Senior / Principal Mechanical Engineer in Preston

Job Title: Mechanical Design Engineer (Lead / Principal grade)

Location: Preston (Hybrid Working)

Salary: £60,000 – £70,000 + benefits or Contract Rate: £50 – £55ph Ltd

Overview:

Our client is seeking a highly experienced Principal Mechanical Engineer (contract or permanent) to lead the design and delivery of complex water and wastewater infrastructure projects. This is a key technical leadership role within the team, providing strategic input across project lifecycles, ensuring compliance with industry standards, and driving engineering excellence across mechanical packages.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic leadership in the design and delivery of mechanical infrastructure for clean and wastewater treatment works, ensuring alignment with programme, cost, and quality objectives.
• Lead the development of detailed mechanical designs, including drawings, specifications, and calculations, ensuring technical excellence and compliance with client and industry standards.
• Oversee and direct site assessments, feasibility studies, and design reviews; provide expert input during construction to resolve complex technical issues.
• Act as the mechanical discipline lead, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams, clients, and external stakeholders to ensure robust, compliant, and sustainable solutions.
• Drive adherence to WIMES, DWI, and relevant British/European mechanical standards, ensuring best practice is embedded across all design activities.
• Take ownership of mechanical work packages on major schemes, ensuring consistency in delivery and acting as a technical authority.
• Mentor, support, and develop junior and mid-level engineers, fostering a high-performing and knowledgeable mechanical engineering team.
• Support business development and bid activities through technical leadership, scope definition, and resource planning.

Requirements:

• Degree-qualified in Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline.
• Extensive experience in the design and delivery of mechanical systems for UK water infrastructure projects, ideally within AMP frameworks.
• Deep understanding of relevant industry standards (WIMES, DWI) and regulatory frameworks.
• Strong leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills, with a proven ability to lead multidisciplinary teams.
• Chartered Engineer status with IMechE or equivalent (or demonstrable equivalent experience and capability).

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity in our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.