Principal Process Engineer - Clean Water

Securing reliable, high-quality water supplies is becoming increasingly important as the UK responds to climate change, population growth, emerging contaminants and changing patterns of water demand. At Stantec, our Clean Water Process teams are helping clients respond to these challenges through innovative treatment solutions, strategic water resource projects and optimisation of existing assets.

We’re looking for a Principal Process Engineer to join our growing teams in Manchester, Warrington,
Redditch, Birmingham, Derby, Cardiff, Bristol or Exeter , with a strong focus on clean water. You’ll work as part of our integrated national water team, collaborating with specialists across the UK on projects ranging from new treatment facilities and strategic resource options to source-to-tap solutions and existing asset optimisation.

This is an opportunity to take a leading technical role, influence project outcomes and help shape solutions that improve water security and resilience for communities across the UK.

As a Principal Process Engineer, you’ll provide technical leadership across a diverse portfolio of clean water projects, taking responsibility for process design and supporting delivery from early concept through to implementation.

You will:

• Lead the development and delivery of clean water process engineering solutions across treatment, water resource and infrastructure projects.

• Develop and review process designs, calculations, mass balances, hydraulic assessments, treatment evaluations and technical specifications.

• Provide technical leadership on projects, ensuring solutions are robust, practical, sustainable and aligned with client requirements.

• Support strategic water resource projects, including water transfer, storage, recycling and long-term supply resilience schemes.

• Contribute to the optimisation of existing treatment assets through investigations, performance assessments and site-based testing such as jar testing and pilot trials.

• Work with multidisciplinary teams including civil, mechanical, electrical, environmental and hydraulic specialists to deliver integrated solutions.

• Build strong relationships with clients and contribute technical expertise to business plans, investment programmes, bids and framework opportunities.

• Mentor and support engineers within the wider Process Engineering team, helping develop technical capability and best practice.

• Collaborate with our global teams, sharing knowledge and applying international experience to UK water challenges.

Your expertise will help shape the future of clean water and waste water infrastructure, supporting clients to secure resilient and sustainable water supplies in the face of increasing environmental and climate pressures. From improving treatment performance and addressing emerging contaminants such as PFAS, to developing strategic solutions for long-term water resource resilience, the work you lead will have a direct impact on communities and the environment.

As a Principal Engineer, you’ll also play an important role beyond individual projects — strengthening our clean water capability, developing future technical leaders, supporting client relationships and helping Stantec continue to deliver innovative solutions across the UK water sector.

• Degree qualified in Chemical or Process, or a related discipline.

• Significant experience in clean water or waste water process engineering, gained within the water or related sectors.

• Strong technical experience across clean water treatment processes, process design and/or operational optimisation.

• Experience developing and reviewing process calculations, mass balances, hydraulic assessments and technical deliverables.

• Proven ability to provide technical leadership across complex multidisciplinary projects.

• Strong understanding of UK water industry challenges, standards and best practice.

• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to engage confidently with clients and project teams.

• Experience mentoring and supporting the development of engineers.

• Chartered or Incorporated Engineer (CEng/IEng) or actively working…