Principal EICA Engineer
Leading Engineering Consultancy | Water Sector Frameworks | Remote or Hybrid working options | Long-term Contract | Outside IR35 | Competitive Rate
The Opportunity
We're recruiting a Principal Electrical, Instrumentation, Control & Automation (EICA) Engineer to deliver high-quality engineering solutions across multiple water sector frameworks. You'll produce cost-effective, implementable designs, lead technical delivery, and take responsibility for EC&I excellence across projects.
Contract Details: Outside IR35 | Competitive rate | Remote working/home-based | Ad-hoc site visits, Factory Acceptance Tests and Manchester office attendance (2-3 times per month) | Long-term contract
MUST HAVE: Recent water sector experience, preferably client-facing. This is a principal-level role for an experienced EICA engineer with proven background in water industry. You'll produce outline electrical, instrumentation and control designs, manage subcontractor technical input, attend FATs, carry out site surveys, and ensure all designs meet specification, budget and commissioning requirements.
What You'll Be Doing
EICA Design & Technical Leadership
- Produce cost-effective electrical, instrumentation and control designs
- Develop outline EC&I designs that meet specification and are purchasable, installable and commissionable
- Produce detailed design documentation including all technical deliverables
- Ensure all designs are within budget and deliver best overall outcome for the business
- Responsibility for EC&I technical input across all design phases
Design Quality & Compliance
- Check own designs and those of subcontractors against specification requirements
- Ensure compliance with all applicable national and international codes and standards
- Ensure designs meet UK legislation, company standards and client requirements
- Prepare installation scopes of work
- Manage change control and technical decision-making
Site & Commissioning Support
- Carry out surveys at site visits
- Attend Factory Acceptance Tests (FATs) at supplier premises
- Produce FAT reports and technical assessments
- Provide construction and commissioning support as required
- Resolve technical issues during installation phases
Procurement & Equipment Management
- Prepare equipment and materials requisitions for EICA equipment
- Review supplier quotations and produce detailed technical bid assessments
- Manage supplier relationships and technical coordination
- Ensure all equipment meets specification and compliance requirements
Team & Workload Management
- Allocate work and ensure delivery against plan
- Manage EICA workload and team coordination
- Support project schedules and timelines
- Ensure technical quality and consistency
Risk & Compliance Management
- Ensure designs support risk identification and mitigation
- Maintain awareness of HSE requirements and safety-critical considerations
- Support compliance with WIMES and other sector-specific standards
- Manage regulatory and standards compliance
About You
Essential Qualifications & Experience
- MUST HAVE: Recent water sector experience - proven, current background in water treatment, wastewater or utilities sector design
- MUST HAVE: Client-facing experience - comfortable engaging directly with water industry clients
- Degree in relevant engineering discipline (Electrical, Electronic, or Control Engineering) - Apprenticeships with significant professional experience considered
- Chartered Engineer (CEng) or Incorporated Engineer (IEng) status, or clear evidence of working towards professional registration
- Minimum 15+ years' EICA engineering experience in water sector or similar infrastructure
- Expert-level knowledge of:
- Electrical and control system design for water applications
- Water Industry regulatory requirements and WIMES standards
- UK legislation and standards for water sector engineering
- Equipment specification, selection and integration
- Installation requirements for water treatment environments
- ATEX requirements for potentially explosive areas
- CE marking requirements (ATEX, PED, Low Voltage Directive, Machinery Directive, EMC)
- Strong understanding of:
- Design for manufacture, installation and commissioning
- Cost management and value engineering
- Risk identification, assessment and management
- HSE requirements for electrical and control systems
- Factory Acceptance Testing procedures and reporting
- Excellent communication skills - confident engaging with clients, colleagues and stakeholders
- Team leadership capability - experience allocating work and managing technical delivery
- Safety and compliance focused - meticulous approach to standards and regulations
- Highly motivated - takes ownership of design quality and technical excellence
Desirable
- Extensive water sector background - major water company or utility projects
- Experience managing junior EICA engineers
- Familiarity with BIM and integrated design management
- Knowledge of WIMES system and water industry best practice
- Factory Acceptance Testing experience and report writing
- Experience on framework agreements with water industry clients
The Role in Practice
You'll work remotely, with flexible ad-hoc travel for site surveys, Factory Acceptance Tests and Manchester office meetings (2-3 times per month). You'll report to the project lead engineer or lead projects directly, managing technical delivery across multiple water sector frameworks.
This is hands-on, principal-level technical work. You'll be producing EICA designs, reviewing supplier proposals, attending FATs, supporting commissioning, and ensuring all technical delivery meets specification, budget and commissioning requirements. Your water sector expertise, design authority and client engagement skills directly impact project quality and client satisfaction.
Why This Role
You'll be working for a leading engineering consultancy on diverse water sector projects across multiple frameworks. This is professional EICA engineering at principal level, where your water industry expertise and technical authority are genuinely valued. You'll work with experienced project teams delivering to water companies and treatment operators across the UK.
