Technical Principal Tunnel Ventilation System

Location/s: London, UK
Recruiter contact: Ainsley Anstess

Mott MacDonald is a global engineering, management, and development consultancy with over 20,000 employees across more than 50 countries and 140+ offices.

We work across incredible global industries, delivering exciting work that is defining our future and making an important societal impact in the communities we serve. Our people power our performance – we succeed when they do. With countless opportunities to collaborate, learn, and grow, the possibilities for excellence are as varied as every individual.

Whether you want to grow as a subject matter expert or broaden your experience with roles across our international community, you’re surrounded by global specialists who want to combine their expertise and champion you to be your best. As a proudly employee-owned business, we benefit our clients, our communities, and each other, investing in creating the right space for everyone to feel empowered, included, and valued. Whatever your ambition, Mott MacDonald is where people come to be brilliant.

About the business unit
We help conceive, drive, and implement transport solutions for cities, regions, and asset owners/operators around the globe. From preparing the business case and advising on related issues - such as revenue, procurement, and environmental legislation - to delivering the completed infrastructure and helping maintain it. Our planning, engineering, environmental and management skills cover the whole project cycle. We play a major role in developing and delivering the Global Transport Sector Strategy.

Overview of the role

We are seeking an experienced Technical Principal to lead and grow our Tunnel Ventilation team. Reporting to the Head of Tunnel Systems, the role requires technical excellence, strategic leadership, complex project delivery, client engagement and business development.

You will be responsible for delivering Tunnel Ventilation design for rail, metro, road tunnel and underground infrastructure projects across the UK and internationally. Recent examples of projects delivered by the team include the current design of Lower Thames Crossing, Heathrow Airport tunnel refurbishment programme, the Broadway Subway Project in Vancouver, and the Australian High Speed Rail Project.

The successful candidate will act as the lead technical engineer for the delivery of tunnel ventilation designs, leading and reviewing strategies, analyses and designs from early concept through detailed design, construction, testing and commissioning. They will provide clear technical direction, lead delivery, mentor others and balance strategic priorities with reliable project outcomes.

Key responsibilities and duties include:

• Lead tunnel ventilation delivery on large complex projects, setting technical direction and ensuring safe, practical, sustainable and high-quality outcomes
• Develop and review ventilation strategies, system concepts, operating philosophies, equipment requirements, layouts, controls and interfaces for normal and emergency conditions
• Lead and assure one-dimensional ventilation, aerodynamic and thermodynamic analysis, coordinating specialist inputs where required
• Provide specialist advice and technical assurance covering fire and life safety, smoke control, environmental conditions, resilience and operational performance
• Coordinate tunnel ventilation with civil, architectural, fire engineering, MEP, rail systems, controls, operations and maintenance requirements
• Lead tunnel ventilation delivery and manage resources, programme, budget, quality, technical risk and governance
• Build trusted client and stakeholder relationships and communicate clear, evidence-based technical recommendations
• Lead and support business development, using internal and external networks to seek out and generate opportunities as well as contributing to client engagement, bids and proposals whilst actively managing workload and utilisation through forward planning and resource coordination
• Mentor, coach and develop Early Career Professionals (ECPs) and other team members, with an approach centred on technical engineering detail, knowledge sharing and increasing delivery capability

Candidate specification

Essential:

• Degree qualified in mechanical engineering, building services engineering or a related discipline, with Chartered Engineer status or equivalent professional recognition
• Extensive tunnel ventilation design experience across rail, metro, road tunnel and underground infrastructure including technical assurance, design review, governance, standards and risk management
• Demonstrable experience acting as the lead technical specialist for complex tunnel ventilation delivery through relevant project stages
• Strong knowledge of ventilation strategy, aerodynamic and thermodynamic analysis, smoke control, fire and life safety, system sizing, layouts, controls and operational requirements
• Competence in recognised one-dimensional tunnel ventilation modelling software, with the ability to lead and assure associated technical analysis
• Strong leadership, collaboration and commercial awareness, including experience mentoring ECPs and other team members, developing scopes and estimates, planning resources and supporting successful proposals

Desirable:

• Strong external professional profile, demonstrated through industry networks, technical publications, conference contributions or participation in discussions that shape industry practice

We are actively recruiting a diverse workforce that is reflective of the communities we serve. We recognise that differences in ability, skills and experience are a strength and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds.

