Key Questions

Do you have extensive mechanical and hydraulic design experience across water and wastewater projects, including leading design delivery, reviewing and approving technical deliverables, and coordinating multidisciplinary engineering teams?

Are you a Chartered Mechanical Engineer with extensive water sector design experience, and can you demonstrate your ability to lead technical delivery, manage subcontract M&E design teams, and mentor junior engineers? Please also confirm your availability for a 12-month+ contract in Manchester, working 3 days per week in the office, and your eligibility to work Outside IR35.

The Opportunity

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join a growing engineering consultancy within the water and wastewater sector, with the business looking to strengthen its team with an experienced Principal Mechanical Engineer.

This is an opportunity to play a key role in delivering complex multidisciplinary engineering projects, taking ownership of mechanical design solutions and influencing technical standards across the business.

The ideal candidate will be a mechanically biased Chartered Engineer with extensive water industry experience, strong hydraulic design expertise and a proven ability to lead design delivery, coordinate multidisciplinary teams and mentor junior engineers.

The role offers a 12-month+ contract, Outside IR35 (subject to individual determination), based in Manchester with a hybrid working pattern of three days in the office and two days remotely. You’ll benefit from working within a collaborative consultancy where your technical expertise can make a real impact, alongside excellent facilities, free parking, strong transport links and opportunities for continued professional development.

The Role 

As a Principal Mechanical Engineer, you will provide technical leadership across projects, taking ownership of mechanical design delivery and supporting multidisciplinary coordination. 

Your responsibilities will include: 

Leading the development of practical, efficient and buildable mechanical design solutions  

Reviewing and approving design deliverables, calculations, reports and specifications  

Providing technical guidance and oversight across projects and supporting tender submissions  

Acting as Design Lead on projects where required, ensuring coordination across disciplines  

Directing and mentoring engineers, CAD technicians and graduates 

Preparing scopes for, and reviewing outputs from, subcontract M&E design teams  

Liaising with equipment suppliers and manufacturers to support design development  

Ensuring designs comply with relevant technical standards, professional guidance and client

requirements  

Managing and recording design changes within project documentation

Supporting resource planning and estimating design effort  

Attending and leading design reviews, client meetings and technical discussions  

Contributing to the continuous improvement of engineering standards and design practices  

About You 

We are looking for a highly capable mechanical engineer with strong experience in the water sector and a track record of delivering robust engineering solutions. 

It’s essential that you have:

Extensive mechanical design experience within the water industry (typically 8–12+ years)  

Strong experience in hydraulic design  

Strong IT and digital design capability  

Experience working within multidisciplinary engineering teams  

Ability to lead design delivery and support junior engineers  

Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle  

 It’s desirable that you: 

Experience with electrical and control systems

Experience across clean water and wastewater projects

Awareness of construction methods and materials

Knowledge of engineering drawing practices.

 Why Join our client?

They’re a growing engineering consultancy where experienced engineers have real influence over projects, technical standards and team development.

In this role, you will:

Take ownership of complex mechanical design solutions

Play a key role in mentoring and developing engineers

Influence technical standards and engineering approaches

Work on a range of challenging water sector projects

Our Manchester office offers free parking, excellent transport links and access to a fully equipped gym with changing facilities, alongside a collaborative and supportive environment.

 You will have the following qualifications & experience:

Degree or HND in Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline  

Millbank Holdings Ltd is an equal opportunities employer committed to creating an inclusive and diverse workforce. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified individuals, regardless of background, and encourage candidates from underrepresented groups to apply.

We are proud to be a member of the Disability Confident Scheme, and we are committed to ensuring an accessible and supportive recruitment process for everyone. If you require any adjustments at any stage, please let us know and we’ll do our best to accommodate.

Millbank operates as both an Employment Agency and an Employment Business