Principal Engineer

Principal Engineer

Bedford

Up to £80,000

Kingston Barnes is currently recruiting for a Principal Engineer on behalf of our client in the Bedford area. Our client is a well-known manufacturer of pumping plant for the water or wastewater industry.

You will provide technical leadership, drive engineering excellence and best practice, mentor the engineering teams, and ensure the team delivers high quality equipment to their customers. Alongside this you'll collaborate with the team.

• Lead innovation and R&D to bring new ideas and technologies into the company.
• Improve how projects are reviewed and approved.
• Translate customer needs into clear technical requirements for the design, testing and manufacturing teams.
• Shape product strategy, working closely with sales to ensure products match market demand.
• Integrate technology from the parent company into local products where beneficial.
• Standardise products to reduce costs and speed up development.
• Support lower-cost sourcing by helping find efficient and affordable suppliers.
• Provide expert technical support to customers.
• Act as the technical authority for design, ensuring safety, accuracy and compliance with standards.
• Oversee equipment selection so customers get the right equipment for their needs.
• Lead cost-reduction and design‑for‑manufacture initiatives to keep products competitive.
• Conduct root‑cause investigations when problems occur, and ensure permanent fixes are put in place.
• Maintain compliance with industry regulations and help shape future standards.
• Lead on ATEX requirements, ensuring products meet strict safety standards.

• A degree in mechanical engineering.
• 10+ years' experience designing and analysing pumps, motors, or other rotating machinery.
• Strong commercial awareness — able to align engineering decisions with customer and market needs.
• Deep understanding of how pumps work, including hydraulics, materials, thermodynamics, vibration, and system performance.
• Familiarity with industry standards (ISO, API, HI) and experience testing and validating designs.
• Able to read complex technical drawings and approve technical reports.
• Strong problem‑solving, communication and interpersonal skills.
• Highly self‑motivated, detail‑focused and quality driven.

• Salary up to £80,000.
• Monday to Friday.
• Pension 3% employer 5% employee.
• Life Assurance 4 x salary.
• 25 days holiday + banks, and the ability to buy another 5 days.
• Enhanced maternity and paternity leave.
• EAP.
• Enhanced sick pay.

If you are interested, please call Josh Hoyle or apply online. Candidates must be eligible to live and work in the UK to apply for this position.