Europe Mechanical Engineer & Project Engineer

Bakelite is looking for a Mechanical Specialist to help create a better tomorrow with sustainable and innovative chemistry today. We’re everywhere – from stronger homes to safer automobiles – and with over a century of history, we boldly engineer sustainable products to tackle our world’s most challenging demands.

Position Overview

As a Mechanical Specialist, you will provide expert opinion, guidance, approval and leadership on mechanical, structural and metallurgical designs to ensure the company maintains compliance with EU regulations and manages mechanical integrity across European sites.

Mechanical Engineering

Provide expert opinion, guidance, approval and leadership on mechanical, structural and metallurgical designs, ensuring compliance with the EU Pressure Equipment Directive, UK Pressure Equipment (Safety) Regulation and other safety regulations. Lead on mechanical integrity to mitigate the risk of mechanical failures of critical equipment.

Project Engineering

Provide project management services for the implementation of assigned projects, leading, defining, planning and executing key capital projects with site teams and European engineering resources.

Job Responsibilities

• Lead management of Mechanical Integrity across all European sites, overseeing integrity assessments for high‑risk assets, responding to inspection outcomes and managing changes.
• Own the Mechanical Integrity Criticality Assessment Register, updating it based on findings and new assets.
• Work with external consultants to develop RBI‑based written schemes of examination for all mechanical integrity assets.
• Serve as SME for mechanical integrity throughout the business, assessing degradation mechanisms, failure modes, material selection, repair planning and investigations.
• Report asset condition and compliance, using SAP, and identify high‑risk assets and end‑of‑life planning.
• Generate design scopes for mechanical and structural projects across Europe.
• Hold approval authority for all mechanical and structural designs for all EU sites.
• Develop and own mechanical and structural engineering standards (pipe service index, pipe classes, stress analysis, vessel design, metallurgy selection, structural design).
• Manage the capital plan and projects for the site, coordinating with EU Projects, engineering and automation teams.

Functional Competencies

Future Focus

• Effectively guide the operations organization to support business strategies and objectives.

Trust & Teamwork

• Build, lead, and participate in teams.
• Communicate verbally and in writing.

Personal Leadership

• Demonstrate drive and influencing skills to arrive at solutions.
• Leverage global Bakelite sites and designs to address issues efficiently.
• Show integrity and courage to make decisions in Bakelite’s best interest.

Achieves Business Results

• Develop short‑term and long‑term plans.
• Involve stakeholders in activities.

Required – Education & Experience

• University degree in Mechanical Engineering.
• Knowledge of applicable EU standards and directives for mechanical and structural design (e.g., Pressure Equipment Directive 2014/68/EU, Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC, Seveso Directive).
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including with non‑native English speakers.
• Minimum 10 years experience in a Mechanical or Project Engineering role within the chemical industry or other process industries.
• Experience managing Mechanical Integrity programmes from WSE through to inspection, degradation analysis and repairs.

Travel: 1 week within Europe, and as required by business.

Are you ready to help us build a better tomorrow? Apply now and learn more about our hiring process, benefits and more at