Technical Specialist (Commissioning)

Job Description

Hybrid | Warrington | Competitive Salary + Exceptional Benefits

As part of United Utilities’ dedicated Commissioning Team, you’ll join a highly skilled group of process, mechanical, electrical and automation specialists who sit at the heart of bringing our capital programme to life. We are the bridge between construction and operation — the team that ensures every new treatment asset is safe, compliant and capable of delivering the performance our communities rely on. Working alongside project delivery, operations and technical experts, we take complex designs and turn them into fully functioning, optimised assets ready for long‑term operation. This is where technical rigour, operational insight and real‑world problem‑solving come together to protect customers, the environment and the resilience of our network

Ready to shape the future of how we bring complex treatment assets into safe, reliable operation? At United Utilities, we’re delivering one of the UK’s largest capital programmes — and we need a technical Specialist who can bring clarity, authority and deep process expertise to our most challenging commissioning activities.

This is your opportunity to step into a high‑impact role where your decisions directly influence operational performance, regulatory compliance and customer outcomes.

Your mission

As our Technical Specialist (Process Commissioning), you’ll be the organisation’s recognised authority on process commissioning across water, wastewater and Better Rivers programmes. You’ll lead the commissioning approach on high‑risk or technically complex schemes, ensuring new assets are safe, compliant and capable of delivering the performance our communities depend on.

You’ll provide expert guidance from design through startup, optimisation and takeover — shaping standards, uplifting capability and driving continuous improvement across the business.

What you’ll be doing:

• Providing senior technical leadership for complex process commissioning activities across major projects.
• Acting as the technical authority for process commissioning, supporting engineers, project teams and senior stakeholders.
• Leading commissioning strategy on high‑risk or technically challenging schemes with significant operational or regulatory impact.
• Ensuring all commissioning activities meet Health & Safety legislation and United Utilities best practice.
• Influencing design reviews to ensure assets are operable, maintainable and safe to commission.
• Supporting the ATO (Agreement to Operate) process on complex schemes, including meetings, trackers and certification.
• Identifying, managing and mitigating commissioning risks during startup and early operation.
• Working closely with Operations and Technical Officers to ensure compliance with environmental permits.
• Leading technical investigations into performance issues and driving corrective actions.
• Delivering optimisation activities to establish stable operating parameters and achieve treatment performance.
• Providing assurance across key commissioning activities including:
• • Operability assessments and design reviews
  • Wet, dry and completion testing strategies
  • Telemetry, control philosophy and automation readiness
  • HAZOP / ALM / HAZCOMM participation
  • Technical documentation and asset supportability
  • ARDR readiness and asset registration

• Embedding commissioning requirements into project delivery plans and programmes.
• Driving lessons learned and continuous improvement across commissioning practices.
• Mentoring and developing commissioning engineers and technical specialists.
• Influencing the development of company standards, procedures and guidance for process commissioning.
• Supporting safe and effective operational takeover of newly commissioned assets.
• What we’re looking for
• Extensive experience in process commissioning across complex water or wastewater treatment schemes.
• Proven delivery of commissioning activities on major capital programmes across the full asset lifecycle.
• Recognised technical expertise in water and wastewater treatment processes and operational performance.
• Ability to act as a senior technical authority and influence technical decision‑making across the organisation.
• Strong troubleshooting, optimisation and complex process investigation skills.
• Credibility in both operational and project delivery environments.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and influencing capability.
• Ability to manage complex technical risks and provide clear leadership during commissioning and startup.
• Strong understanding of regulatory, environmental and operational requirements in the UK water industry.
• Ideally Degree/HND‑qualified in a relevant discipline, with professional membership desirable.
• Deep understanding of the water industry’s regulatory, operational and commercial challenges.

What you’ll get

A competitive package that recognises your expertise, including:

• 26–30 days holiday + bank holidays
• Up to 14% employer pension contribution
• £5,000 car allowance
• Up to 20% bonus
• Healthcare, wellbeing benefits, discounts and more

If you’re ready to lead the commissioning of critical treatment assets, shape technical standards and deliver performance that protects customers and the environment, we’d love to welcome your expertise to United Utilities.