Principal Design Engineer
- Location: Birmingham, West Midlands, England
- Salary: Competitive Salary
- Category
- Sector: Power, Nuclear and Utilities
- Contract type Permanent
- Consultant: Joel Arriaga
We’re on a mission to make a lasting difference to the environment and the communities we serve. With over £3 billion being invested in our waste treatment construction projects over the next five years, there’s never been a more exciting time to join us.
Right now, we have a fantastic opportunity to join our Capital and Commercial Services directorate as a Principal Design Engineer within the Waste Treatment Technical Team.
Location: Midlands (Various Locations)
Your Role: Driving Technical Excellence
As a Principal Design Engineer, you’ll report directly to the Waste Treatment Technical Lead and work hand-in-hand with Design Managers to lead the technical delivery of our ambitious capital programme. You’ll be instrumental in developing engineering and process solutions, guiding multi-disciplinary teams and ensuring the successful design, delivery, and handover of projects.
Your work will directly impact how we treat wastewater efficiently, safely, and sustainably.
What You’ll Be Doing:
- Act as the technical authority on waste treatment projects – leading design optioneering, innovation, and delivery of low-carbon, cost-effective, and buildable solutions.
- Provide hands-on technical support to the Waste Treatment Core Design Team while mentoring and developing the next generation of engineers.
- Oversee the creation of engineering designs and specifications that meet all relevant safety, environmental, operational, and legislative requirements.
- Assess and manage deviations from design standards, collaborating with standards owners for formal approvals.
- Ensure adherence to all health and safety design standards, including HazOp, HazCon, DSEAR, and CDM Regulations.
- Share lessons learned across the organisation, champion innovation, and drive continuous improvement.
- Build and maintain strong networks with internal and external stakeholders to keep ahead of best practice and industry innovation.
What We’re Looking For:
- Chartered Engineer status (essential), with deep technical knowledge of waste treatment processes, technologies, and systems.
- Proven experience leading in multi-disciplinary design environments.
- A collaborative mindset, strong communication skills, and a genuine passion for mentoring others.
- A proactive, positive, and inclusive attitude that reflects our values of care and responsibility.
We believe character is just as important as credentials. We celebrate diversity and welcome people from all backgrounds – because that’s how we learn and grow together.
What’s In It for You?
This isn’t just a job – it’s a career. You’ll be supported, developed, and rewarded as part of a business that genuinely cares.
- 28 days’ holiday + bank holidays (with options to buy/sell up to 5 days)
- Annual bonus scheme (Based on company performance)
- Leading pension scheme – double matched up to 15%
- Sharesave scheme – buy company shares at a discounted rate
- Comprehensive training and development via our in-house Academy
- Electric vehicle scheme, retail discounts, and family-friendly policies
- Two paid volunteering days per year to give back to your community
Ready to Apply?
We’d love to hear from you. All you need is your CV and a few minutes of your time to apply. We’ll be in touch after the closing date to let you know the outcome.