At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead innovative projects in healthcare, education, and defence while managing a dynamic team.
- Company: Join AECOM, a global leader in infrastructure consulting, making a real-world impact.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid work options, competitive pay, and a supportive environment for personal growth.
- Other info: Flexible work culture with opportunities for career advancement and professional development.
- Why this job: Be part of a mission to deliver a better world through cutting-edge engineering solutions.
- Qualifications: Experience in mechanical building services design and strong communication skills required.
The predicted salary is between 40500 - 49500 £ per year.
Company Description
Work with Us. Change the World. At AECOM, we're delivering a better world. Whether improving your commute, keeping the lights on, providing access to clean water, or transforming skylines, our work helps people and communities thrive. We are the world's trusted infrastructure consulting firm, partnering with clients to solve the world’s most complex challenges and build legacies for future generations.
There has never been a better time to be at AECOM. With accelerating infrastructure investment worldwide, our services are in great demand. We invite you to bring your bold ideas and big dreams and become part of a global team of over 50,000 planners, designers, engineers, scientists, digital innovators, program and construction managers and other professionals delivering projects that create a positive and tangible impact around the world.
We're one global team driven by our common purpose to deliver a better world. Join us.
Job Description
We are looking for an Associate Director to join our busy South West MEP team, the role can be based in Cardiff or Bristol.
Job Responsibilities
- Reporting to the Regional Director and helping to manage and deliver medium to large healthcare, education and defence projects.
- Taking ownership of project finances and supporting the commercial performance of the team.
- Managing a small team of engineers, providing specialist mechanical design input and supporting the development of junior and graduate engineers.
- Working closely with architects, structural, civil and (where relevant) clinical planning and end‑user teams in interdisciplinary design reviews to coordinate practical solutions for healthcare, education and defence projects.
- Preparing fee estimates and design programmes, and working with clients, users and stakeholders to agree clear project deliverables across healthcare, education and defence portfolios.
- Carrying out and overseeing quality checks on mechanical design calculations, drawings and models.
- Writing technical specifications for commercial, education, defence and healthcare mechanical systems in line with relevant standards, including BS EN, HTM/HBN and others.
- Supporting the development of engineering budgets and schedules so that project requirements, operational dates and clinical commissioning dates are met.
- Using and understanding software tools for mechanical building services design (e.g. heating, cooling, ventilation, domestic services), particularly for social infrastructure buildings such as hospitals, schools and defence facilities.
- Managing project resources so that agreed deliverables are achieved on time and within budget.
Minimum Requirements
- Proven experience in mechanical building services design, ideally including healthcare, education and defence projects.
- A motivated individual with a passion for delivering high-quality, safe and resilient environments in complex, operationally critical buildings.
- Experience working as an Associate, Principal Engineer or in a similar senior role.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, with confidence in dealing with clients and stakeholders across healthcare, education and defence sectors.
- Membership of a relevant professional body, such as CIBSE.
- Good working knowledge of software used to design mechanical building services systems.
- Experience of delivering projects using BIM software.
- Experience in low carbon and energy-efficient systems design, and an understanding of how design decisions influence carbon emissions in healthcare, education and defence buildings.
- Ability to analyse and interpret outputs from IES or other building performance / calculation tools.
- Experience in the design and delivery of healthcare facilities, with familiarity with HTM and HBN guidance (e.g. ventilation, hot and cold water, critical systems); experience in education and defence standards/frameworks would be an advantage.
Qualifications
- Degree in Building Services or Mechanical Engineering (or equivalent).
- Chartered, or actively working towards chartership, with a relevant professional body such as CIBSE.
- Extensive post‑graduate experience in mechanical building services design, with significant exposure to healthcare, education and/or defence projects.
Additional Information
AECOM is the world’s trusted infrastructure consulting firm, delivering professional services throughout the project lifecycle – from advisory, planning, design and engineering to program and construction management. On projects spanning transportation, buildings, water, new energy and the environment, our public- and private-sector clients trust us to solve their most complex challenges.
Our teams are driven by a common purpose to deliver a better world through our unrivaled technical and digital expertise, a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion, and a commitment to environmental, social and governance priorities. AECOM is a Fortune 500 firm and its Professional Services business had revenue of $16.1 billion in fiscal year 2025.
