practice.
• Demonstrates strong communication skills, with the ability to convey complex ideas with clarity, anticipating challenges and persuading senior stakeholders to adopt new perspectives, and navigate diverse, international and cross-cultural delivery.
• A proactive, highly motivated mindset with a collaborative approach to drive teamwork and shared success across projects and the wider AtkinsRéalis D&AT practice.

Meet some but not all of the criteria? We’d still love to hear from you!

Rewards & benefits

Explore the rewards and benefits that help you thrive – at every stage of your life and your career. Enjoy competitive salaries, employee rewards and a brilliant range of benefits you can tailor to suit your own health, wellbeing, financial and lifestyle choices. Make the most of a myriad of opportunities for training and professional development to grow your skills and expertise. And combine our hybrid working culture and flexible holiday allowances to balance a great job and fulfilling personal life. Be rewarded. Find out more.

About AtkinsRéalis

We’re AtkinsRéalis, a world-class engineering services and nuclear organization. We connect people, data and technology to transform the world's infrastructure and energy systems. Together, with our industry partners and clients, and our global team of consultants, designers, engineers and project managers, we can change the world. We're committed to leading our clients across our various end markets to engineer a better future for our planet and its people. Find out more.

Additional information Security clearance

This role may require security clearance and offers of employment will be dependent on obtaining the relevant level of clearance. If this is necessary, it will be discussed with you at interview. The vetting process is delivered by United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) and may require candidates to provide proof of residency in the UK of 5 years or longer. If applying to this role please do not make reference to (in conversation) or include in your application or CV, details of any current or previously held security clearance. We are committed to creating a culture where everyone feels that they belong - a place where we can all be ourselves, thrive and develop to be the best we can be. So, we offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements and employee resource groups to support all employees.

As an Equal Opportunities Employer, we value applications from all backgrounds, cultures and ability.

Worker Type Employee

Job Type Regular

AtkinsRéalis is a world-class engineering services and nuclear company dedicated to engineering a better future for our planet and its people. We create sustainable solutions that connect people, data and technology to transform the world's infrastructure and energy systems. We deploy global capabilities locally to our clients and deliver unique end-to-end services across the whole life cycle of an asset including consulting, advisory & environmental services, intelligent networks & cybersecurity, design & engineering, procurement, project & construction management, operations & maintenance, decommissioning and capital. The breadth and depth of our capabilities are delivered to clients in strategic sectors such as Engineering Services, Nuclear and Capital. News and information are available at Atkinsrealis or follow us on LinkedIn.