Associate Mechanical Design Engineer

Associate Mechanical Design Engineer – MEP / Building Services

Southampton, Hampshire – Hybrid & Flexible working

£70k to £85k

Benefits Annual profit linked bonus, option of a 9-day working fortnight or hybrid working, enhanced pension scheme, 30 days annual leave (22 days plus UK bank holidays) with additional paid Christmas shut down, additional holiday purchase, long service benefits, free parking and/or contribution towards public transport costs, virtual GP, health initiatives, training, development and chartership support, cycle scheme.

MEP / Building Services Design / Senior Mechanical Design Engineer / Mechanical Design Engineer / Building services

This associate mechanical design engineer role is to join a growing forward-thinking medium sized privately owned engineering consultancy which offers a family feel. This is a senior internal leadership position combining responsibility for engineering delivery with leadership of the mechanical team.

You will support the delivery of complex building services design schemes across a range of construction projects, ensuring high standards of technical output, coordination, and engineering quality are maintained.

Alongside project delivery support, you will take ownership of team performance, capability development, and day-to-day technical leadership within the discipline.

This role offers significant technical influence and people leadership responsibility, with the opportunity to shape how the team develops, performs, and delivers as the business continues to grow.

This is a hands-on leadership position suited to someone who enjoys remaining close to design delivery while taking clear accountability for people, technical standards, and internal engineering performance.

Most of the work will be MEP / building services design for NHS trusts (new build and upgrade projects) and commercial and residential projects. Projects are primarily located in the south of England, with most clients being in the south coast area.

Responsibilities

* Lead delivery of mechanical building services design output across multiple projects

* Take ownership of technical quality, engineering standards, and design output within your team

* Manage workload allocation and prioritisation across the engineering team

* Support delivery against programme, budget, and project requirements

* Provide leadership for team performance, conduct, and wellbeing

* Conduct regular one-to-one meetings, appraisals, and performance reviews

* Identify skills gaps and support training, mentoring, and professional development

* Support recruitment activity including interviewing and hiring recommendations

* Work closely with Associate Engineers and Directors on resourcing and delivery planning

* Contribute to the ongoing improvement of engineering processes, standards, and capability

Experience Required

* Degree (or equivalent) in Building Services Engineering or related discipline, with professional accreditation with CIBSE, IMechE, IET or equivalent

* Strong background in Building Services Engineering (mechanical, electrical, or multi-disciplinary)

* Proven experience delivering complex engineering design projects from concept through to completion

* Experience operating at a senior engineering level with strong technical judgement and decision-making capability

* Demonstrable experience mentoring, guiding, or developing engineers within a team environment

* Strong leadership capability with the ability to support, influence, and develop others

* Excellent communication, organisation, and stakeholder management skills

* Proactive approach to improving engineering quality, standards, and delivery outcomes