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Principal Process Engineer - Wastewater (Asset Optimisation)
Costain Group
Source: Headcount Labs · original listing ↗
Job data: Headcount Labs, ODbL 1.0. Job descriptions belong to their employers.
Posted Oct 14
About this role
Job Description Fabulous opportunity for a Principal Process Engineer to join the Costain Asset Optimisation Team who provide wastewater process engineering consultancy to support our clients across the UK to get the very best from their assets and programmes. We are an agile technical team of process engineers working within capital delivery frameworks and on the front line with operational teams to develop innovative, practical and digital process solutions. Our team delivers optimisation studies at feasibility, concept, optioneering and preliminary design stages to mitigate risk, return sites to compliance, or enable low or no build solutions to be provided. As a Principal Process Engineer, you will; Provide strategic support to our water sector frameworks to define and shape projects and programmes. Manage the execution of asset optimisation projects and lead teams to propose, develop, and define process optimisation solutions. For this role, we have a specific need for someone with experience of large, activated sludge plant design and or membrane treatment processes. This is a predominantly home - based role with attendance required for site visits, design reviews and client meetings, often within the Northwest region (Manchester/Cheshire) as per business needs circa 2-3 days week, so will ideally suit someone based in the Northwest to support our Northern team. LI-MR1 Key Responsibilities To lead teams in the execution of process optimisation studies and solution triage, with accountability for quality, budget, and schedule. Development of process optimisation, initiatives, and solutions at both site and programme level. Technical thought leadership and strategic consultancy advise to clients and joint venture partners. Work collaboratively with business development, work winning and marketing functions to develop and tender new opportunities. Review of process design deliverables such as calculations, drawings, reports, presentations and proposals. Line management, mentorship and development of more junior engineers. Grow our team capability and service to our AMP Frameworks Lead troubleshooting and embedding solutions Knowledge, Skills, and Experience Essential Significant UK experience in the design, operation, and optimisation of wastewater treatment plants. Experience of large, activated sludge plant design and or membrane treatment processes Knowledge of the UK water utility asset life cycle process. Project management experience. A background in an engineering consultancy or contracting design environment as well as operational utility experience. Ability to independently drive teams and projects. Proactive, self-motivated and solutions biased. Strong interpersonal skills, collaborate and ability to influence senior colleagues. Desirable Comprehensive knowledge of the UK Regulatory environment. Experience in the full project lifecycle: scoping, outline design, detailed design, construction support commissioning and handover. Proven background in process engineering definition including development of mass balance, data analysis, design calculations, technology selection, major equipment and package datasheet specification, process flow diagrams, process control philosophies and P&ID’s. Excellent commercial awareness and business development skills Essential A degree qualification in a process related discipline. Desirable Chartered Engineer and member of a relevant engineering institution e.g. CIWEM, IChemE. Post Graduate Qualification Costain helps to improve people’s lives with integrated, leading edge, smart infrastructure solutions across the UK’s energy, water, transportation and defence markets. We help our clients improve their business performance by increasing capacity, improving customer service, safeguarding security, enhancing resilience, decarbonising and delivering increased efficiency. Our vision is to be the UK’s leading smart infrastructure solutions company. We will achieve this by focusing on blue chip clients whose major spending plans are underpinned by strategic national needs, regulatory commitments, legislation or essential performance requirements. We offer our clients leading edge solutions that are digitally optimised through the following five services which cover the whole lifecycle of their assets: future-shaping strategic consultancy; consultancy and advisory; digital technology solutions; asset optimisation and complex programme delivery. Our culture and values underpin everything we do. Costain appreciate the time and effort taken when applying for one of our positions but, due to the high volume of responses, we are unable to provide individual feedback on candidates at application phase. We do share individual feedback following an interview. A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that disclose they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to the Disability Confident website: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/disability-confident-campaign Job Info Job Identification 103040 Job Category Engineering Posting Date 10/14/2026 Degree Level Bachelor's Degree Job Schedule Full time Locations Greater Manchester, United Kingdom Warrington, Cheshire, United Kingdom (Hybrid) Contract Type Permanent Driving Required Yes Security Clearance Required No