Senior Principal Mechanical Engineer - Water

About the Role

As a Senior Principal Mechanical Engineer, you will provide strategic technical leadership across major infrastructure and non‑infrastructure projects, overseeing the successful delivery of mechanical engineering solutions from feasibility and optioneering through to detailed design, construction support and commissioning.

You will act as a senior technical authority across water and wastewater treatment works, pumping stations and conveyance systems, ensuring engineering solutions are innovative, sustainable and deliver long‑term value for our clients. Working closely with multidisciplinary teams, contractors and key stakeholders, you will drive technical governance, support project delivery and contribute to business development and framework growth across the South of England.

Alongside your technical responsibilities, you will mentor and develop engineers across the business, providing line management, strengthening capability and helping shape the future direction of our Mechanical Engineering discipline.

Your leadership will help deliver some of the UK’s most significant water infrastructure programmes, enabling our clients to respond to increasing environmental expectations, population growth and climate resilience challenges. Through technical excellence and strategic thinking, you will influence investment decisions that improve operational performance, enhance sustainability and deliver resilient infrastructure for communities across the region.

Beyond project delivery, you will help build the future of our business by developing technical leaders, embedding engineering best practice and driving continuous improvement across the Mechanical Engineering discipline. Your expertise will strengthen client confidence, support business growth and reinforce Stantec’s reputation as a trusted leader in water engineering throughout AMP8 and beyond.

• Degree qualified (or equivalent) in Mechanical Engineering.
• Chartered Engineer (CEng) or able to demonstrate equivalent professional experience.
• Extensive experience delivering complex mechanical engineering projects within the UK water sector.
• Proven experience providing technical leadership across multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong understanding of water and wastewater treatment processes, pumping stations and mechanical systems.
• Experience leading, mentoring and developing high‑performing engineering teams.
• Excellent communication, client relationship and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience working collaboratively with contractors and delivery partners.

• Experience supporting framework growth, bids and business development activities.
• Experience establishing engineering standards and technical governance.
• Knowledge of digital engineering tools and modern methods of project delivery.
• Experience leading regional or discipline‑level initiatives.

• Competitive salary, bonus schemes, enhanced pension plan, annual leave with the option to buy/sell additional days.
• Private medical insurance, group income protection & life assurance included as standard.
• Discounted gym membership and other well‑being benefits.
• Hybrid / flexible working – enjoy a healthy work‑life balance with our hybrid approach to flexible working.
• Industry‑leading training and development and paid professional subscriptions to support progression to chartered status with ICE.

The Stantec community unites more than 34,000 employees working in over 450 locations across 6 continents. We have been working with our clients and communities in the UK for over 150 years. We plan, design, deliver and manage the development and infrastructure needed to support the creation of sustainable, healthy and prosperous communities.

Stantec provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified employees and applicants for future and current employment and prohibits discrimination on the grounds of race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, genetic information, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.

Stantec is in compliance with all laws and regulations and ensures equitable opportunities in all aspects of employment. We prohibit discrimination in decisions concerning recruitment, hiring, referral, promotion, compensation, fringe benefits, job training, terminations or any other condition of employment.