Senior Principal Mechanical Engineer - Water / Wastewater

About the role

The UK water sector is entering a period of unprecedented investment and transformation. As Egis accelerates the growth of its Water Business in the UK, we are building a high-performing Mechanical Engineering team to help shape this next chapter. We are inviting applicants who want to play a meaningful role in delivering major water and wastewater programmes in the UK. Working within a collaborative, multidisciplinary environment, you will contribute to technically robust, sustainable and innovative treatment solutions across nationally significant projects. This is a rare opportunity to join at a key stage of our UK growth journey, helping to establish, shape and expand a Mechanical engineering capability built on Egis' global infrastructure expertise and long-term commitment to the sector.

Responsibilities

• Provide senior technical leadership for the mechanical discipline within the UK water/wastewater treatment design team.
• Act as mechanical discipline lead, sub-lead or senior technical authority on complex treatment projects across design, construction support, commissioning and handover.
• Set and maintain mechanical design standards, checking requirements, design risk processes, digital workflows and quality expectations.
• Lead and assure complex mechanical deliverables, key technical decisions, equipment strategies, supplier packages, contractor submissions and multidisciplinary interfaces.
• Drive integrated coordination across Process, EICA, civil/structural, architectural, MEP, construction, commissioning and operations teams.
• Lead senior client engagement, technical workshops, optioneering, value engineering, design reviews and constructability/maintainability reviews.
• Embed modern delivery approaches including digital design, hydraulic analysis, BIM/3D coordination, automation, standardisation, data-led decision making and supplier integration.
• Support project directors and project managers with technical risk, scope, resourcing, programme, budget, change control and design quality.
• Build and develop the mechanical sub-team through recruitment, mentoring, line management, succession planning and professional development.
• Support business planning, work winning, client development, bid strategy and growth of Egis' UK water/wastewater treatment capability.
• Minimum Requirements
• BEng/MEng or equivalent in Mechanical Engineering.
• Chartered Engineer or Incorporated Engineer status with a relevant professional institution, such as IMechE.
• Typically 10-12+ years' relevant mechanical engineering design experience.
• Background must be from water, wastewater, biosolids/bioresources or oil & gas.
• Proven track record leading mechanical design and technical assurance on complex multidisciplinary projects.
• Deep technical expertise in mechanical treatment/process systems, including pumps, pipework, valves, tanks, packaged plant, lifting systems, hydraulics and maintainability.
• Strong understanding of UK regulated water sector drivers, water company asset standards, CDM 2015, safety-by-design, environmental/regulatory requirements and common delivery models.
• Demonstrable experience developing people, including mentoring, line management, technical coaching, recruitment or resource planning.
• Strong client and stakeholder management skills, with credibility to lead senior technical conversations and influence project direction.
• Strong commercial and delivery awareness, including scope development, fee estimating, programme/resource planning, risk management and change control.
• Strong digital and innovation mindset, with experience embedding improved tools, data workflows, BIM/MEP coordination, hydraulic analysis, automation or standardised delivery approaches.
• Desirable Skills / Knowledge
• Experience as mechanical discipline lead, design manager, technical director, associate-level lead or sub-team lead within consultancy, contractor, water company, technology provider or oil & gas/process engineering business.
• Strong UK water sector client network and experience supporting account growth, opportunity shaping, bid leadership and work winning.
• Experience developing services around digital treatment design, process optimisation, operational intelligence, energy/carbon reduction, modular/offsite solutions or MEP-led delivery.
• Experience leading mechanical technical governance, communities of practice, design standards, QA frameworks or delivery improvement initiatives.
• Experience building teams during growth phases, including skills mapping, capability planning and creation of a positive, delivery-focused culture.
• Please note that you must have the right to work in the UK to be considered for this position.
• What's in It for You?
• An exciting new growth role in a fast‑organic growing UK business, offering clear and accelerated career progression
• Top Employers 2025 - Egis recognised across four continents for excellence in HR practices, having been awarded the prestigious Top Employer 2025 certification. T

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