Mott MacDonald
Principal / Associate Process Engineer
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Principal / Associate Process Engineer
Senior Process Engineer (Principal/Associate) – Water Utilities Division
Locations: Cardiff, London, Cambridge, Croydon, Reading, Brighton, Leeds, Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow (UK)
Recruiter Contact: Nicola Coyle Job Ref: 15002
Mott MacDonald is a global engineering, management, and development consultancy with over 20,000 employees across more than 50 countries and 140+ offices. We offer a dynamic and collaborative environment where your career can thrive.
About the Division
The Water Utilities Division is our centre of excellence for tackling UK and Ireland’s water and wastewater challenges. Our work is vital for ensuring safe water supplies, preventing urban flooding, and restoring the health of ecosystems. We provide multi-disciplinary solutions across the full project life cycle, from strategy and feasibility studies to outline and detailed design. Join us to deliver high-impact engineering with diverse, gratifying opportunities.
Role Overview
We’re looking for a talented Principal/Associate Process Engineer to lead our UK/Ireland water programmes, supporting clients with world-class treatment solutions. This role is ideal for an ambitious engineer who thrives in technically complex environments and wants to develop both subject matter expertise and broader leadership experience.
Key Responsibilities
Technical Leadership
- Lead process engineering input for all project stages: feasibility, concept, preliminary, and detailed design.
- Drive water treatment designs, developing and reviewing block flow diagrams, P&IDs, mass balances, and equipment sizing.
- Collaborate on site inspections and technical audits to evaluate and optimise treatment systems.
Process Optimisation & Innovation
- Analyse operational data to identify and implement operational improvements, enhancing treatment performance.
- Use advanced process modelling and simulation tools to refine designs and optimise operations.
Deliverables & Quality Assurance
- Produce high-quality technical reports, proposals, and client presentations to support decision-making.
- Check process deliverables for accuracy, coherence, and compliance with industry standards.
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Client & Team Engagement
- Act as a technical liaison with clients, addressing challenges and ensuring project success.
- Mentor junior engineers and technologists, fostering their professional growth.
Strategic & Business Contribution
- Support resource planning within project teams, from talent recruitment to upskilling.
- Contribute to business development efforts, refining technical proposal content to strengthen bids.
Candidate Specification
We are seeking an engineer who is passionate about making a tangible difference in the water sector, ready to take on critical responsibilities, and eager to progress in a collaborative, project-driven environment.
Essential Criteria
- Degree in Chemical Engineering or cognate discipline.
- Chartered status (CEng) with a relevant professional institution (e.g., ICE, IMechE, IChemE).
- Extensive experience in municipal water and wastewater treatment, preferably in the UK/Ireland sector.
- Strong proficiency in both conventional and advanced treatment technologies (e.g., filtration, disinfection, effluent treatment).
- Proven ability to design and deliver feasibility, outline, and detailed process specifications.
- Root cause analysis skills to diagnose process inefficiencies and propose solutions.
- Excellent written communication—tech reports must be precise, clear, and well-structured.
- Client-facing experience in collaborative decision-making and stakeholder management.
Preferred Benefits
- Commitment to staying updated with emerging water technologies (e.g. circular economy practices, sustainability and AEP/NFI minimisation in processes).
- Membership or engagement with technical knowledge-sharing networks (e.g., chartered institutions or expert working groups).
About Mott MacDonald
Mott MacDonald is a proud employee-owned business that invests in its people. We empower diversity and inclusion, foster an environment of equity, and prioritise lifelong learning. Our global community offers unique collaboration opportunities, professional growth, and meaningful impact.
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Benefits
Wellbeing Support
- Private medical insurance for all UK employees.
- Health cash plan and access to menopause counselling (Peppy).
- Comprehensive wellbeing programmes (including family support).
Financial Security & Growth
- Pension contributions matched up to 7%.
- Life assurance of 4x base salary (option for 6x).
- Income protection scheme with long-term illness support.
- Flexible benefits including enhanced life assurance, critical illness cover, critical care, shares, and free will-writing service.
Holiday & Balance
- 33–35 days holiday annually (inclusive of public holidays).
- Bonus scheme tied to business performance.
Family & Carer Support
- Paid maternity, paternity/partner leave and shared parental leave at full pay for 24 weeks.
- 5 paid/carer’s days for caregiving responsibilities.
Learning & Development
- Primary subscription to your professional institution.
- Access to mentoring, training, and leadership programmes.
Networks & Social Impact
- Advanced Employee Networks (DEI focus, e.g. LGBTQ+, disability groups).
- Opportunities toEngage in community support programmes.
Other Information
Immigration Visa Policy
Due to UK Government changes, we cannot sponsor candidates under the Skilled Worker Visa route. Alternate non-sponsor visas are welcome.
Hybrid Working
We offer an Agile Work Policy: locations comfortable with modest travel (from our office hubs: Manchester, Cardiff, Edinburgh, etc.).
Diversity & Accessibility
- If you require accessibility support at any stage of recruitment, contact reasonable.adjustments@mottmac.com.
- Our ** Comité Internes** supports disabilities, postural/injury recovery and platform specific advice.
Apply now or [visit our careers page](insert direct link) for further inquiries.
Job Listing Reference: 15002
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