JOB TITLE: Principal Mechanical Engineer
Location: Derby
Salary: Negotiable – D.O.E
Job Type: Permanent, Full-time
Sector: Rail
About the Company
Our client is a well-established UK rail engineering consultancy supporting fleet owners, operators, OEMs and maintainers across the full rolling stock lifecycle. Their work spans concept design, modification, assurance, testing and in-service support, with safety, performance and sustainability at the core of everything they do.
Due to continued growth and increasing demand from clients, the business is strengthening its Mechanical Engineering capability and is now looking to appoint a Principal Mechanical Engineer to provide senior technical leadership.
Due to new investment within the business our client has opened multiple new business units over the recent years and has further bolstered its profitability through winning major accounts.
About the Role
As a Principal Mechanical Engineer, you will act as a technical authority across mechanical systems, leading complex work scopes and supporting delivery across multiple rolling stock programmes.
This is a senior consultancy role combining hands-on technical leadership with client engagement, mentoring of engineers and contribution to bids and proposals. You’ll be trusted to balance rigorous engineering with pragmatic delivery, ensuring work is completed safely, compliantly and to a high standard.
The role offers real influence across projects, teams and client relationships, making it well suited to an experienced engineer looking to operate at principal level within a consultancy environment.
The key requirements for this Principal Mechanical Engineer role are:
- Act as technical authority for mechanical systems including bogies, running gear, brakes, doors, HVAC, interiors, couplers and vehicle structures
- Define, review and approve engineering strategies, calculations and technical documentation
- Lead mechanical modifications, upgrades and retrofit programmes across new-build and legacy fleets
- Plan and oversee testing and validation activities including static and dynamic trials
- Ensure compliance with relevant UK and European rail standards and internal assurance processes
- Own technical work packages, delivering to agreed time, cost and quality targets
- Prepare and present technical reports, design reviews and assurance evidence to clients and assessment bodies
- Support bid preparation, estimating and development of competitive technical proposals
- Build and maintain strong technical relationships with clients and supply chain partners
- Mentor, coach and technically review work produced by junior engineers
- Drive continuous improvement across engineering processes and ways of working
Experience required for this Principal Mechanical Engineer role are:
- 10+ years’ experience in rolling stock engineering within a safety-critical environment
- Strong background in mechanical systems engineering, either specialist or broad-based
- Degree qualified in Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline
- Proven experience delivering complex, multi-disciplinary engineering projects
- Experience contributing to bids, estimates and consultancy proposals
Desirable knowledge, skills and experience for this Principal Mechanical Engineer role are:
- Experience delivering rolling stock modifications on UK fleets
- Knowledge of RAMS, hazard analysis and assurance processes
- Familiarity with approvals pathways and assessment bodies
- Oversight of CAD and analysis tools for governance and review
- Whole-life cost, reliability and maintainability improvement experience
Package and Benefits of the Principal Mechanical Engineer role:
- Competitive salary depending on experience
- Hybrid and flexible working arrangements
- Collaborative and inclusive working culture
- Opportunity to lead major consultancy projects cradle to grave.