Senior Engineer
Location: Central Birmingham Office (at least 3 days a week & flexibility to WFH 1/ 2 days per week)
Company: GeoEnergy Design Ltd
Contract: Permanent, full-time
Must have right to live and work in Birmingham, UK & Equivalent depth of experience in mechanical building services, geothermal, or low-carbon energy system design.
About Geo Energy Design
GED was formed in 2020 and has grown 25% consistently year on year. The two directors and Associate Director have over 85 years of combined experience in the thermal engineering and have worked together as the design team of Geothermal International Ltd, trading as GI Energy, the UK’s largest heat pump contractor for over 20 years prior to its sale in 2019. Uniquely not only have we designed over 500MW of operational heat pumps, but we have overseen the installation, commissioning, optimisation, ongoing service, maintenance and fault finding, with all those hands-on learnings feeding back into our future designs.
GED operates at the intersection of renewable thermal energy, mechanical building services, and low-carbon heating and cooling systems. Our work is technically rigorous, design-led, and pragmatic, with engineers remaining hands-on throughout the project lifecycle.
As our portfolio continues to grow, we are now at a pivotal point in our growth where we need a senior figure to mentor, organise and grow our younger team of design engineers. We have predominantly recruited graduates with firsts and master’s degrees direct from Russell Group Universities, and taught them about heat pumps from first principles.
We are therefore seeking a Senior Engineer to strengthen our core design capability and take a leading role in project delivery, technical governance, client engagement, mentorship and lead our young team.
The Role
This role combines senior heat pump engineering, mechanical systems design, and day-to-day technical project leadership. You will act as a lead design engineer and technical authority, owning engineering outputs, coordinating multidisciplinary inputs, and managing client interfaces.
Senior Engineers at GED remain deeply involved in detailed design, while taking responsibility for quality, coordination, and programme. Depending on experience, the role may be appointed at Senior or Principal Engineer level, with increased commercial and technical governance responsibilities at Principal level.
Key Responsibilities
Technical Leadership & Engineering Design
* Lead delivery of geothermal and mechanical system designs across:
* Feasibility and concept design (RIBA Stages 1–2)
* Scheme design, FEED, and detailed design (RIBA Stages 3–4)
* Delivery, commissioning, and operational support
* Produce and review:
* Feasibility studies, technical reports, and specifications
* Concept designs, layouts, and system options
* Detailed design documentation and calculations
* Develop and review designs for:
* Ground heat exchanger systems and geothermal layouts
* Plantroom layouts (2D and 3D)
* Thermal, hydraulic, and systems models
* Size and select:
* Heat pumps, DACs, boilers, ACCs, CHPs, and ground loops
* Pumps, valves, buffer vessels, DHW cylinders, PHEs, and ancillary equipment
* Develop and review:
* General and particular mechanical specifications
* Control philosophies, control logic, and DESOPS
* Mechanical equipment schedules and electrical load schedules
* Size ground heat exchangers using industry-recognised software (e.g. GLD, EED)
* Carry out and review:
* Heat loss and heat gain calculations (IES / Excel)
* Energy performance and operational data analysis
* Create, maintain, and review engineering calculation spreadsheets
Project & Client Leadership
* Act as the lead technical interface with clients
* Manage and maintain strong client relationships
* Lead day-to-day project delivery within:
* GED’s internal engineering team
* The client’s engineers and external consultants
* Review and understand:
* Client specifications
* Employer’s Requirements and Work Instructions
* Identify potential non-compliances, raise them proactively with the client, and develop mitigation strategies
* Manage Requests for Information (RFIs) and technical clarifications
* Review, approve, and issue:
* External meeting minutes and technical notes
* Support project management through:
* Scope definition
* Programme management
* Internal budget control
* Support variation orders where scope changes occur
* Lead project handover activities
Design Coordination & Quality Assurance
* Lead mechanical design coordination at RIBA Stages 1–2 with:
* Architects
* Electrical, structural, and BMS designers
* Support mechanical coordination at RIBA Stages 3–4, ensuring design intent is maintained
* Review and approve developed and detailed designs
* Ensure all designs are:
* Technically robust
* Coordinated across disciplines
* Fully compliant with relevant standards and guidance
* Support and participate in external design reviews and independent technical validation
Site, Installation & Operational Support
* Attend and contribute to:
* Initial site surveys
* Design development meetings
* Carry out or support:
* Installation inspections and snagging
* System troubleshooting and remedial strategy development
* Support:
* Remote monitoring
* Seasonal commissioning
* Review of as-built documentation
Mentoring & Team Development
* Mentor and support Intermediate and Junior Engineers
* Review calculations, drawings, and reports produced by junior team members
* Provide structured technical feedback and guidance
* Contribute to the development of GED’s:
* Design standards
* Calculation tools
* Engineering workflows and best practices
Skills & Qualifications
Essential
* BEng / MEng / MSc in Mechanical Engineering, Building Services Engineering, or a related discipline
* Extensive depth of professional experience in mechanical building services, geothermal, or low-carbon energy system design
* Strong technical capability in:
* Geothermal and ground source heat pump systems
* Mechanical building services design
* Low-carbon heating and cooling systems
* Proficient in:
* Building heat loss and heat gain calculations
* HVAC system design and equipment sizing, including:
* Heat transfer
* Pressure drops
* Psychrometrics
* Pipework and ductwork sizing
* Systems hydraulics and thermodynamics
* Very good understanding of:
* Heat pump operation, Rankine cycles, mechanical components, and control philosophy
* Strong working knowledge of relevant standards and guidance, including:
* CIBSE
* BSRIA
* GSHPA / IGSHPA
* HWA
* Relevant BS and EN standards
* Proficient in:
* AutoCAD
* GLD / EED
* Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
* Strong technical writing and client presentation skills
* Comfortable working in a small consultancy environment with high responsibility
* Right to work and live in the UK.
Desirable
* Chartered Engineer (CEng) or working towards chartership
* Certified GeoExchange Designer (CGD) or working towards certification
* Consultancy or client-facing experience
* Experience supporting projects through construction, commissioning, and operation
* Experience supervising or line-managing engineers
* 10+ years experience in mechanical building services, geothermal, or heating + cooling / low-carbon energy system design
What We Offer
* A senior, influential role in a specialist heat pump design consultancy
* Technically challenging low-carbon energy projects
* Real ownership of engineering design and technical decisions
* Direct client engagement and project leadership
* A collaborative, technically driven team culture
* Flexible working arrangements
* Competitive salary and benefits package
* Clear progression to Principal Engineer and wider technical leadership
* 25 days annual holiday plus statutory public holidays
* Private medical insurance after qualifying period
* Company contributory pension scheme.