Senior Principal Mechanical Engineer - Water Sector in Devon

The UK water sector is undergoing its most ambitious investment programme in decades, and Stantec is at the forefront of delivering the infrastructure that will improve water security, protect the environment and build more resilient communities. As AMP8 progresses, we’re looking for a Senior Principal Mechanical Engineer to join our growing Water team in the South West.

As a Senior Principal Mechanical Engineer, you will provide strategic technical leadership across major infrastructure and non‑infrastructure projects, overseeing delivery from feasibility and optioneering through to detailed design, construction support and commissioning. You will act as a senior technical authority across water and wastewater treatment works, pumping stations and conveyance systems, ensuring engineering excellence, innovation and robust technical governance throughout project delivery. Working closely with project managers, technical leaders, clients, contractors and multidisciplinary teams, you will help shape engineering solutions while supporting framework growth and strengthening long‑term client partnerships.

Alongside your project responsibilities, you will lead, mentor and develop engineers across the business, providing line management, building technical capability and helping define the future direction of our Mechanical Engineering discipline.

Your Impact

Your leadership will directly influence the delivery of critical infrastructure that enables water companies to meet increasing environmental expectations, improve operational resilience and provide reliable services for millions of customers. Through technical excellence and strategic thinking, you will help deliver sustainable engineering solutions that benefit both clients and communities. Beyond project delivery, you will play a significant role in developing future engineering leaders, embedding best practice and driving continuous improvement across the Mechanical Engineering discipline. Your expertise will strengthen client confidence, support business growth and reinforce Stantec’s reputation as one of the UK’s leading engineering consultancies throughout AMP8 and beyond.

About You – Essential

• Degree qualified (or equivalent) in Mechanical Engineering.
• Chartered Engineer (CEng).
• Extensive experience delivering complex mechanical engineering projects within the UK water sector.
• Proven experience leading multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Strong technical knowledge of water and wastewater treatment works, pumping stations and mechanical process systems.
• Experience mentoring, developing and managing engineering teams.
• Excellent client relationship and stakeholder management skills.

Desirable

• Experience supporting framework growth, bids and business development.
• Experience establishing engineering standards and technical governance.
• Experience working collaboratively with contractors on major capital programmes.
• Knowledge of digital engineering tools and modern methods of delivery.

Why Join Us

We put people first: We’re proud of a friendly, inclusive and collaborative environment where everyone feels valued and driven to succeed. We are driven to achieve: Named in the top 50 companies to work by Glassdoor 2025, recognised by Corporate Knights as one of the world’s top 10 most sustainable companies 2025, named 'Best Place to Work' and 'International Consulting Firm of the Year' at the NCE Awards 2024. We do what is right: Industry‑leading training and development as well as paid professional subscriptions. A professional progression plan, supporting you to become chartered with ICE. We are better together: A supportive and collaborative team environment and Early Careers peer group and wider ERG network. Growth: We’re on an exciting growth journey across the UK – we want you to be part of it!

Great Benefits: Competitive salary, bonus schemes, enhanced pension plan, annual leave with the option to buy or sell additional days, private medical insurance, group income protection and life assurance included as standard, discounted gym membership and other benefits.

Hybrid / Flexible working: Enjoy a healthy work‑life balance with our hybrid approach to flexible working.

About Stantec

The Stantec community unites more than 34,000 employees working in over 450 locations across 6 continents. We have been working with our clients and communities in the UK for over 150 years. We plan, design, deliver and manage the development and infrastructure needed to support the creation of sustainable, healthy and prosperous communities. Our teams provide effective and relevant solutions, translating our clients’ vision into valued consents, deliverable plans for projects and programmes, and efficient designs for delivery, based on technical excellence and deep market insights. We deal with today’s challenges, but also keep a fairer, better tomorrow in sight, looking at how we deliver clean growth, support radical changes in our economy and meet the needs of future communities.

Stantec provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified employees and applicants for future and current employment and prohibits discrimination on the grounds of race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, genetic information, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. We prohibit discrimination in decisions concerning recruitment, hiring, referral, promotion, compensation, fringe benefits, job training, terminations or any other condition of employment. Stantec is in compliance with laws and regulations and ensures equitable opportunities in all aspects of employment.

If you are excited by this role but worry that your experience doesn’t exactly align, we encourage you to apply. At Stantec we want you to perform your best at every stage of the recruitment process and are committed to ensuring it is accessible to all. If you need any support or require adjustments to be made then please contact humancapital@stantec.com and we will talk to you about how we can support you.