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- Tasks: Lead innovative water infrastructure projects from design to delivery.
- Company: Join AECOM, a global leader in infrastructure consulting, making a positive impact worldwide.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible hybrid working, career development, and personalised perks tailored to your lifestyle.
- Why this job: Shape sustainable water solutions while collaborating with top-tier engineers in an inclusive environment.
- Qualifications: Degree in Mechanical Engineering; Chartered Engineer status preferred; strong problem-solving and leadership skills.
- Other info: Diversity is celebrated here; we welcome applicants from all backgrounds.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
At AECOM, we are 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.
Are you ready to shape the future of water infrastructure? We’re looking for a Principal Mechanical Engineer to join our growing Water Solutions team, with opportunities to be based across our England & Wales offices.
In this role, you’ll play a key part in delivering major UK water utility investment programmes, supporting the design and delivery of projects that range from small rural sites to multi-million-pound infrastructure and non-infrastructure schemes. These frameworks are long-term and extend through AMP8 and AMP9, giving you the chance to contribute meaningfully to sustainable water solutions across multiple regions.
You will support the delivery of several high-value capital programmes, including:
- South West Water – Framework for Engineering Consultancy Services: Lot 3 - Multi-Discipline Engineering Design
- Wessex Water – Capital Delivery Partner Framework Agreement: Lot 2 - Design Consultant
- Severn Trent Water – Lot 1 Major Projects Framework: Supporting AMP8 delivery plan valued at a TotEx of £14.9 billion
- Severn Trent D&B Projects – Supporting Tier 1 contractors on major non-infrastructure wastewater schemes
- Southern Water Strategic Delivery Partner (SDP) Frameworks: Lot 1: Non-infrastructure water projects
- Lot 2: Non-infrastructure wastewater projects
- Southern Water Low Complexity and Infrastructure Frameworks: Lot 2: Wastewater Infrastructure
- Lot 3: Infrastructure Framework – Partnering exclusively with Tier 1 contractors to deliver efficient and sustainable water and wastewater solutions
Working flexibly, you’ll visit client sites and collaborate with teams across multi-year frameworks. As part of our thriving business, you’ll take on rewarding multi-disciplinary projects from inception to delivery, creating innovative solutions that enhance the environment and improve communities.
Here’s what you’ll do:
- Develop feasibility studies, outline and detailed designs, and provide construction support.
- Create design drawings, select mechanical plant, and prepare technical specifications.
- Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, including civil, electrical, process, and mechanical engineers.
- Ensure high technical quality, contribute to bids, and maintain client relationships.
- Manage project budgets, schedules, and deliverables to meet agreed targets.
- Design mechanical installations for water and wastewater systems, including pumps, screens, valves, and odour control.
- Conduct site surveys and liaise with clients, contractors, and suppliers.
- Produce layouts, technical specifications, datasheets, and P&IDs for system designs.
As well as providing innovative and industry leading MEICA solutions to Clients, the team also collaborates with a wide variety of disciplines from other offices in delivering projects, including a close working relationship with our Enterprise Capabilities centres in India, South Africa and Romania.
Ready to push the limits of what’s possible? Here’s what we’re looking for:
- A degree in Mechanical Engineering with Chartered Engineer status (or working towards it) through a recognised institution like IMechE.
- Proven expertise in producing, reviewing, and approving engineering reports, designs, drawings, and specifications.
- A problem-solver at heart—confident in taking ownership of challenging technical issues and seeing them through to resolution.
- Strong coordination skills, ensuring the quality and consistency of deliverables produced by the wider team.
- Leadership potential—able to manage direct reports, inspire technical excellence, and support the growth of fellow engineers.
- Exceptional client and stakeholder engagement skills, with experience in team leadership, mentoring, and line management.
We celebrate diversity, including neurodiversity, and believe it enriches our team. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and abilities.
If you meet some of the requirements above or have transferable skills you believe would benefit us, we would be delighted to hear from you!
Principal Mechanical Engineer - Water Industry employer: AECOM
Contact Detail:
AECOM Recruiting Team
ReasonableAccommodations@aecom.com
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Mechanical Engineer - Water Industry
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the latest trends and technologies in water infrastructure. Being knowledgeable about current innovations can help you stand out during discussions with potential employers, showcasing your passion and commitment to the field.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the water industry, especially those who work at AECOM or similar firms. Attend industry events, webinars, or local meetups to build connections that could lead to referrals or insider information about job openings.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss specific projects you've worked on that relate to water systems and mechanical engineering. Highlighting your hands-on experience and problem-solving skills will demonstrate your capability to handle the responsibilities of a Principal Mechanical Engineer.
✨Tip Number 4
Research AECOM's recent projects and initiatives in the water sector. Understanding their approach and values will allow you to tailor your conversations and show how your goals align with theirs, making you a more attractive candidate.
We think you need these skills to ace Principal Mechanical Engineer - Water Industry
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in mechanical engineering, particularly in the water industry. Emphasise your technical skills and any leadership roles you've held, as these are crucial for the Principal Mechanical Engineer position.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter should reflect your passion for sustainable water solutions and your understanding of AECOM's mission. Mention specific projects or frameworks you are excited about and how your background aligns with their goals.
Showcase Problem-Solving Skills: In your application, provide examples of challenging technical issues you've resolved in previous roles. Highlight your problem-solving approach and the impact of your solutions on project outcomes.
Highlight Collaboration Experience: Since the role involves working with multidisciplinary teams, include examples of successful collaborations in your application. Discuss how you’ve worked with civil, electrical, and process engineers to deliver projects effectively.
How to prepare for a job interview at AECOM
✨Showcase Your Technical Expertise
As a Principal Mechanical Engineer, it's crucial to demonstrate your deep understanding of mechanical systems related to water infrastructure. Be prepared to discuss specific projects you've worked on, the challenges you faced, and how you overcame them. Highlight your experience with design drawings, technical specifications, and project management.
✨Emphasise Collaboration Skills
This role requires working closely with multidisciplinary teams. During the interview, share examples of how you've successfully collaborated with civil, electrical, and process engineers in past projects. Discuss your approach to ensuring quality and consistency in deliverables while managing team dynamics.
✨Demonstrate Problem-Solving Abilities
AECOM values problem solvers who can take ownership of technical issues. Prepare to discuss specific instances where you've identified problems in projects and the steps you took to resolve them. This will showcase your analytical skills and ability to think critically under pressure.
✨Engage with Client and Stakeholder Management
Exceptional client engagement is key for this position. Be ready to talk about your experience in managing client relationships, leading teams, and mentoring junior engineers. Highlight any successful bids or projects where your leadership made a significant impact on client satisfaction.
