Principal Process Engineer in Brighton

Location: Falmer, travel across the patch to attend site visits when needed

Contract Type: Perm, Full Time

Salary: To be discussed at the screening stage.

About The Role

Southern Water is investing heavily in the resilience, quality, and sustainability of our water and wastewater services. We’re driving major transformation across AMP8 and beyond — and we’re looking for a Principal Process Engineer to play a key role in shaping how we deliver cleaner, greener, more efficient solutions for our customers and the environment.

If you’re a technical leader with deep experience in chemical/process engineering and a passion for innovation in water treatment, this is your opportunity to make a significant impact.

As a Principal Process Engineer, you will provide expert technical leadership across a broad portfolio of wastewater projects. You’ll guide multidisciplinary design teams, influence strategy, and ensure the delivery of robust, efficient and sustainable engineering solutions.

Working closely with Project Design Leads, delivery partners and stakeholders, you will challenge traditional approaches, promote digital design, and drive whole-life value into every project. This is a senior, influential role where your technical decisions will shape how Southern Water delivers water treatment solutions now and, in the future.

What You Will Be Responsible For

• Technical Leadership: Lead process design across multiple wastewater schemes, providing expert guidance and approvals. Oversee key technical deliverables, resolve complex issues, and ensure quality, compliance, and value for money.
• Safety & Sustainability: Promote a strong safety culture, develop risk assessments, and ensure designs meet CDM, environmental, and sustainability standards.
• Innovation & Improvement: Drive continuous improvement by challenging existing practices, adopting industry best practice, and championing digital design and standardisation.
• People Leadership: Support, mentor, and develop junior engineers, contribute to recruitment, and foster a culture that encourages innovation and collaboration.
• Financial & Commercial: Assist with business case development, manage design budgets, and influence stakeholders to secure best value.
• Programme & Customer Focus: Ensure design deliverables meet programme, customer, and regulatory expectations, and represent Southern Water at technical events.

What You’ll Bring To The Role

• Qualifications: MEng/BEng/BSc or HNC in Chemical Engineering, Environmental, or a related discipline. Chartered Engineer status with a relevant institution is essential.
• Experience: A solid background in delivering water projects in the UK Water Industry, with a deep understanding of engineering principles, commercial operations, and risk management.
• Skills: Excellent communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to drive innovation and manage complex engineering challenges.

Southern Water is at the forefront of transforming Britain’s water industry, investing significantly to enhance resilience, sustainability, and service excellence. With £7.8bn planned investment, this is an unparalleled opportunity to join a business committed to delivering a generational shift in the way water services are managed.

You will be joining at a time of significant change, working alongside a highly skilled leadership team with a clear vision for the future. We offer an environment where senior professionals can make a meaningful impact, influence major strategic decisions, and drive long-term value creation.

Growth-Oriented: We understand that great talent comes in many forms. If this role excites you and you share our commitment to delivering sustainable solutions for our communities, please apply—even if your experience doesn’t perfectly match every requirement. We’ll support your growth and development.