Please be advised that offers for this role are conditional upon obtaining the appropriate level of Security Clearance.

UK Immigration

Mott MacDonald Ltd. are not currently offering sponsorship to candidates under the Skilled Worker visa route in the UK. This decision is as a consequence of the changes made to the Skilled Worker route by the UK Government in April 2024. We continue to welcome applications from candidates who are eligible for alternative immigration routes in the UK, that do not require sponsorship as a Skilled Worker now or in future.

Agile working

At Mott MacDonald, we believe it makes business sense for you and your manager to choose how you can work most effectively to meet your client, team, and personal commitments. We offer a hybrid working policy that embraces your well-being, flexibility, and trust.

Equality, diversity, and inclusion

We put equality, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of our business, seeking to promote fair employment procedures and practices to ensure equal opportunities for all. We encourage individual expression in our workplace and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels they can contribute.

AI Usage

At Mott MacDonald, we see the value AI can bring, but we take a people-first approach to hiring. While AI tools can help candidates prepare and build confidence, every application and hiring decision is reviewed by our recruitment and hiring teams. We encourage the responsible use of AI while ensuring we get to know the real person behind the application.

Accessibility

We want you to feel supported and able to perform at your best throughout our recruitment process. If there is anything we can do to make applying or interviewing with us more accessible, please contact us at reasonable.adjustments@mottmac.com and we'll be happy to discuss how we can help.

We offer some fantastic benefits including:

Financial wellbeing

• We match employee pension contributions between 4.5% and 7%.
• Life assurance equal up to 4 x your basic salary, with an option to increase the level of cover to 6 x your salary.
• Our income protection scheme provides a financial benefit, as well as absence and return to work support due to long-term illness or injury.
• Flexible benefits, including increased life assurance cover, critical illness insurance, payroll saving and will writing.
• As an independently owned business we share the financial success of the business with all our colleagues in various ways including annual bonus schemes.

Employee Ownership

• Our employee ownership model means no external investors, just us, creating a culture of shared success.
• Our employees have a stake and a voice in our business, giving them a direct connection to our success through our personal and group performance bonuses.
• As your career grows, so does your stake, recognising your long-term impact and contribution.
• Your voice matters, with the opportunity to connect directly with senior leadership through formal channels to help shape our future.
• For our senior roles you will have a direct pathway towards ownership from day one.

Health and wellbeing

• Private medical insurance for all UK colleagues.
• Health cash plan to support you with every day health costs and treatments.
• Access to Peppy, providing free support from menopause experts for all UK colleagues.
• A variety of wellbeing support is available through our comprehensive wellbeing program, including access for you and your family.
• Ability to flex your salary to opt into a wide range of health benefits, many of which can be extended to your family too.

Lifestyle

• A minimum of 33-35 days holiday each year, inclusive of public holidays and dependent on level, with the ability to buy or sell leave through our flexible benefits programme.
• 10 days additional paid leave for Armed Forces Reservists and Cadet Force Adult Volunteers.
• Holiday entitlement increased to a minimum of 35 days after 5 years’ service.
• Variety of employee saving schemes and discounts from high-street retailers.

Enhanced family and carers leave

• Enhanced family leave policies, including 26 weeks paid maternity and adoption leave, and two weeks paid paternity/partner leave.
• Our shared parental leave matches maternity leave meaning we pay up to 24 weeks at full pay.
• Up to five additional days leave are provided for those with significant caring responsibilities, two of which are paid.
• We offer policies and dedicated support to help military families balance service life with career and wellbeing.

Learning and development

• Primary annual professional institution subscription.
• A broad range of opportunities to enhance both technical and soft skills through mentoring, formal training, and self-development options.

Networks, communities, and social outcomes

• Join a wide range of groups including our Advanced Employee Networks which support our LGBTQ+, gender, race and ethnicity, disability, and parents/carers communities.
• We are proud signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant and Gold Award holders in the MOD Employer Recognition Scheme, supported by our dedicated internal Armed Forces Network.

  If you're a service leaver, veteran, reservist or member of a military family, you can connect with our people through Armed Forces Careers - Connectr to ask questions, gain career insights and learn more about opportunities at Mott MacDonald.

• Make a difference within our communities through our social outcomes.

Apply now, or for more information about our application process, click here.