Senior Mechanical Engineer

Location: Lingley Mere, Warrington (Hybrid Working) Contract: Permanent, Full Time (37 Hours per Week) Salary: Competitive + Bonus and Excellent Benefits

Engineer the Future of Water for Millions

At United Utilities, we're investing in the infrastructure, technology and engineering expertise needed to deliver great water for a stronger, greener and healthier North West.

This is an opportunity for an experienced and ambitious Senior Mechanical Engineer to play a key role in shaping critical water and wastewater infrastructure that serves millions of customers every day. Working within our in-house multidisciplinary design function, UU Design, you'll influence projects from concept through to delivery, helping create innovative, sustainable and resilient engineering solutions that make a real difference to communities across the region.

If you're a Chartered (or equivalent) Mechanical Engineer looking for complex technical challenges, leadership opportunities and the chance to leave a lasting legacy, we'd love to hear from you.

Why United Utilities?

Engineering at United Utilities is about more than delivering projects. It's about solving some of the industry's biggest challenges including resilience, sustainability, operational efficiency and environmental protection.

You'll join a highly respected team of engineers, designers and technical specialists working collaboratively across a diverse portfolio of capital and strategic programmes. From feasibility studies and front-end engineering design through to detailed design, commissioning and handover, you'll have the opportunity to influence every stage of the project lifecycle.

As a FTSE 100 business, we combine the stability and resources of a major organisation with the opportunity to work on projects that have a tangible impact on the communities we serve.

The Role

Reporting to a Principal Mechanical Engineer and initially working within UU Design, you will provide technical leadership and engineering expertise across a range of major capital projects, operational support activities and strategic engineering initiatives.

You will develop strong relationships with internal stakeholders, operational teams, project managers and external partners, ensuring the successful delivery of innovative engineering solutions that meet operational, commercial and regulatory requirements.

This role offers a unique blend of technical excellence, project delivery and people leadership.

What You'll Be Doing

• Providing technical leadership across a broad portfolio of mechanical engineering projects.
• Leading engineers within the Mechanical Engineering team.
• Delivering studies, investigations, feasibility assessments and detailed engineering designs.
• Supporting operational teams to improve production efficiency, resilience, compliance and performance across water and wastewater assets.
• Producing and reviewing engineering calculations, specifications, drawings and technical documentation.
• Ensuring designs comply with relevant legislation, standards, CDM requirements and industry best practice.
• Building strong working relationships with programme managers, engineering teams, operational stakeholders and external partners.
• Leading and contributing to multidisciplinary project teams, taking responsibility for technical outputs and quality assurance.
• Supporting projects through the full lifecycle from concept development and FEED through detailed design, testing, commissioning and handover.
• Acting as a role model for engineering excellence, professional integrity and safety leadership.

Technical Skills & Experience

What We're Looking For

We're looking for a technically strong engineer who combines engineering expertise with the ability to lead, inspire and influence others.

Essential

• Chartered Engineer (CEng) and a member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) or equivalent professional body.
• Accredited Mechanical Engineering degree (MEng/MSc) or BEng with equivalent further learning.
• Strong technical capability combined with excellent leadership and interpersonal skills.
• Experience delivering capital projects, strategic programmes or operational engineering support within the water sector or comparable process industries.
• Sound understanding of whole-life cost optimisation.
• Knowledge of CDM regulations and the responsibilities of a competent designer.
• Ability to lead small multidisciplinary teams and manage technical deliverables.
• Full UK Driving Licence.

Desirable

• Knowledge of water, wastewater and sludge treatment processes.
• Understanding of hydraulic design principles and associated industry standards.
• Experience delivering projects across the complete lifecycle from needs identification and FEED through detailed design, technical assurance, commissioning and handover.
• Ability to communicate complex technical information clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Proven coaching, mentoring and people development skills.

What's In It For You?

We recognise the value our engineers bring and offer a benefits package designed to support your career, wellbeing and future.

• 26 days annual leave, increasing to 30 days with service, plus bank holidays
• Competitive pension with up to 14% employer contribution
• Performance-related bonus of up to 10.5%
• Comprehensive company-funded healthcare plan
• Life assurance cover
• Gym and wellness discounts through MyGymDiscounts
• EVolve electric vehicle scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Mental Health First Aiders
• Salary Finance and financial wellbeing support
• Wealth at Work financial education programmes
• ShareBuy share scheme
• Flexible benefits through MORE Choices
• Enhanced parental leave policies
• Exclusive employee discounts and recognition awards

Join Us

This is your opportunity to help deliver some of the North West's most important infrastructure projects while advancing your career within one of the UK's leading utility companies.

If you're passionate about engineering excellence, thrive on technical challenges and want to make a genuine impact on the future of water services, we want to hear from you.

Apply today and help shape a stronger, greener and healthier North West.