Senior/ Principal Mechanical Engineer – Water Sector
Contract - outside of scope of IR35
Location: Manchester (Hybrid - 2 days per week on site)
Duration: 12 months+
We are supporting a leading consultancy delivering increased volumes of mechanical design work within the UK water sector, driven by the demands of AMP8 frameworks. This is a long-term contract opportunity for experienced engineers to play a central role in delivering high-impact projects for multiple end clients across clean and wastewater infrastructure.
The Role
As a Principal Mechanical Engineer, you will:
1. Lead the delivery of mechanical design services across a portfolio of water sector projects
2. Ensure compliance with relevant industry codes, standards, and CDM regulations
3. Deliver high-quality, auditable documentation and technical records
4. Support Project Discipline Engineers and Engineering Managers with scoped design packages
5. Liaise across disciplines, supply chain, and partners to enable successful project outcomes
6. Assist with team selection and oversight through SQEP processes
7. Monitor progress, ensure technical assurance, and support risk and quality management
What You’ll Bring
8. Proven experience in mechanical design for water and wastewater infrastructure
9. In-depth knowledge of AMP programme delivery and UK water sector requirements
10. Strong understanding of CDM, QA procedures, and compliance processes
11. Ability to manage multi-package design scopes across time, cost, and quality objectives
12. Collaborative working style with a proactive and quality-focused mindset
13. Experience working with multidisciplinary teams and contributing to successful design delivery
This contract offers a clear opportunity to make a lasting impact within a highly regulated sector and contribute to the delivery of future-ready infrastructure. Contractors seeking longer-term work with potential for permanent transition are encouraged to apply.