Senior Mechanical Design Engineer – Water
Location: Manchester
Salary: £60,000 – £65,000 per annum
Type: Permanent
The Role
We are seeking an experienced Senior Mechanical Design Engineer to take ownership of the technical quality and delivery of mechanical engineering designs across regulated water industry projects. Based in Manchester, this role combines hands-on design with technical oversight, mentoring junior engineers, and managing subcontract mechanical design inputs.
You will work across both clean water and wastewater schemes, supporting multi-disciplinary project teams and contributing to complex infrastructure and non-infrastructure projects.
Key Responsibilities
- Deliver mechanical design outputs that meet safety, quality, and regulatory requirements
- Prepare mechanical design calculations, drawings, investigations, reports, and specifications
- Ensure compliance with relevant technical, professional, and group standards
- Direct, mentor, and develop CAD technicians, junior designers, and graduates
- Prepare scopes of work for subcontract M&E designers and review and approve their outputs
- Liaise with equipment suppliers and manufacturers to develop and assess technical solutions
- Manage and record design changes in line with formal processes and procedures
- Estimate design hours and support project planning activities
- Attend and present at design reviews, project meetings, and client presentations
Required Qualifications & Experience
- Minimum 10 years’ relevant mechanical design experience within the water industry
- Significant experience in hydraulic design
- Good awareness of electrical design and control systems
- Degree or HND in Mechanical Engineering (or equivalent experience)
- Strong IT skills and experience using engineering design tools
- Registered with a relevant professional body and working towards Chartership
Preferred Qualifications & Experience
- Chartered Engineer status
- Experience in electrical and/or control engineering
- Experience delivering both clean water and wastewater projects
- Awareness of construction methods, materials, and buildability
- Strong knowledge of engineering drawing practices
Key Skills & Competencies
- Strong mechanical engineering technical expertise
- Clear and confident communication skills
- Results-focused with strong problem-solving capability
- Proven ability to develop and mentor engineers at all levels
- High attention to detail and commitment to quality
What’s On Offer
- Competitive salary of £60,000 – £65,000
- Manchester-based senior role with clear progression to Principal level
- Opportunity to work on major UK water industry programmes
- Supportive environment with continued professional development and chartership support
If you are a Senior Mechanical Design Engineer looking to step into a technically influential role within the water sector, we’d welcome your application.
