At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive engineering innovation and tackle real-world challenges in a dynamic environment.
- Company: Join United Utilities, a leading utility shaping the future of water services.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, annual bonus, private healthcare, and flexible hybrid working.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with excellent career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of innovation, influencing new technologies and making a real impact.
- Qualifications: Degree in engineering and strong problem-solving skills required.
The predicted salary is between 61408 - 87100 £ per year.
Location: Lingley Mere, Warrington (Hybrid)
Contract: Permanent | Full Time (37 hours per week)
Salary: Competitive salary + 10.5% bonus
The role
At United Utilities, innovation is critical to how we tackle complex challenges, deliver regulatory commitments and create a more sustainable future. We’re looking for a driven and technically strong Innovation Engineer to bring fresh thinking, robust engineering expertise and evidence-based decision-making into our innovation portfolio. You’ll play a key role in supporting the delivery of our largest capital investment programme in over 100 years, as part of our Big North West Upgrade, helping to shape and deploy innovative solutions at unprecedented scale. This is an exciting opportunity to work at the forefront of Strategic Engineering — shaping new technologies, influencing adoption at scale and delivering real value across our business.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Engineering Innovation Delivery
- Provide robust engineering input to innovation initiatives across the business
- Support projects from concept development through to early adoption and handover
- Evaluate technologies and solutions against performance, cost, carbon and risk
- Technology Assessment & Development
- Undertake engineering assessments, trials and validation activities
- Develop business cases, cost-benefit analyses and routes to adoption
- Identify and evaluate emerging technologies aligned to strategic challenges
- Innovation Pipeline & Scouting
- Support targeted scouting activities to identify solutions from the market
- Work with supply chain partners, SMEs and innovators to co-develop ideas
- Contribute to identifying opportunities that drive efficiency and performance
- Risk, Safety & Governance
- Identify and manage risks associated with new technologies and approaches
- Ensure health, safety and wellbeing considerations are embedded in all activities
- Support governance and approval processes, ensuring new solutions are appropriately reviewed, assured and aligned with regulatory and organisational requirements
- Stakeholder Engagement & Collaboration
- Build strong relationships with internal teams, partners and external bodies
- Provide technical input to governance forums, reporting and communications
- Represent Engineering Innovation in cross-functional and external groups
- Knowledge Sharing & Continuous Improvement
- Capture lessons learned and support knowledge sharing across the organisation and the wider sector
- Promote best practice and support scalable adoption of innovation
- Contribute to improving innovation processes, tools and data capture
What We’re Looking For
We’re looking for a technically capable and curious engineer who thrives in uncertainty and is motivated by solving real-world challenges through innovation.
Essential
- Degree-qualified in an engineering discipline (or equivalent experience)
- Chartered engineer (or working towards Chartership, with willingness to achieve)
- Strong technical expertise with an interest in innovation, R&D or emerging technologies
- Ability to analyse complex problems and communicate solutions clearly
- Strong stakeholder engagement and influencing skills
- Organised and able to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment
Desirable
- Understanding of the water sector or regulated infrastructure environment
- Awareness of commercial, risk and quality considerations for new technologies
- Knowledge of innovation ecosystems, supply chain markets or industry challenges
Why Join Us?
- Play a key role in shaping engineering innovation within a leading utility
- Work on cutting-edge technologies and real-world challenges
- Be part of a purpose-driven organisation shaping the future of water and environmental services
- Work in a collaborative, innovation-led environment
- Benefit from a flexible hybrid working model
- Competitive Salary and Annual Bonus + Companywide benefits
- Private Healthcare plan
- Up to 21% combined pension
Ready to Make an Impact?
If you’re passionate about engineering, driven by innovation and want to help deliver meaningful change, we’d love to hear from you. Apply now and be part of building the future of innovation at United Utilities.
Senior Engineer (Innovation) in Warrington employer: United Utilities
At United Utilities, we pride ourselves on being a forward-thinking employer that champions innovation and sustainability in the water sector. Our collaborative work culture fosters creativity and allows engineers to tackle real-world challenges while benefiting from a competitive salary, generous bonuses, and a flexible hybrid working model. With a strong focus on employee growth and development, we provide opportunities for continuous learning and engagement in cutting-edge projects that shape the future of environmental services.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Engineer (Innovation) in Warrington
✨Join Engineering Meetups!
Get yourself along to local engineering meetups or tech conferences. These are great places to connect with like-minded folks and industry leaders who might just have a lead on that full-time Senior Engineer (Innovation) role you’re after at United Utilities.
✨Show Off Your Projects!
Don’t be shy about showcasing your engineering projects. Whether it’s a funky app, a mechanical design, or a complex algorithm, having a solid portfolio on platforms like GitHub can really make you stand out. Plus, it gives potential employers at United Utilities a taste of what you can bring to the table!
✨Engage with Online Communities
Dive into engineering forums and online communities, like Reddit or specific engineering Discord channels. Sharing your insights, asking questions, and being active can help you build connections that might lead to job opportunities at United Utilities.
✨Apply Through Company Websites
When you spot a role like Senior Engineer (Innovation) at United Utilities, apply directly through their website. Often, this can show your genuine interest in the company and you might just get noticed quicker than via typical job boards.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Engineer (Innovation) in Warrington
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Technical Expertise:When applying for an engineering role like Senior Engineer (Innovation), it’s essential to highlight your technical skills. Include any relevant software or tools you're proficient in on your CV—think CAD software, simulation tools, or programming languages. Don't skimp on any engineering projects you've worked on that demonstrate your ability to solve complex problems.
Focus on Results and Impact:In the engineering world, we love numbers and real-world impact. Quantify your achievements wherever possible—like reducing costs by a certain percentage, improving efficiency, or successfully completing a project ahead of schedule. This gives your future employers at United Utilities a clear picture of the value you can bring.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Use your cover letter to express your passion for engineering and explain why you’re drawn to United Utilities specifically. Share what aspects of their work excite you and how your values align with theirs. This is your chance to show a bit of personality while keeping it professional!
Include Relevant Certifications:If you have any engineering certifications, especially ones that are recognised in your field, make sure to feature them prominently on your CV. They demonstrate not just your knowledge, but also your commitment to professional development, which is something we at StudySmarter value highly.
How to prepare for a job interview at United Utilities
✨Brush Up on Core Engineering Principles
Before heading into the interview with United Utilities, make sure you're solid on the fundamental engineering principles relevant to the role. Be ready to discuss concepts such as thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, or structural analysis, depending on the specifics mentioned in the job description. Don’t skip any hands-on projects or coursework; these can be excellent talking points!
✨Show Off Your Problem-Solving Skills
Expect technical questions or case studies during your interview—after all, engineering is all about solving problems! Prepare a few examples of how you've tackled engineering challenges in the past, whether at university or in any practical experience. Practising with mock technical interviews can really help you articulate your thought process and solutions.
✨Relate Your Experience to the Role
In a full-time role, employers like United Utilities want to see that you can adapt and grow within their team. Be ready to discuss how your previous internships, projects, or studies relate directly to the work you'll be doing. Highlight specific experiences that showcase your collaborative skills and how you've successfully worked within a team environment.
✨Know Your Tools and Software
Most engineering roles require familiarity with specific tools and software. Prepare to talk about your proficiency with programmes like AutoCAD, MATLAB, or SolidWorks if they’re relevant to the role. Even better, have examples of projects where you’ve used these tools, as it'll demonstrate your hands-on experience and readiness for the job.
