Principal Process Engineer

🚀 Principal Process Engineer – Water & Wastewater

📍 Manchester | 💰 £65,000–£80,000 DOE | 🏠 Hybrid Working Available

What if your next role gave you the opportunity to take technical ownership of major water and wastewater process designs , while working closely with water companies across the UK and helping shape the next generation of treatment solutions?

I'm working with a growing engineering design consultancy with an expanding workload across the water, utilities and rail sectors , who are looking to appoint an experienced Principal Process Engineer .

This is a senior technical position for a Chartered Engineer with significant experience working on projects for regulated water companies.

You'll combine hands-on process design with technical leadership, design assurance and mentoring , working on a growing portfolio of wastewater treatment projects across the UK.

🔧 The Role:

• Lead the development of efficient and practical process design solutions

• Take technical ownership of process engineering deliverables across projects

• Review and approve design reports, specifications, calculations and design risk assessments

• Check and approve mass balances, process sizing, hydraulic calculations and process flow diagrams

• Review control philosophies and commissioning strategies

• Provide technical guidance across multidisciplinary project teams

• Support tenders, technical proposals and project planning

• Estimate design hours and contribute to project programmes

• Direct, mentor and develop engineers and graduates 👥

• Lead and participate in HAZOP, ALM, KM and other technical review meetings

• Ensure designs comply with relevant technical standards, professional guidance and water company requirements

• Review design changes and ensure they are appropriately implemented and recorded

• Contribute to the continued development of process engineering standards and best practice

💧 The Projects:

Your initial project will focus on optioneering sewage treatment works capacity increases , before moving onto a wider portfolio of projects including:

• Outline designs for sewage treatment works upgrades

• Capacity improvement and treatment optimisation

• Projects for a range of regulated water companies across the UK

• A growing pipeline of water and wastewater design work

👤 What You'll Need:

- 10+ years' process design experience within the regulated water industry

• Significant experience working on projects for regulated water companies

• Extensive knowledge of wastewater treatment processes and plant design

• Strong experience delivering process design for water and/or wastewater projects

• Degree, HND or equivalent practical experience

• Strong IT and digital capability

Chartered Engineer status

• Excellent technical communication and stakeholder management skills

⭐ Desirable Experience:

• Experience across both clean water and wastewater

• Experience leading or participating in HAZOP studies , ideally as Chair

• Experience supporting tenders and technical proposals

• Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle

🎯 Why Apply?

• 💰 £65,000–£80,000 , depending on experience and working arrangements

• Join a growing consultancy with an expanding water and utilities workload

• Work on projects for multiple regulated water companies across the UK

• Take genuine technical ownership rather than simply delivering individual design packages

• Opportunity to mentor and develop engineers within a growing team

Manchester-based

• Hybrid working can be agreed, with up to 3 days working from home for the right candidate

• Occasional site visits only, with travel expenses covered

• Full-time permanent position with a strong focus on training and professional development

• Employee benefits and workplace pension

• Friendly, focused and collaborative engineering environment

💬 Interested in finding out more?

If you're a Chartered Principal Process Engineer with strong regulated water experience and are looking for a senior technical role in Manchester with genuine hybrid flexibility, I'd be keen to speak with you.

📩 Apply today or message me directly for a confidential discussion.