At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead innovative M&E design projects and manage multi-disciplinary engineering teams.
- Company: Join a top-rated Main Contractor known for collaboration and excellence.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible hours, and tailored benefits to suit your needs.
- Other info: Diversity and inclusion are key priorities; we welcome all applicants.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in diverse sectors while advancing your engineering career.
- Qualifications: Chartered Engineer with strong leadership and M&E experience required.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 70000 £ per year.
We're looking for a Principal Mechanical Engineering Team Leader to join our MEP team based in Liverpool, Manchester, or Leeds.
Location: Liverpool, Manchester, or Leeds - with opportunity for agile working
Hours: 40 hours per week - some flexibility on hours available if desired, just let us know when you speak to us.
Salary: Starting from £70,000 per annum
Sector: MEP – across a variety of industry sectors
The role involves leading the design and delivery of complex M&E building services projects within a variety of sectors. As a Chartered Engineer and Design Team Leader, you will manage MEP teams, coordinate with multi-disciplinary design teams, ensure technical excellence and compliance, and work closely with project teams and clients for a major main contractor. The position requires strong leadership, significant industry experience, and the ability to deliver safe, efficient, and innovative engineering solutions from concept through construction.
Are you…
- A Chartered Engineer and member of CIBSE or IET?
- A Design Team Leader with strong M&E experience?
- A Design Team Leader looking to take the next step for a Main Contractor with a secured workload in a variety of industry sectors?
- Passionate about working for a collaborative, trusted, and delivery‑focused organisation?
Do you…
- Hold a Degree in Mechanical or Electrical Building Services Design Engineering or related subject?
- Bring experience of working across both public and private sector projects?
- Want to work for a highly regarded Main Contractor, recognised as a Top 30 employer on Glassdoor?
What will you be responsible for?
As a Principal Electrical or Mechanical Engineering Team Leader, you'll be working within the MEP Design team, supporting them in delivering high-quality, coordinated engineering solutions across public and private sector projects. Your day to day will include:
- Lead the design delivery of high‑quality M&E designs across new build, refurbishment, and minor works projects, ensuring outputs meet programme, budget, quality, and safety standards
- Support the Head of Service in leading and managing the M&E design teams, working closely with project leads to deliver coordinated multi‑disciplinary design solutions
- Manage team performance, utilisation, and development, ensuring capability aligns with workload and business targets
- Oversee technical delivery including feasibility studies, multi‑stage designs, specifications, condition reports, and technical advice
- Maintain and apply engineering standards, QA procedures, document control, and Health & Safety policies
- Build and maintain strong client relationships across public and private sector projects, ensuring high levels of customer satisfaction
- Contribute to business development, including compiling fee proposals, quality submissions, bids, presentations, and winning new work
- Provide senior technical leadership and ensure integrated design solutions through to completion
- Promote continuous improvement, innovation, and best practice across the M&E service
- Represent Kier within relevant industry sectors, contributing to forums, working groups, and industry engagement
- Drive standards, innovation, best practice, safety, wellbeing and customer satisfaction
- Supervise and mentor junior and less experienced members of the team with their journey to chartered status
What are we looking for?
This role of Principal Electrical or Mechanical Engineering Team Leader is great for you if:
- Chartered Engineer (CIBSE or IET) with a degree in Mechanical or Electrical Building Services Engineering design or similar subject
- Proven senior leadership experience managing multi‑disciplinary engineering teams
- Strong communicator able to translate complex technical information clearly
- Experienced in quality management and design governance
- Fluent in use of industry related software and calculation methods
- Able to meet BPSS security requirements
Rewards and benefits
We're proud to be able to offer our brilliant people a wide variety of benefits that you can tailor to your needs.
Diversity and inclusion
Making Kier a diverse and inclusive place to work is a huge priority for us. We're proud of the steps we've taken so far, but we know we must always do more. Our employees are key in shaping Kier's diversity and inclusion initiatives and our people have made a huge impact on how we work, by using their experiences to shape our policies.
As a Disability Confident employer, we will ensure that a fair and proportionate number of disabled applicants that meet the minimum criteria for this role will be offered an interview.
Due to the nature of this role, you will also be required to complete a Basic Disclosure and Barring Service Check (applicants with convictions will be treated on a case-by-case basis. We do not discriminate based on an applicant's conviction history or the details of any convictions disclosed to us). Some roles may also be subject to further pre-employment checks.
We look forward to seeing your application to #joinkier.
Principal Mechanical Engineer in Salford employer: OME
Kier is an exceptional employer, offering a collaborative and delivery-focused work culture that prioritises employee growth and development. With flexible working hours and a commitment to diversity and inclusion, our team members thrive in an environment that values innovation and technical excellence across a variety of industry sectors. Join us in Liverpool, Manchester, or Leeds, where you can lead impactful projects while enjoying a competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package tailored to your needs.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Mechanical Engineer in Salford
✨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 OME.
✨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 OME love to hear about practical applications of your skills.
✨Apply Directly on Company Websites
Check out the careers page of OME 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 Principal Mechanical Engineer in Salford
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 OME and the Principal Mechanical 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 OME
✨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 OME.
✨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 OME.
✨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 OME, making you a more appealing candidate.