Principal / Associate Electrical Engineer - Birmingham, Bristol & Cardiff

Location/s: Birmingham, Bristol & Cardiff; UK
Recruiter contact: Nicola Coyle

Mott MacDonald is a global engineering, management, and development consultancy with over 20,000 employees across more than 50 countries and 140+ offices.

We work across incredible global industries, delivering exciting work that is defining our future and making an important societal impact in the communities we serve. Our people power our performance – we succeed when they do. With countless opportunities to collaborate, learn, and grow, the possibilities for excellence are as varied as every individual.

Whether you want to grow as a subject matter expert or broaden your experience with roles across our international community, you’re surrounded by global specialists who want to combine their expertise and champion you to be your best. As a proudly employee-owned business, we benefit our clients, our communities, and each other, investing in creating the right space for everyone to feel empowered, included, and valued. Whatever your ambition, Mott MacDonald is where people come to be brilliant.

About the business division

The Water Utilities Division is Mott MacDonald’s centre of excellence for responding to the UK and Ireland's water and wastewater challenges. The work we do is at the forefront of ensuring safe water supplies for future generations, preventing urban flooding, and improving the health of our rivers and coastal environments. Our multi-disciplinary teams provide a variety of services throughout the full project life cycle, from advisory services and feasibility studies to outline and detailed design. Together, we deliver best-in-class solutions to our clients while offering diverse and technically stimulating opportunities to our people.

Overview of the role

The Division is entering a period of significant growth aligned with AMP8 (2025–2030) investment needs. We are proud of our strong industry reputation, which is enabling us to expand our services and support a growing client base. To help meet this increasing demand, we are seeking Senior Electrical & Control Engineers to join our multidisciplinary water utilities team.

We work on a vast range of design projects covering, for example:

• Water treatment
• Water distribution and storage
• Wastewater networks & treatments
• Industrial process water
• Desalination
• Irrigation
• Hydropower
• Flood defence

We cover all phases of the project lifecycle from feasibility studies through detailed design, construction support, and commissioning to handover. Provide specialist technical support to colleagues across our global business, offering fantastic opportunities to get involved in diverse and technically challenging work.

Our clients include many UK water utility companies, Uisce Éireann, and many other governmental organisations and private companies in the UK, Ireland and overseas.

You will undertake a wide range of Electrical & control tasks, typically including:

• Electrical power distribution design (LV and HV)
• Control system design
• Design and specification of communications networks and SCADA
• Specifying renewable and back-up generation systems
• Developing plant layouts
• Cabling and installation design
• Instrumentation selection
• Writing system control strategies
• Factory and site acceptance tests of equipment
• Providing mentoring to other electrical engineers, you will be responsible for developing and checking designs and providing technical direction to projects
• Using your experience and expertise you will ensure that designs are fit for purpose and meet current legislation and standards
• You will ensure the integration of the electrical & control design with that of other disciplines

You will work in close partnership with clients and contractors, building strong relationships that will enhance the company’s reputation and help secure further work. There are opportunities to develop your career in the direction of people management, commercial success, or technical excellence, depending on your strengths and interests.

Candidate specification

We are looking for a driven individual who is keen to make a difference in the water sector and willing to progress professionally.

Essential:

• Qualified to HND level or higher in electrical, electronic or control engineering or a related discipline
• Chartered status with a recognised Professional Institution
• Experience in electrical & control engineering design/consultancy
• Strong communication skills to interact with other disciplines and clients, and to develop and promote the team
• Willingness to contribute to and develop technical knowledge networks
• A drive to be abreast of professional development and knowledge of current and emerging technical solutions
• Understanding of the importance of prioritising health, safety, and environmental issues
• Experience of working in the water and/or wastewater industry

Desirable:

• Master’s degree in electrical, electronic or control engineering or a related discipline
• Good understanding of pipeline hydraulics and/or water and wastewater treatment processes
• Interest in digital innovation in design processes
• Capability to manage design delivery and projects

UK Immigration

Mott MacDonald Ltd. are not currently offering sponsorship to candidates under the Skilled Worker visa route in the UK. This decision is as a consequence of the changes made to the Skilled Worker route by the UK Government in April 2024. We continue to welcome applications from candidates who are eligible for alternative immigration routes in the UK, that do not require sponsorship as a Skilled Worker now or in future.

Agile working

At Mott MacDonald, we believe it makes business sense for you and your manager to choose how you can work most effectively to meet your client, team, and personal commitments. We offer a hybrid working policy that embraces your well-being, flexibility, and trust.

Equality, diversity, and inclusion

We put equality, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of our business, seeking to promote fair employment procedures and practices to ensure equal opportunities for all. We encourage individual expression in our workplace and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels they can contribute.

Accessibility

We want you to perform your best at every stage in the recruitment process. If you are disabled or need any support to enable you to apply or attend an interview, please contact us at and we will talk to you about how we can support you.

We offer some fantastic benefits including:

Financial wellbeing

• We match employee pension contributions between 4.5% and 7%.
• Life assurance equal up to 4 x your basic salary, with an option to increase the level of cover to 6 x your salary.
• Our income protection scheme provides a financial benefit, as well as absence and return to work support due to long-term illness or injury.
• Flexible benefits, including increased life assurance cover, critical illness insurance, payroll saving and will writing.
• As an independently owned business we share the financial success of the business with all our colleagues in various ways including annual bonus schemes.

Employee Ownership

• Our employee ownership model means no external investors, just us, creating a culture of shared success.
• Our employees have a stake and a voice in our business, giving them a direct connection to our success through our personal and group performance bonuses.
• As your career grows, so does your stake, recognising your long-term impact and contribution.
• Your voice matters, with the opportunity to connect directly with senior leadership through formal channels to help shape our future.
• For our senior roles you will have a direct pathway towards ownership from day one.

Health and wellbeing

• Private medical insurance for all UK colleagues.
• Health cash plan to support you with every day health costs and treatments.
• Access to Peppy, providing free support from menopause experts for all UK colleagues.
• A variety of wellbeing support is available through our comprehensive wellbeing program, including access for you and your family.
• Ability to flex your salary to opt into a wide range of health benefits, many of which can be extended to your family too.

Lifestyle

• A minimum of 33-35 days holiday each year, inclusive of public holidays and dependent on level, with the ability to buy or sell leave through our flexible benefits programme.
• Holiday entitlement increased to a minimum of 35 days after 5 years’ service.
• Variety of employee saving schemes and discounts from high-street retailers.

Enhanced family and carers leave

• Enhanced family leave policies, including 26 weeks paid maternity and adoption leave, and two weeks paid paternity/partner leave.
• Our shared parental leave matches maternity leave meaning we pay up to 24 weeks at full pay.
• Up to five additional days leave are provided for those with significant caring responsibilities, two of which are paid.

Learning and development

• Primary annual professional institution subscription.
• A broad range of opportunities to enhance both technical and soft skills through mentoring, formal training, and self-development options.

Networks, communities, and social outcomes

• Join a wide range of groups including our Advanced Employee Networks which support our LGBTQ+, gender, race and ethnicity, disability, and parents/carers communities.
• Make a difference within our communities through our social outcomes.

Apply now, or for more information about our application process, click here.