At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead mechanical design in water sector projects and mentor engineering teams.
- Company: Dynamic engineering firm focused on innovative water solutions.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career development, and a collaborative work environment.
- Other info: Join a team that values safety, quality, and continuous improvement.
- Why this job: Shape the future of water engineering while making a real impact.
- Qualifications: 10+ years in water industry design and Chartered Engineer status required.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
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 the 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
- 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 & 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 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
Requirements
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.
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 / common data environment workflows
- Experience contributing to recruitment, onboarding or competency framework development
- Experience working in a design-centre or framework consultancy model
Mechanical Principal Engineer employer: Kintec Global Recruitment
Kintec Global Recruitment is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration in the rapidly evolving fields of water, hydrogen, and nuclear engineering. With a strong commitment to employee development, you will have ample opportunities for mentorship and professional growth, all while enjoying the flexibility of a hybrid working arrangement in the vibrant city of Manchester.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Mechanical Principal 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 Kintec Global Recruitment.
✨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 Kintec Global Recruitment love to hear about practical applications of your skills.
✨Apply Directly on Company Websites
Check out the careers page of Kintec Global Recruitment 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 Principal Engineer
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 Kintec Global Recruitment and the Mechanical 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 Kintec Global Recruitment
✨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 Kintec Global Recruitment.
✨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 Kintec Global Recruitment.
✨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 Kintec Global Recruitment, making you a more appealing candidate.
