Job Title: Principal Process Engineer
Location: Manchester or Warrington – with travel to Cumbria up to 2 days per week
Security Clearance: Must be eligible to obtain UK Security Clearance
Employment Type: Contract - Outside of scope of IR35
About the Role
Our client, a leading engineering consultancy supporting major UK infrastructure and nuclear programmes, is seeking an experienced Principal / Responsible Process Engineer to lead process engineering design within complex, safety-critical projects.
This is a key technical leadership role responsible for managing the process engineering scope across nuclear licensed site projects. The successful candidate will ensure that all designs meet stringent regulatory, safety, and technical requirements while delivering projects on time and within budget.
You will lead multidisciplinary collaboration and manage both internal engineers and external consultants to deliver high-quality engineering solutions that are safe, sustainable, and efficient to construct.
Role Overview
As the Responsible Engineer, you will act as the senior discipline lead on assigned projects, taking ownership of process engineering design delivery. You will report to the Process Discipline Manager and Project Engineering Manager, with support from the discipline Technical Authority.
This role requires extensive experience in complex engineering environments, particularly within nuclear or highly regulated sectors.
Key Responsibilities
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Lead and manage a team of process engineers across projects, studies, and proposals.
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Deliver the process engineering scope in accordance with contract requirements and company/client standards.
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Ensure discipline quality, programme delivery, and cost targets are achieved.
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Undertake and review technical design work, ensuring compliance with engineering procedures.
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Approve project deliverables when authorised by the Process Engineering Technical Authority.
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Represent the process engineering discipline in meetings with clients, vendors, and third parties.
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Develop discipline programmes and deliverables, including identifying interdependencies and resource requirements.
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Monitor design progress and report programme and man-hour performance to the project management team.
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Collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams to ensure integrated engineering design solutions.
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Ensure full compliance with Quality, Health, Safety and Environmental policies and regulatory requirements.
Essential Experience & Skills
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Minimum 15 years’ experience in technical delivery and engineering leadership roles within an engineering consultancy or similar environment.
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Experienced process engineering technical specialist, ideally within nuclear or other highly regulated industries.
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Recent experience working on UK engineering projects.
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Strong understanding of the full project lifecycle, from work winning through to delivery and handover.
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Proven experience leading multi-disciplinary engineering teams and complex projects.
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Strong client-facing skills with the ability to build and influence relationships.
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Excellent communication skills (written and verbal).
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Highly organised with strong attention to detail and the ability to prioritise deadlines.
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Willingness to travel across the UK and visit project sites or suppliers when required.
Desirable Experience
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Experience across sectors such as nuclear, oil & gas, water, chemicals, or industrial process industries.
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Knowledge of UK regulatory frameworks and technical standards.
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Strong engineering systems and digital design tool experience.
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Proven ability in line management, mentoring and team development.
Why Apply?
This role offers the opportunity to work at the forefront of major UK infrastructure and nuclear programmes, delivering complex engineering solutions that support the future of energy and national infrastructure. You will join a collaborative consultancy environment where technical excellence and innovation are valued.
