Senior Mechanical Engineer - Water in Birmingham

At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission‑critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting‑edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good.

Your impact

With a number of roles available, this is a rare chance for you to step into a newly created role at the forefront of the UK’s most significant water sector transformation in decades. If you’re driven by meaningful engineering challenges and want your work to directly improve the lives of millions, this opportunity puts you right at the heart of it.

From early‑stage feasibility and Front‑End Engineering Design (FEED) studies through to detailed design, commissioning and operational handover, you’ll play a key role in shaping innovative engineering solutions that improve essential water and wastewater services for millions of customers.

You’ll help define project scope, develop investment‑ready solutions, assess technical risks and establish robust delivery strategies that set projects up for successful execution. You’ll collaborate with major water companies, including United Utilities, Northumbrian Water, Thames Water, Severn Trent Water, and Anglian Water shaping and delivering high‑value, complex Design & Build CAPEX and OPEX programmes.

Your remit will include:

• Leading and contributing to FEED and optioneering studies, developing technical solutions that balance performance, risk, sustainability and whole‑life cost.
• Engineering and Design of critical water and wastewater assets — from pumping stations to treatment plants.
• Value engineering and buildability improvements that make real‑world impact.
• Feasibility studies, detailed designs, and commissioning support for major infrastructure.
• High‑quality technical outputs including layouts, specifications, datasheets, and P&IDs.
• Equipment sizing and specification across pumps, blowers, valves, screening, dosing, and odour control systems.
• Site investigations and engagement with clients, contractors, and suppliers.
• Achieve compliance with UK water industry standards, health & safety, and environmental requirements.
• Technical guidance, mentoring, and collaboration within multidisciplinary teams.
• Project planning support including scheduling, risk, change control, and forecasting.
• Early integration of constructability and commissioning into design solutions.

Why apply?

• Once‑in‑a‑generation investment in UK water infrastructure.
• Opportunity to collaborate with leading UK water companies, securing exposure to national‑scale programmes.
• End‑to‑end project influence — far beyond design alone.
• Career‑defining engineering challenges with real social impact.
• A platform to innovate, challenge convention, and shape future resilience.

Here’s what you’ll need

• Degree in Mechanical Engineering.
• Professional Membership: Working toward or holding chartered status (e.g., IMechE or equivalent).
• Strong understanding of mechanical process based systems used in sectors such as water/wastewater/effluent/biomass treatment.
• Knowledge of UK water industry standards, H&S, and environmental compliance.
• Robust understanding of current health, safety and welfare legislation.
• Experience across the project lifecycle within infrastructure or similar complex environments.
• Familiarity with design tools such as AutoCAD, Revit, or BIM.

Joining Jacobs not only connects you locally but globally. Our values stand on a foundation of safety, integrity, inclusion and belonging. We put people at the heart of our business, and we truly believe that by supporting one another through our culture of caring, we all succeed. We value positive mental health and a sense of belonging for all employees.

With safety and flexibility always top of mind, we’ve gone beyond traditional ways of working so you have the support, means and space to maximize your potential. You’ll uncover flexible working arrangements, benefits, and opportunities, from well‑being benefits to our global giving and volunteering program, to exploring new and inventive ways to help our clients make the world a better place. No matter what drives you, you’ll discover how you can cultivate, nurture, and achieve your goals – all at a single global company. Find out more about life at Jacobs.

We aim to embed inclusion and belonging in everything we do. We know that if we are inclusive, we’re more connected and creative. We accept people for who they are, and we champion the richness of different perspectives, lived experiences and backgrounds in the workplace, as a source of learning and innovation. We are committed to building vibrant communities within Jacobs, including through our Jacobs Employee Networks, Communities of Practice and our Find Your Community initiatives, allowing every employee to find connection, purpose, and belonging. Find out more about our Jacobs Employee Networks here.

Jacobs partners with VERCIDA to help us attract and retain talent from a wide range of backgrounds. For greater online accessibility please visit https://www.vercida.com/uk/employers/jacobs to view and access our roles.

As a disability confident employer, we will interview disabled candidates who best meet the criteria. We welcome applications from candidates who are seeking flexible working and from those who may not meet all the listed requirements for a role.

We value collaboration and believe that in‑person interactions are crucial for both our culture and client delivery. We empower employees with our hybrid working policy, allowing them to split their work week between Jacobs offices/projects and remote locations enabling them to deliver their best work.

Your application experience is important to us, and we’re keen to adapt to make every interaction even better. If you require further support or reasonable adjustments with regards to the recruitment process (for example, you require the application form in a different format), please contact the team via Careers Support.