Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead performance engineering for boilers and turbines across multiple energy plants.
- Company: Join a leading energy company focused on innovation and efficiency.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid working, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on energy efficiency and sustainability in the UK.
- Qualifications: Degree in Engineering or related field with experience in power/thermal plant performance.
- Other info: Dynamic role with national travel and a mix of office and site work.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 90000 £ per year.
Middlemore has been exclusively retained to recruit for a senior performance engineering opportunity for an experienced power/thermal specialist to take ownership of boiler and turbine performance across a modern UK Energy from Waste fleet. This is a high-impact, data-driven role focused on measurable efficiency gains, working at group level rather than tied to a single plant.
Role overview
- Asset Management – performance owner for operational EfW assets, reporting into Group Asset Management leadership.
- Group remit across multiple plants, leading asset performance, reliability and efficiency to deliver best-in-class asset performance and margin improvement.
What you will be doing
- Act as performance owner for boilers and turbines, materially influencing thermal efficiency, turbine efficiency and overall plant output across the EfW portfolio.
- Lead the definition, monitoring and interpretation of asset KPIs, providing periodic performance and diagnostic reporting on critical plant assets.
- Optimise combustion/boiler and turbine cycle performance, including fuel calorific value, thermodynamic performance and the knock-on impact of plant changes across the whole process.
- Use and challenge thermodynamic, CFD and airflow models; verify outputs with independent calculations and plant data from DCS/SCADA and PI or similar historians, acting as custodian of data quality and reliability.
- Lead or support performance tests, reconcile performance mismatches and translate plant performance into financial impact (margin and EBIT), educating operations teams on the “price of non‑conformance”.
- Provide day-to-day performance engineering expertise to Operations, Maintenance and Engineering teams, and oversee an Assistant Performance Engineer who is more plant‑based.
- Proactively identify and deliver improvement projects to increase efficiency, availability, reliability and safety, including feasibility studies, conceptual and detailed designs.
In the first 12–18 months
- Deliver targeted efficiency uplifts on boilers and turbines across multiple sites.
- Optimise waste throughput within technical and environmental limits, improving overall plant output.
- Reduce performance losses that impact margin and EBIT, embedding changes and new ways of working with site teams.
What we are looking for
- Degree-qualified engineer in Engineering, Physics, Mathematics or similar, ideally Chemical/Process or Power.
- Strong track record in power/thermal plant performance (EfW, CCGT, biomass, coal, CHP or similar), with a deep grounding in thermodynamics, boiler operation, calorific value and turbine control logic.
- High technical capability and comfort with performance modelling, data analysis and performance monitoring software, including advanced Excel and tools such as Power BI, SQL, Access or similar.
- Experience working with plant efficiency data, energy production and performance monitoring software, including historians (e.g. PI) and DCS/SCADA data.
- Strong interpersonal and stakeholder skills: able to command a room, influence operators and senior stakeholders and embed change through communication and gravitas rather than “pressing the buttons” yourself.
- Proven leadership with the ability to guide an Assistant Performance Engineer, manage cross-functional work and contribute to budgets and commercial outcomes.
- Minimum 3–5 years in a similar performance or process engineering role, ideally within the energy sector.
Working pattern and environment
- Hybrid role combining desk-based performance analysis with regular site presence for performance tests, investigations and support to site teams.
- National travel to multiple UK sites as required for performance, commissioning and critical issue resolution.
- Predominantly office/control-room and plant environment, with exposure to typical industrial conditions when on site.
How to apply
If you are a technically strong performance engineer who enjoys complex thermodynamic problem‑solving, data-driven decision-making and influencing operators and senior stakeholders, please get in touch for a confidential conversation and full brief.
Group Performance Engineer – Energy employer: Middlemore
Contact Detail:
Middlemore Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Group Performance Engineer – Energy
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to industry contacts, attend relevant events, and engage on platforms like LinkedIn. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know that can help you land that dream job.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by diving deep into the company’s projects and values. We want you to show genuine interest and knowledge about their operations, especially in performance engineering. Tailor your responses to highlight how your skills can directly impact their efficiency and output.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Conduct mock interviews with friends or mentors to refine your answers and boost your confidence. We suggest focusing on technical questions related to thermodynamics and performance metrics, as these will likely come up in your discussions.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after interviews! A simple thank-you email can go a long way in keeping you top of mind. We recommend reiterating your enthusiasm for the role and briefly mentioning how you can contribute to their performance goals.
We think you need these skills to ace Group Performance Engineer – Energy
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to highlight your experience in power/thermal plant performance. Use keywords from the job description, like 'thermodynamics' and 'performance modelling', to show we’re on the same page.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Share specific examples of how you've improved efficiency or tackled complex problems in previous roles. We want to see your personality and passion for the role!
Showcase Your Technical Skills: Don’t forget to mention your technical skills, especially with performance monitoring software and data analysis tools. Highlighting your comfort with tools like Power BI or SQL will definitely catch our eye!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from us!
How to prepare for a job interview at Middlemore
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your thermodynamics and performance engineering principles. Be ready to discuss specific examples from your past experience, especially related to boiler and turbine performance. This role is all about measurable efficiency gains, so be prepared to talk numbers!
✨Showcase Your Data Skills
Since this position involves a lot of data analysis, highlight your experience with performance monitoring software and tools like Power BI or SQL. Bring along examples of how you've used data to drive decisions or improve performance in previous roles.
✨Communicate Effectively
This role requires strong interpersonal skills, so practice articulating your thoughts clearly. Think about how you can influence stakeholders and operators without just relying on technical jargon. Show that you can command a room and lead discussions effectively.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that ask how you would handle specific performance challenges or improve efficiency across multiple sites. Think through potential scenarios and have a few strategies ready to share. This will demonstrate your proactive approach to problem-solving.