You will have the flexibility you need to do your best work with hybrid work options. Whether you’re working from an AECOM office, remote location or at a client site, you will be working in a dynamic environment where your integrity, entrepreneurial spirit and pioneering mindset are championed.
AECOM provides a wide array of compensation, benefits and well-being programs to meet the diverse needs of our employees and their families. We’re the world’s trusted global infrastructure firm, and we’re in this together – your growth and success are ours too.
As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we believe in each person’s potential, and we’ll help you reach yours. We are a Disability Confident Employer and will offer an interview to applicants who have a disability or long-term condition, who meet the minimum/essential criteria for the role.
Associate Director - Mechanical Engineering in Cowbridge employer: AECOM
At AECOM, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration. With a strong commitment to employee growth, we provide extensive career development opportunities, flexible hybrid working arrangements, and a supportive environment that values diversity and inclusion. Join us in our mission to deliver a better world while enjoying the benefits of working with a global leader in infrastructure consulting.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Associate Director - Mechanical Engineering in Cowbridge
✨Get Your Hands Dirty at Engineering Events
Join local engineering meetups or industry conferences related to mechanical engineering. Whether it's a workshop or a career fair, these events are goldmines for networking and getting a foot in the door. Plus, you can showcase your passion and enthusiasm directly to potential employers like AECOM.
✨Connect with Professors & Peers
Tap into your university’s resources—professors often have connections in the industry. Don’t be shy to ask about potential openings or recommendations. Your classmates might also know of companies hiring. Often, it’s who you know that gets you in front of the right people!
✨Highlight Your Projects and Practical Experience
When you land those interviews, make sure to talk about your hands-on projects or internships. Whether it's a design project or hands-on experience with CAD software, specific examples will make you stand out. Companies like AECOM love to hear about practical applications of your skills.
✨Apply Directly on Company Websites
Check out the careers page of AECOM and apply directly through there. It shows initiative and interest in their specific values. Plus, you'll often find openings that aren't advertised on job boards, giving you a better chance to land that full-time gig!
We think you need these skills to ace Associate Director - Mechanical Engineering in Cowbridge
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Technical Expertise:In mechanical engineering, it’s vital to highlight your technical skills and projects. Make sure to include relevant software proficiency (like CAD tools) in your CV. If you've worked on specific engineering projects, detail your key contributions — we want to see how you’ve applied your skills in a practical setting!
Focus on Problem-Solving Examples:Employers in mechanical engineering love to see how you handle challenges. Use your cover letter to share specific instances where you’ve solved a complex problem or improved a design. This will show us you're not just knowledgeable but also capable of applying that knowledge effectively.
Highlight Relevant Certifications:Include any relevant certifications or training that can set you apart from the competition. Whether it's coursework from your degree, a recognised certification, or extra training in new technologies, we love to see candidates who continuously improve their skill set. This tells us you're serious about your career in engineering!
Tailor Your CV for the Role:Don’t forget to customise your CV for AECOM and the Associate Director - Mechanical Engineering role specifically. Pull examples from your experience that align with the job description — it shows us you've done your research and are genuinely interested in becoming part of the team. We recommend applying through our website to ensure your application gets to the right people!
How to prepare for a job interview at AECOM
✨Brush Up on Your CAD Skills
Since mechanical engineering often involves design processes, be ready to showcase your proficiency in CAD software like SolidWorks or AutoCAD. Bring along a digital portfolio or even some sketches that demonstrate your design capabilities — it’s a great way to show what you can bring to the table at AECOM.
✨Prepare for Technical Questions
Expect technical questions that test your understanding of engineering principles and problem-solving skills. You might get hypothetical scenarios where you need to design a component or troubleshoot a mechanical system. Practising these types of questions will give you the confidence to tackle whatever comes your way!
✨Show Your Team Spirit
As a full-time mechanical engineer, collaboration is key! Be ready to share examples of past team projects or any experiences where you contributed to solving a complex problem with others. Demonstrating your ability to work in a team will resonate well with the interviewers at AECOM.
✨Discuss Your Future Goals
Since this is a full-time position, your long-term vision is important. Be open about your career aspirations, whether it’s mastering a specific tool or leading projects. This shows that you're committed not just to learning but also to growing with AECOM, making you a more appealing candidate.
