Senior/ Principal Mechanical Engineer Water Sector Contract - outside of scope of IR35

Location: Manchester (Hybrid - 2 days per week on site)

Duration: 12 months+

We are supporting a leading consultancy delivering increased volumes of mechanical design work within the UK water sector, driven by the demands of AMP8 frameworks. This is a long-term contract opportunity for experienced engineers to play a central role in delivering high-impact projects for multiple end clients across clean and wastewater infrastructure.

The Role

As a Principal Mechanical Engineer, you will:

• Lead the delivery of mechanical design services across a portfolio of water sector projects

• Ensure compliance with relevant industry codes, standards, and CDM regulations

• Deliver high-quality, auditable documentation and technical records

• Support Project Discipline Engineers and Engineering Managers with scoped design packages

• Liaise across disciplines, supply chain, and partners to enable successful project outcomes

• Assist with team selection and oversight through SQEP processes

• Monitor progress, ensure technical assurance, and support risk and quality management

What You ll Bring

• Proven experience in mechanical design for water and wastewater infrastructure

• In-depth knowledge of AMP programme delivery and UK water sector requirements

• Strong understanding of CDM, QA procedures, and compliance processes

• Ability to manage multi-package design scopes across time, cost, and quality objectives

• Collaborative working style with a proactive and quality-focused mindset

• Experience working with multidisciplinary teams and contributing to successful design delivery

This contract offers a clear opportunity to make a lasting impact within a highly regulated sector and contribute to the delivery of future-ready infrastructure. Contractors seeking longer-term work with potential for permanent transition are encouraged to apply.