Mechanical Principal Engineer / Discipline Head
Job Overview
We are looking for an experienced Principal Mechanical Engineer to take a leading technical role within a multidisciplinary design team in the water sector.
This position is suited to a Chartered Engineer with strong design experience who enjoys solving complex engineering problems, guiding design teams, and ensuring high standards of technical delivery.
You will lead Mechanical engineering design across projects, mentor engineers at different stages of their careers, and provide technical leadership for the Mechanical discipline across water industry frameworks. The role combines hands-on principal-level design and checking work with discipline-wide technical standards, competency and governance responsibilities.
Working closely with Design Leads and an Engineering Manager, you will play a key role in ensuring projects are delivered to high professional and technical standards, while shaping how Mechanical engineering is delivered consistently across all water industry frameworks.
The Role
As Principal Mechanical Engineer, you will take ownership of the Mechanical engineering design input across a range of water sector projects, acting as the technical authority for the Mechanical discipline across the business.
Key Responsibilities
Design Delivery and Technical Assurance
Ensuring design deliverables meet safety, quality and regulatory requirements
Reviewing and approving design deliverables, design risk assessments (DRAs), reports and technical specifications
Developing efficient and practical engineering solutions based on scopes, site visits and client requirements
Communicating design solutions clearly to clients and project teams
Directing and supporting engineers, CAD technicians and graduates
Guiding design work to ensure compliance with technical standards, professional guidance and water company specifications
Ensuring design changes are properly implemented and recorded within project documentation
Working within established design processes and procedures to maintain quality and consistency
Attending and presenting engineering solutions at design reviews and key meetings
Reviewing, or appointing competent checkers for Mechanical designs produced in-house or by subcontracted designers, to ensure compliance with required technical standards
Discipline Leadership and Technical Governance
Setting, communicating and maintaining Mechanical engineering technical standards across all live projects
Verifying the technical competency of Mechanical engineering staff before they are allocated to projects
Monitoring the discipline engineers' performance and utilisation
Identifying training needs and supporting CPD planning for the Mechanical engineering team
Coordinating with other discipline leads on cross-discipline interface items, to ensure clear ownership where scope overlaps
Estimating Mechanical design hours at tender stage, and supporting resource forecasting and capacity planning across active projects
Reviewing and interpreting technical standards, procedures and updates relevant to the Mechanical discipline
Championing safety-in-design principles within Mechanical engineering, ensuring CDM 2015 designer duties are embedded across all design and checking activity
Providing key technical guidance for both projects and tenders
Supporting the continuous improvement of engineering standards and design practices
About You
We are looking for an experienced Mechanical Engineer with strong knowledge of water industry design and a track record of leading engineering solutions and providing discipline-wide technical leadership.
Requirements
Essential
10+ years' design experience within the regulated water industry
Degree or HND in Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline
Chartered Engineer status
Experience producing hydraulic calculations and hydraulic profiles
Strong understanding of water and wastewater engineering systems and technologies
Experience delivering both infrastructure and non-infrastructure designs
Experience working on outline and detailed design stages
Knowledge of construction methods, materials and engineering drawing practices
Strong IT and digital design capability
Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle
Desirable
Previous experience in a Discipline Lead, Technical Authority or Principal Engineer role
Experience supporting the technical development of junior engineers
Familiarity with client-specific technical standards across multiple water company frameworks
Experience as an independent checker across multiple disciplines or projects
Familiarity with BIM and common data environment workflows
Experience contributing to recruitment, onboarding or competency framework development
Experience working in a design-centre or framework consultancy model
TPBN1_UKTJ
Mechanical Discipline Head employer: All The Top Bananas
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