Principal Mechanical Engineer

Up to £63.50 per hour | Outside IR35 | 12-Month Contract | 4-Day Working Week
We are seeking an experienced Principal Mechanical Engineer to lead engineering design teams on complex, safety-critical projects within the nuclear sector. This role combines technical leadership, engineering assurance and project delivery, with a strong focus on UKCA/CE marking, regulatory compliance, verification and validation, and nuclear safety.
Contract details

• Rate: Up to £63.50 per hour, outside IR35
• Duration: 12 months
• Hours: 40 hours per week, Monday to Thursday
• Security: Ideally hold current SC clearance or be eligible to obtain it

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and supervise mechanical engineering design teams, providing technical direction and oversight.
• Plan and coordinate engineering activities, managing resources, budgets, schedules and delivery against project requirements.
• Develop design basis documentation, identify engineering requirements and ensure nuclear and conventional safety principles are applied.
• Oversee design risk assessments, technical interfaces and multidisciplinary engineering integration.
• Ensure technical documentation supports UKCA/CE marking and demonstrates conformity with applicable legislation, regulations and standards.
• Lead and record verification, validation and conformity assessment activities.
• Conduct design reviews and check engineering deliverables for technical accuracy, quality and compliance.
• Maintain awareness of the Machinery Directive, LOLER, PUWER, CDM and other relevant legislation.
• Support project planning, tender responses, risk management and recovery strategies where delivery issues arise.
• Promote continuous improvement, right-first-time quality and effective configuration control.
• Mentor and develop engineers, support competency assessments and ensure effective allocation of engineering resources.

Essential Requirements

• Relevant Level 6 qualification, such as a Bachelor’s degree with honours in an engineering discipline.
• Proven experience in mechanical engineering design and technical leadership.
• Experience leading or supervising engineering teams within a complex engineering environment.
• Strong understanding of engineering compliance, design assurance and verification and validation.
• Experience with UKCA/CE marking requirements, including technical documentation and conformity assessment.
• Knowledge of the Machinery Directive, LOLER, PUWER, CDM and applicable engineering standards.
• Experience managing engineering deliverables, resources, schedules and technical risks.
• Strong stakeholder management skills and a commitment to quality, safety and continuous improvement.

Desirable Experience

• Experience within the nuclear industry or another highly regulated, safety-critical environment.
• Experience with machinery, process plant or complex mechanical systems.
• Familiarity with nuclear safety principles and multidisciplinary design integration.
• Current SC security clearance, or eligibility to obtain it.

This is an excellent opportunity for a technically strong Principal Mechanical Engineer to lead engineering teams on a long-term contract, taking ownership of design quality, regulatory compliance and safe engineering delivery.