At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead mechanical and electrical engineering projects to ensure our waterways are safe and operational.
- Company: Join one of the UK's largest charities dedicated to preserving canals and rivers.
- Benefits: Flexible working, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Home-based role with travel across the UK for site visits and collaborative meetings.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in environmental conservation while advancing your engineering career.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in mechanical and electrical engineering with strong leadership skills.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
About the Trust
We're one of the UK’s biggest charities and we care for 2,000 miles of canals, rivers, docks and reservoirs because we believe life is better by water. We're looking for people who support our cause and want to make a difference for future generations. Along with our waterways, we also manage museums, archives and the country's third largest collection of historic buildings, as well as the nature and wildlife that calls our canals home. All of this enables us to provide wellbeing opportunities for millions of people each year.
Join Our Team: Principal Mechanical & Electrical Engineer, national role. Navigate your future and lock in your career as we keep our canals open and alive. Our Mechanical, Electrical, Instrumentation, Control & Automation (MEICA) function is critical to keeping the canal network safe, compliant, and operational. From locks and bridges to water control systems, our assets underpin the resilience and reliability of the waterways. Through intelligent asset management, data-led decision making, and engineering excellence, we ensure our infrastructure continues to serve communities now and into the future.
We are seeking a Principal M&E Engineer to take a leading role in managing infrastructure risk and helping to shape the strategic direction of MEICA asset management across the Trust. This is a highly influential role, working in close partnership with senior stakeholders to ensure our assets are resilient, compliant, and fit for the future.
As a Principal Engineer, you will:
- Provide strategic technical leadership across mechanical and electrical disciplines, acting as the Trust’s subject matter expert.
- Lead the assessment and management of infrastructure risk, ensuring robust, data-driven investment and maintenance decisions.
- Oversee inspection and maintenance strategies, ensuring delivery aligns with national standards, regulatory frameworks, and asset management plans.
- Drive the technical assurance of designs, ensuring safe, efficient, and sustainable engineering outcomes.
- Influence and contribute to long-term asset strategy, capital programmes, and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Partner with our Principal Engineers (ICA/SCADA and Projects) and senior leadership to shape and deliver the Trust’s MEICA engineering vision.
Although this is a home-based role, it is a national position requiring travel across our waterway network to manage both our M&E assets and teams. Currently, this is forecasted to be 1 - 2 days per week for site visits/meetings, with occasional overnight stays. Our hub spaces for collaborative meetings are located at Birmingham, Burnley, Ellesmere Port, Gloucester, Hatton (Warwick), Leeds, Leighton Buzzard, London (Little Venice) and Newark.
This role is great for someone who enjoys variety, splitting time between home, our Trust Hubs and regular site visits, and who’s happy to work flexibly when needed, including the occasional early start, late finish or weekend. Core hours: 37 hours, 5 days a week, work pattern. You should be able to reasonably commute to one of the following hubs: Birmingham, Burnley, Ellesmere Port, Gloucester, Hatton (Warwick), Leeds, Leighton Buzzard, London (Little Venice) and Newark.
Role Overview: Join us as our Principal M&E Engineer and help shape our strategies, providing definitive expert advice on M&E Engineering risk, maintaining the Trust's M&E standards and regulations, and driving our maintenance and inspections programme. You will assess outputs from inspections and make informed recommendations on the prioritisation of work required.
Mechanical and Electrical - Principal Engineer in London employer: Canal & River Trust
At Canal & River Trust, we pride ourselves on being an excellent employer that values innovation and teamwork. Our supportive work culture fosters professional growth through continuous learning opportunities, while our commitment to flexible working arrangements ensures a healthy work-life balance. Join us in making a meaningful impact on the UK's canal network, where your expertise will be valued and your contributions will help shape the future of our vital infrastructure.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Mechanical and Electrical - Principal Engineer in London
✨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 Canal & River Trust.
✨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 Canal & River Trust love to hear about practical applications of your skills.
✨Apply Directly on Company Websites
Check out the careers page of Canal & River Trust 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 Mechanical and Electrical - Principal Engineer in London
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 Canal & River Trust and the Mechanical and Electrical - Principal 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 Canal & River Trust
✨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 Canal & River Trust.
✨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 Canal & River Trust.
✨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 Canal & River Trust, making you a more appealing candidate.
