Principal Engineer/ Lead Process Engineer

Job Description

Overview

The Principal Engineer - Process will provide technical leadership and process engineering assurance across clean water, desalination, wastewater and sludge treatment projects. The role will lead complex studies and designs from strategic assessment and feasibility through outline/detailed design, construction support, commissioning and performance optimisation, while developing engineers and strengthening client relationships.

Your Role

Roles & Responsibilities

Technical Experience and Role Requirements

• Demonstrable experience in the selection, design, review, commissioning and optimisation of clean water, desalination, wastewater and sludge treatment systems across feasibility, outline design, detailed design and operational improvement stages.
• Clean-water experience should include source-water quality assessment; coagulation, flocculation, clarification and dissolved air flotation; rapid gravity, pressure and membrane filtration; activated carbon adsorption; ion exchange; advanced oxidation; remineralisation; disinfection; chemical storage and dosing; and management of treatment residuals.
• Desalination experience should cover seawater and brackish-water reverse osmosis, intake and outfall considerations, pre-treatment selection, membrane configuration and recovery, energy-recovery systems, fouling and scaling control, clean-in-place systems, post-treatment and stabilisation, product-water quality, and brine management.
• Wastewater experience should include preliminary and primary treatment, activated sludge, SBR, MBR and attached-growth biological processes, nutrient removal, tertiary filtration, disinfection, effluent reuse, sludge thickening, dewatering and digestion, and odour control.
• The role also requires capability in process calculations, mass and water balances, hydraulic and process modelling, equipment sizing, pilot and treatability studies, process-control philosophy, performance testing, trend and operational-data analysis, root-cause investigation, troubleshooting, capacity assessment, energy and chemical optimisation, and development of practical, safe and whole-life-cost-effective improvement measures.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as Process Lead or Technical Authority on major and technically complex water and wastewater projects, establishing the design basis, process philosophy, key criteria and assurance plan.
• Lead feasibility studies, options appraisal, whole-life-cost evaluation, process selection, pilot/trial planning, risk-based decision making and preferred-option recommendations.
• Prepare, review and approve process calculations and deliverables, including flow and load assessments, mass balances, hydraulic profiles, process flow diagrams, P&IDs, equipment sizing, datasheets, specifications, control philosophies, commissioning strategies and performance-test requirements.
• Undertake plant performance reviews, capacity assessments, process troubleshooting and root-cause analysis; translate operational data into practical improvement measures.
• Lead or support process-safety and design-risk activities including HAZID, HAZOP, SWIFT, DSEAR/ATEX reviews, CDM design-risk management and constructability/operability reviews.
• Develop procurement documentation, evaluate supplier and contractor submissions, undertake technical bid evaluation, manage technical clarifications and confirm compliance with performance requirements.
• Provide construction, commissioning and start-up support, including review of method statements, functional descriptions, operating procedures, sampling plans, performance testing and optimisation.
• Apply and develop digital engineering methods such as automated process-sizing tools, data analytics, process simulation, digital design environments and model-based review.
• Prepare and approve high-quality technical reports, proposals, scope documents, fee estimates and programme inputs across the project lifecycle.
• Maintain effective communication with clients and delivery teams across the UK and other international markets, presenting complex engineering recommendations clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders.

About You

• Bachelor's degree (B.E./B.Tech or equivalent) in Chemical Engineering, Environmental Engineering or a closely related discipline from a recognised institution.
• Typically, 12-18 years of relevant process engineering experience in the water and wastewater sector, including substantial responsibility for technical leadership, checking/approval and multidisciplinary delivery.
• Proven project experience covering at least two of the three core areas: clean water treatment, desalination/membrane systems and wastewater treatment; broader experience across all three is strongly preferred.
• Experience delivering international projects, preferably for UK, Middle East, Asia-Pacific or North American clients.
• Strong knowledge of process design principles, water chemistry, biological treatment, membrane systems, process control and commissioning.
• Working knowledge of applicable client standards, statutory requirements, British/European or relevant international standards, WIMES, CDM, DSEAR/ATEX and water-industry good practice.
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex technical work independently, make proportionate engineering judgements and communicate decisions with clear evidence and traceability.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, stakeholder management, presentation and technical-reporting skills.

Rewards & Benefits

Explore the rewards and benefits that help you thrive - at every stage of your life and your career.

This includes:

· Comprehensive life insurance coverage.

· Premium medical insurance for you and your dependents.

· Generous annual leave balance.

· Flexible and hybrid work solutions.

· Remote work opportunities outside of country.

· Company gratuity scheme.

· Discretionary bonus program.

· Relocation assistance.

· Employee Wellbeing Program: 24/7 access to specialists in finance, legal matters, family care, personal health, fitness, and nutrition.

Seize every opportunity to sharpen your skills, expand your expertise, and be recognized for the impact you make.

About AtkinsRéalis

We're AtkinsRéalis, a world-class engineering services and nuclear organization. We connect people, data and technology to transform the world's infrastructure and energy systems. Together, with our industry partners and clients, and our global team of consultants, designers, engineers and project managers, we can change the world. We're committed to leading our clients across our various end markets to engineer a better future for our planet and its people.

Find out more.

Worker Type

Job Type

At AtkinsRéalis, we seek to hire individuals with diverse characteristics, backgrounds and perspectives. We strongly believe that world-class talent makes no distinctions based on gender, ethnic or national origin, sexual identity and orientation, age, religion or disability, but enriches itself through these differences.