Senior Mechanical Engineer (Nuclear Handling)

Following a number of project and long term framework wins in the Nuclear industry, we are seeking a Senior Mechanical Engineer to join CEL - Costain’s multi-disciplinary engineering and design team to support and deliver key elements of design work on projects, primarily through the management of technical resources to deliver on company and client promises.

As a Senior Mechanical Engineer, you will be responsible for delivering key elements of engineering design packages within a multi-disciplinary environment. This role balances high-level hands-on design production and checking with the management of engineering resources.

You will prioritise and sequence work, support junior team members, drive design delivery progress, and take direct ownership of package quality, schedule, and cost.

This role will make a key contribution to development of Costain’s capability in the specialist area of Nuclear Mechanical Handling to support exciting projects for a number of clients based in North and North West England.

Costain’s multi-disciplinary engineering and design team delivers comprehensive design solutions across a range of UK Infrastructure sectors - Energy, Defence & Nuclear, Water, Rail, Roads and Integrated Transport.

The team covers the full project lifecycle from feasibility and concept through to detailed design and construction support.

We focus on the delivery of sustainable, future ready and safe-by-design outputs with a strong constructability ethos.

Typical deliverables and activities for the Mechanical Engineering team include:

• Specifications and Datasheets for Mechanical Equipment

• Enquiry and Purchase Requisitions for Mechanical Equipment Packages.

• Technical Bid Evaluations for Mechanical Equipment Packages.

• Vendor documentation review and FAT attendance for Mechanical Equipment Packages.

• Mechanical Handling and Lifting equipment Specification and design

• HVAC & Building Services design

• Plant and Mechanical Equipment Layout

• Pumping system calculations

• Pressure Equipment design calculations and Mechanical Equipment stress analysis

This is a hybrid role. Your office will be in Manchester (typical attendance circa 3 days per week) with occasional visits to other offices and sites in the Northwest region.

• Design Production & Checking: Produce and check complex engineering design deliverables, calculations, specifications, and scopes of work to meet project and client requirements.

• Project Delivery: Complete assigned work packages to cost, time, and quality standards, managing change and coordinating resource allocations as required.

• Interdisciplinary Coordination: Coordinate project activities between team members, leading interdisciplinary design reviews, technical meetings, and presentations.

• Reporting: Support project reporting data collection (such as budget and programme KPI’s, governance, and risks) to ensure company and project targets are met.

• Collaboration & Safety: Collaborate with suppliers, client teams, designers & construction teams to ensure robust, safe-by-design outputs; proactively challenge and celebrate safety performance.

• Team Support: Provide technical guidance, mentoring, and support to Engineers and junior team members, and deputise for the Principal Engineers during absence when required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Experience

Essential

• Substantial engineering experience across the engineering lifecycle (from tendering to close-out) within a design consultancy or contractor environment.

• Digitally proficient in multiple engineering design systems, calculation tools, and software.

• Ability to accurately report progress, risks, opportunities, and changes, and support estimate developments (hours, scopes, assumptions).

• Strong working knowledge of UK Regulatory frameworks associated with the technical discipline (e.g., CDM, PESR, Machinery Safety Regulations, ATEX).

• Strong working knowledge of relevant design codes and standards (e.g. BS EN, API, ASME, WIMES, CIBSE / ASHRAE etc).

• Strong organisation, communication, and time-management skills with a collaborative approach.

Experience in the following specialist mechanical engineering fields:

Nuclear Mechanical Handling

Experience with the following mechanical engineering and design deliverables and activities:

Technology Readiness Level

Single Discipline Design Review

Multi Discipline Design Review

Design Justification Report

Mechanical Handling Diagrams

Design Proposal Drawings

Plant and Building Layout

Equipment Specifications and Datasheets

Desirable

• Experience with supply chain management and in site/construction environments.

• Multi-sector project experience with the ability to work independently.

• Strong knowledge and experience in one or more specialist areas of mechanical engineering design and delivery (e.g. wastewater pumping systems and treatment technologies, rotating or static process equipment, mechanical handling and lifting equipment, stress analysis methods and software, HVAC & Building Services design)

• Experience with Costain clients i.e. Urenco Capenhurst

Essential

• Degree qualified in a relevant engineering discipline (ideally 2:1 or better) or equivalent educational experience.
• Professional registration achieved with recognised industry institution.
• Valid safety passport or industry equivalent.
• BPSS holder, capable to obtain SC security clearance

Desirable

• Professional qualifications such as Chartered Engineer (CEng) or Incorporated Engineer (IEng) status.

• Additional technically focussed qualifications / training
• SC security clearance holder