Principal Mechanical Engineer

We are seeking a Principal Mechanical Engineer who thrives on being busy and having a sense of achievement at the end of each day.  You want to deliver – for yourself, for the organisation and for the client.

We need an experienced mechanical engineer who enjoys leading and delivering multiple projects simultaneously. You’ll enjoy working closely with clients on a range of demanding issues whilst mentoring and training more junior colleagues to protect the high standards that we’re proud of. 

Does this sound like you? In which case, we’d love you to apply for this role.

Working within our Nuclear & Power team you will provide technical leadership to a team of mechanical engineering professionals. You will also be responsible for leading the development of project specific engineering solutions and providing technical oversight of the work we produce.  You will provide the necessary design justification to ensure design solutions are compliant with safety and regulatory requirements. You will lead in the production of proposals to clients whilst working to develop strong and lasting relationships with key client contacts.

You will enjoy approaching things in different ways to find the best possible fit – you like making adjustments and playing with different approaches, trying to find the best approach to fit whatever is the current context.  As soon as you’re presented with a problem, you are focused on how to resolve it, whatever it might be.  

You don’t just tackle these things alone.  You like to engage with others, and especially enjoy watching people develop and grow in your team.  You enjoy explaining complex ideas, helping people to ‘get it’, and then watch them go on and achieve more.

And overall, you get satisfaction from building relationships, with clients and with colleagues.  You enjoy getting to know people, and working out how you can have a positive impact on them – whether that’s delivering something that a client needs, or helping someone to progress within the organisation.

In addition to having excellent communication and problem solving skills you will be able to demonstrate the following:

• Degree qualified Mechanical Engineer. 

• Chartered Engineer and a Member of IMechE.

• Experience of leading, supervising, developing and mentoring. 

• Proven capability of leading and delivering mechanical engineering projects, particularly the design, specification and procurement of safety critical equipment.

• Experience in leading some or all of the following: design of mechanical handling systems, piping and pressurised systems design, and design of pumping systems.

• An understanding of the UK nuclear industry and experience of designing to meet the requirements of a nuclear safety case.

• Proven design experience; including optioneering, concept and detailed design and experience supporting installation and commissioning phases.

• A proven track record of excellent client engagement skills with an ability to develop new opportunities and win work.

• Strong technical background, including first principles analysis, as well as the ability to use relevant UK and international codes/standards. Experience of ASME III would be an advantage.

• An understanding of the commercial aspects of a consultancy business will be an advantage

• The ability to speak French, Japanese or Chinese would be an added bonus.

As part of our Nuclear & Power business, our team specialises in taking on the most challenging engineering projects and opportunities that exist across the board, from technical leadership to project management. With existing relationships with the major operators in the nuclear sector, we offer a stimulating variety of work, within a team which is rapidly developing to meet the challenge of new nuclear build.

Based in Epsom, this is currently a 50+ strong team - it is one of our most culturally diverse, with people from all around the world. Whilst your office base will be in Epsom, flexibility in work location is a must – from time to time our clients do call on our team to deliver work from their sites.

 

This is an exciting time for Atkins, our recent acquisition by SNC-Lavalin means that we are diversifying our portfolio to become a more global organisation. This promises to offer unprecedented career opportunities to our staff whilst we continue to grow our existing business units in the UK. There will be opportunities for international travel and applicants with a desire for non-UK based assignments will be welcomed. 

Successful candidates will be required to undergo a security vetting process and offers of employment will be subject to relevant security clearance being granted. 

Atkins recognise that there are many well qualified people who are looking to further their career in engineering, but who cannot commit to full time employment. We support flexible working arrangements and are interested to discuss how we can accommodate individual requirements. 

Atkins develops individuals through a portfolio of training and development courses designed to help you make the best of your abilities and talents. We encourage participation in all forms of training and have an active programme of in-house and well as external training for all of our engineers.