Process & Hydraulic Design Lead

Process & Hydraulic Design Lead - (Wastewater Treatment Projects)

The Role:

We are seeking a Design Lead for the Process & Hydraulic Engineering discipline for a regional role in the UK. In this role, you will play a pivotal part in delivering water and wastewater infrastructure projects from concept through to construction, commissioning, and operations. You will take ownership of developing robust engineering design solutions that meet client requirements and ensure successful project outcomes through to process commissioning.

Working as part of a multi-disciplinary engineering team, you will operate within a collaborative "one-team" culture while actively developing your own technical skills and leadership experience. While your primary focus will be on Process, Mechanical, and Hydraulic Design, you will also engage with and manage inputs and deliverables from other engineering disciplines, including Mechanical, Electrical, Instrumentation, Control & Automation (MEICA), as well as civil and structural engineering.

This role offers exposure to a broad range of multi-disciplinary engineering challenges, providing a strong platform for professional growth and career progression. You will also have the opportunity to develop client relationships, lead design discussions, and contribute to integrated, high-quality project delivery across all stages.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

Strategic Design Leadership

• Develop and maintain a coherent design vision aligned with business objectives and long-term strategic goals.
• Prioritise and lead high-impact design initiatives that enhance project outcomes and organisational capability.
• Establish and refine consistent, efficient, and high-quality design workflows across all projects.
• Promote a culture of innovation, sustainability, and continuous improvement within the design function.
• Team Leadership, Line Management & Talent Development
• Provide effective line management to the design team, including workload planning, performance management, and resource allocation.
• Mentor, coach, and develop engineers and designers at all levels, enhancing technical capability, decision-making, and leadership skills.
• Identify skills gaps and deliver structured development plans to build a high-performing, multidisciplinary team.
• Foster a collaborative, knowledge-sharing culture that prioritises technical excellence and professional development.
• Technical Design, Engineering & Equipment Assessment
• Lead or oversee detailed technical assessments of process and mechanical equipment, ensuring appropriate specification, performance, and integration into system designs.
• Manage technical interfaces across MEICA disciplines, coordinating input from Mechanical, Electrical, Instrumentation, Control & Automation teams to produce fully integrated, clash-free design solutions.
• Work closely with ACC (Advanced Control & Communications) teams to develop intelligent, data-rich P&IDs and ensure accurate control-system integration within the design.
• Develop and review process and hydraulic calculations across chemical, physical, and biological treatment processes.

Produce and oversee technical deliverables, including:

• Process & Mechanical Design Reports
• Intelligent P&IDs and PFDs
• Equipment selection and specifications
• Whole Life Cost Assessments
• Hydraulic & process calculations
• Energy balances
• Control philosophies and automation logic inputs
• Motor & Instrument Lists
• Constructability Assessments
• Construction Sequence Narratives
• Process Impact Plans (PIPs)
• Interface Registers and Decision Logs
• Support development of efficient, safe, and future-proofed site layouts, ensuring adequate space planning, operability, maintainability, and construction access.
• Interdisciplinary Coordination & Stakeholder Engagement
• Work as part of a "one team" environment to deliver multiple projects concurrently.
• Collaborate closely with MEICA engineers, Digital team, planners, project managers, and client stakeholders to maintain technical alignment.
• Engage with clients and third-party agencies to communicate design intent and resolve technical queries efficiently.
• Support contract and project managers in defining project scope, budget, programme, and deliverables.
• Design Assurance, Quality & Compliance.
• Develop, review and validate design proposals to ensure compliance with internal standards, client specifications, and statutory requirements.
• Monitor design progress against baseline schedules, identifying risks, delays, or design constraints that may impact construction or commissioning.
• Participate in design reviews, HAZOPs, ALMs, and constructability workshops, ensuring timely resolution of actions.
• Ensure designs incorporate operational, maintenance, lifecycle, and whole-life performance considerations from the outset.
• Lead design constructability assessments and facilitate the development of safe, practical, and cost-efficient construction methodologies in line with CDM Regulations.
• Provide responsive technical support during construction and commissioning to ensure design intent is correctly implemented and validated.
• Liaise with site teams to address technical issues, update drawings and documentation, and support testing and commissioning activities.
• Conduct site assessments and produce clear engineering reports with actionable recommendations.
• Tools, Systems & Digital Engineering
• Develop, manage, and validate intelligent P&IDs, ensuring accurate metadata, tagging, and integration with automation/control systems.
• Collaborate with the EICA teams on the relevant CDE (ACC) to ensure control, telemetry, and automation requirements are fully represented in design outputs.
• Proficiently use the Microsoft Office suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Teams, etc.) for documentation, reporting, scheduling, and technical analysis.
• Support digital workflows and system integration to enhance design quality and efficiency.
• Continuous Improvement & Business Support
• Contribute to tender-stage design proposals, providing innovative and robust technical inputs.
• Capture lessons learned and support continuous improvement of design processes, tools, and standards.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of industry standards, regulations, technologies, and best practices through continuous professional development (CPD).
• Undertake any additional duties required to support project delivery or organisational needs.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience:

The ideal candidate will demonstrate a combination of technical expertise, leadership capability, and client-focused delivery.

• Minimum Level 8 Honours Degree in Chemical, Water/Wastewater, Environmental, or Process Engineering, or a closely related discipline.
• Minimum of 5 years' relevant experience in a similar role, preferably within the water, wastewater, or process engineering sectors.
• Professional accreditation (e.g., Chartered Engineer status) is desirable.
• Technical Knowledge & Expertise
• Strong expertise in process and hydraulic engineering, including design, calculations, and equipment selection for water and wastewater treatment systems.
• Proven ability to conduct technical assessments, review contractor proposals, and validate designs to ensure compliance with industry standards and project requirements.
• Competent in preparing, reviewing, and managing process documentation including PFDs, P&IDs, control philosophies, and constructability assessments.
• Experience developing site layouts and integrating design solutions across MEICA disciplines (Mechanical, Electrical, Instrumentation, Control & Automation).
• Proficient in digital engineering and collaborative platforms such as BIM360, ACC, ProjectWise, or similar Common Data Environments (CDEs).
• Client Management & Stakeholder Engagement
• Strong ability to establish, maintain, and manage professional relationships with clients, client representatives, and third-party stakeholders.
• Experience leading design discussions, workshops, and presentations to clients, ensuring design intent, programme, and quality expectations are clearly communicated.
• Skilled in managing client queries, resolving issues, and providing timely updates on project progress and technical matters.
• Leadership & Team Collaboration
• Ability to mentor, coach, and develop junior engineers and designers, fostering a culture of continuous learning and technical excellence.
• Demonstrated experience working collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams to develop integrated, innovative design solutions.
• Capable of providing leadership under pressure while delivering high-quality outputs within programme and budget constraints.

Personal Attributes & Other Skills:

• Strong problem-solving skills, with the ability to adapt to changing project requirements or commissioning challenges.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to convey complex technical information clearly to diverse audiences.
• Highly motivated, proactive, and able to work independently while contributing effectively to a team.

What we offer you:

• The opportunity to join an ambitious and growing organisation. 
• Competitive base salary with annual salary reviews. 
• Monday to Friday working week, finishing early on Fridays.
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays.
• Incentivisation benefits.
• Company pension
• A company laptop and phone.
• Access to EAP - 24/7, 365 days confidential employee counselling service, free for employees and their families.