Principal Mechanical Engineer

Principal Mechanical Engineer

Full-Time 51750 - 63250 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
AECOM

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead innovative mechanical design projects in healthcare and education sectors.
  • Company: Join AECOM, a global leader in infrastructure consulting.
  • Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, career development, and personalised benefits.
  • Other info: Be part of a diverse team committed to delivering a better world.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact on communities while advancing your engineering career.
  • Qualifications: Experience in mechanical building services design and a degree in Mechanical Engineering.

The predicted salary is between 51750 - 63250 £ 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

AECOM is a leading multidisciplinary consultancy seeking a Principal Mechanical Engineer to join our busy South West MEP team, the role can be based in Cardiff or Bristol. You’ll bring proven mechanical building services design experience across Healthcare and Education projects, hold a degree in Mechanical Engineering/Building Services, and be working toward Chartered status. We’re looking for someone ambitious, self-motivated, and ready to take the next step in their career.

We’re at the forefront of the net zero agenda — helping NHS Wales and Health Boards understand and deliver Net Zero, including net zero carbon hospitals and education buildings. Over the past five years, we’ve delivered more than 100 local refurbishment projects, alongside award winning healthcare and higher education schemes supported by our Cardiff-based team. Our local specialists are also contributing to several schemes within the UK’s New Hospital Programme, a long-term government initiative to replace outdated hospital buildings with modern, digitally enabled facilities.

Join a team trusted to combine top talent, technical excellence, and digital innovation across buildings, transport, water, environment, and energy. Based in our Cardiff office, you will lead the delivery of small to large-scale Healthcare and Higher Education projects across the UK. This role combines technical leadership, client engagement, and team development, suited to an experienced and motivated engineer looking to progress their career with AECOM.

Here’s what you’ll do:

  • Lead Mechanical teams delivering Healthcare and Education projects to quality, time, and budget
  • Manage bids, client relationships, and represent the business at meetings and interviews
  • Mentor and develop junior engineers while coordinating multi-disciplinary teams
  • Oversee BIM/Revit-led design production, ensuring fully coordinated and compliant solutions
  • Manage project resources, QA procedures, statutory approvals, and contractor engagement
  • Ensure compliance with project programmes, safety, health and environmental standards

Come grow with us:

And let's not forget about the perks at AECOM. You'll enjoy a range of core and personalised benefits designed to support your future and well-being, customized to fit your lifestyle. Take advantage of career development opportunities, our flexible hybrid working model to ensure a work-life balance that suits your lifestyle, technical practice networks, AECOM University, and volunteering days.

Qualifications

Ready to push the limits of what’s possible?

Requirements:

  • Proven experience in mechanical building services design within consultancy, particularly in the healthcare and/or education sectors.
  • Previous experience working as a Senior or Principal Engineer.
  • Membership of a relevant professional body (e.g., CIBSE, ASHRAE, or EI).
  • Good understanding of mechanical building services design software and BIM tools (e.g., Revit, IES).
  • Degree in Building Services Engineering or Mechanical Engineering.
  • Chartered status or working towards professional accreditation (desirable).
  • Experience in the design and delivery of healthcare facilities, with familiarity of HTM/HBN standards (preferred).

Additional Information

About AECOM

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. See how we are delivering sustainable legacies for generations to come at aecom.com and @AECOM.

Freedom to Grow in a World of Opportunity

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.

You will help us foster a safe and respectful workplace, where we invite everyone to bring their whole selves to work using their unique talents, backgrounds and expertise to create transformational outcomes for our clients.

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.

Join us, and you’ll get all the benefits of being a part of a global, publicly traded firm – access to industry-leading technology and thinking and transformational work with big impact and work flexibility. 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. Please let us know using this email address ReasonableAccommodations@aecom.com if you would like to apply through the Disability Confident Interview Scheme. All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Summary

  • Type: Full-time
  • Function: Engineering
  • Experience level: Associate
  • Industry: Construction

Principal Mechanical Engineer 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.

AECOM

Contact Details:

AECOM Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Principal Mechanical Engineer

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 Principal Mechanical Engineer

Mechanical Building Services Design
Healthcare Project Experience
Education Project Experience
BIM/Revit Proficiency
Project Management
Client Engagement
Team Leadership

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 Principal Mechanical Engineer 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.