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. Key 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.