Solution Development Engineer (Process) in Leeds

Hello! Thanks for stopping by. Let us tell you about all the great reasons to join us here at Yorkshire Water:

• We offer a competitive salary, depending on experience, £53,444 - £62,876
• A company car benefit
• Annual incentive related bonus (£1000 maximum bonus opportunity for the performance year)
• Attractive pension scheme (up to 12% company contribution)
• Development opportunities in line with the Solution Development Engineer progression plan
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays – plus two extra wellness days!
• Life assurance cover of 4 times pensionable salary
• A great benefits package – choose from health cash plan scheme, critical illness insurance, dental insurance, life assurance flex and partner cover.
• Retail savings scheme
• Online GP service, cycle to work scheme, gym membership discounts and many more!

Location: Bradford, Buttershaw - typically 1 day in the office/week – with extensive travel around the YW region to operational and office sites. Office relocation to Leeds (LS10) from Summer, 2026.

Work type: Permanent. 37 hours per week, Monday – Friday.

We have exciting opportunities for multiple Solution Development Engineers to join the Chemical and Process Engineering team at Yorkshire Water and be a part of helping Yorkshire Water to provide the best service to our customers.

What we do: Everyone has an idea of what a water company does. Here in Yorkshire, we make sure that over 5.4 million people living in the region and the millions of people who visit our region each year can rely on our services, and have clean and safe drinking water on tap and that their wastewater is taken away. But for us, it’s so much more than this. We look after communities, protect the environment, and plan to look after Yorkshire’s water, today, tomorrow 24/7, 365 days a year. We provide essential water and wastewater services to every corner of the Yorkshire region and play a key role in the region’s health, wellbeing, and prosperity. New environmental legislation, unprecedented levels of investment and changing expectations from customers means that this is an exciting time to discover opportunities within the water industry.

The Engineering teams are a key part of how we plan to meet the changing expectations of customers and regulators. This role offers the chance to apply your chemical/process engineering expertise to ensure safety and compliance across our operations. You’ll lead investigations, review designs, and guide remediation work, balancing technical effectiveness with cost. You’ll also help shape our engineering standards, stay ahead of industry developments, and support the growth of junior engineers—all while playing a key role in our change management process.

Where you fit in:

• Resolving Health and Safety, process efficiency and optimisation related issues to meet regulatory compliance.
• Critically appraise output from partners prior to document acceptance and actively engage with them to drive performance and standards.
• Assess remedial requirements and provide cost effective process design intent specifications.
• Provide technical support and guidance to the internal project delivery team and procurement.
• Contributing to the development and governance of Yorkshire Water’s Engineering Standards.
• Coaching and mentoring team members and graduates to build internal technical capability.
• Championing health and safety, conducting on-site audits, and ensuring compliance with company policies.
• Supporting change management processes and acting as a subject matter expert.
• Authorising partners for compliance work and participating in hazard studies.

Specific duties of the two engineering roles available are listed below:

• Solution Development Engineer (Chemical): Carry out and review DSEAR risk assessments, Hazardous Area Classifications and COSHH Risk Assessments. Technically define scopes of work to enable investigation in support of legislative compliance, particularly DSEAR and COSHH.
• Solution Development Engineer (Process): Evaluating treatment and pumping processes to inform operational and maintenance strategies. Identifying, promoting and leading opportunities to improve treatment effectiveness and efficiency. Defining technical scopes of work to support treatment improvement and compliance.

What skills & qualifications you will need:

• A BEng or MEng degree in Chemical or Process Engineering.
• Process engineering experience, preferably within the water/wastewater sector, including chemical handling, manufacture, dosing, and storage.
• A strong understanding of major water and wastewater treatment processes and the role and impact of MEICA equipment.
• Knowledge of environmental protection and water-quality-related legislation.
• Proficiency in writing clear engineering standards and specifications.
• Commercial awareness with a strong understanding of risk and value.
• Experience developing technically and economically robust engineering solutions aligned with TOTEX and whole-life cost and carbon principles.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to explain technical concepts to non-engineers.
• Experience working with external contractors and cross-functional teams.
• Confidence in leading and facilitating multi-disciplinary groups.
• Ability to train others and gain stakeholder buy-in.
• A proven ability to build strong relationships with teams and partners.
• Experience providing leadership, mentoring, and technical guidance to junior engineers and graduates, contributing to engineering capability development.
• Physically fit to undertake confined space entry and work at height.
• A full UK driving licence and willingness to travel across Yorkshire.

You will also benefit from having:

• Background in water, wastewater, utilities, or manufacturing sectors.
• Training and experience in Hazardous Area Classification.
• Training and experience in leading hazard studies.
• Competence with drawing creation using AutoCAD®.
• Asset management broad experience in engineering or process industries.
• Chartered Engineer (IChemE) or working towards Chartership.
• Experienced in leading Hazard Studies, QRAs & LOPA studies.
• Proven ability to lead change and influence culture and behaviours.
• Familiar with ISO55000/PAS 55 quality systems.
• Knowledge of FMEA and Root Cause Failure Analysis techniques.

Although we operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, it’s important to us that we support flexible working patterns and job share options (when we can), to help you make the best of both your work and home life. We know that juggling childcare responsibilities or getting that ideal work/life balance isn’t always easy!

If you’ve got experience in Process and/or Chemical Engineering and want to help us deliver great service for our customers whilst looking after the environment, then be sure to apply today to find out what a career with Yorkshire Water can offer you.

If successful for the role, you will be required to undergo pre-employment checks that will include a Basic Disclosure Check, carried out through a Third-Party Company, prior to commencing employment. Depending on the role, you may also be required to go through the security vetting process for either a Counter Terrorist Check or Security Check clearance. All our roles are subject to a medical questionnaire, and further medicals when required.

We are committed to removing barriers and ensuring our recruitment process is accessible to everyone. We offer a range of adjustments to make your application experience as comfortable and straightforward as possible. If you have an accessibility need, disability, or condition that requires changes to the recruitment process, please include this information in your application. We will then discuss any reasonable adjustments required.

Kelda Group reserve the right to close this position before the published closing date, should the need occur. We therefore advise that you complete and submit your application as soon as possible.