Senior Building Service Design Engineer

NES Fircroft are currently recruiting for a Building Services Design Engineer for our client, who are a global, industry leader in power technology. 

Senior / Principal Mechanical Building Services Design Engineer
Location: Manchester, hybrid working
Duration: 6-month rolling contract
Outside IR35

About the Role
As a Senior / Principal Mechanical Design Engineer, you will lead the design delivery of complex mechanical building services and HVAC solutions within the company portfolio of electrical substation and HVDC interconnector projects.
You will provide technical leadership throughout the project lifecycle, ensuring designs are safe, compliant, efficient, maintainable and aligned with customer and regulatory requirements.
The role requires independent ownership of mechanical work packages, management of technical risks, coordination with multidisciplinary teams and support to the development of junior engineers.
Key Responsibilities
Technical Leadership

• Lead the design and delivery of mechanical and HVAC systems from concept through detailed design and construction support.
• Take ownership of assigned mechanical packages, ensuring technical quality, programme compliance and successful delivery.
• Develop and review design calculations, specifications, schedules, reports and engineering studies.
• Ensure all designs are safe, practical, maintainable and suitable for construction and operation.
• Manage design assumptions, constraints and engineering decisions throughout project execution.
• Provide technical guidance on complex engineering challenges and support project teams in developing effective solutions.

Design Delivery

• Produce and review HVAC, plumbing / public health, and associated mechanical systems designs aligned with RIBA stages.
• Develop system schematics, equipment selections and specifications.
• Carry out design calculations including:
  • Heating and cooling loads
  • Ventilation requirements
  • Ductwork sizing
  • Pipework sizing
  • Pressure loss calculations
  • Plant selection
• Coordinate design deliverables through internal review and approval processes.
• Support BIM and digital engineering workflows.
• Knowledge of CAD and 3D modelling software

Compliance and Quality

• Ensure compliance with:
  • UK Building Regulations
  • CDM Regulations
  • CIBSE Guidance
  • British Standards and European Standards
  • Client specifications
• Undertake design checking and peer reviews.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of engineering standards, templates and processes.

Risk and Safety

• Lead design risk assessments.
• Identify, eliminate or reduce construction, operational and maintenance risks.
• Ensure residual risks are clearly communicated and documented.
• Support HAZID, HAZOP, design reviews and technical risk workshops as required.

Coordination and Stakeholder Management

• Coordinate with architectural, structural, civil, electrical, controls and fire engineering disciplines.
• Manage technical interfaces between contractors, suppliers, consultants and client teams.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Degree in Mechanical Engineering or Building Services Engineering.
• Chartered Engineer status (CEng) or working towards chartership.
• Significant experience in mechanical building services and HVAC design.
• Proven experience delivering multidisciplinary engineering projects.
• Strong understanding of UK regulations, CIBSE guidance, CDM and relevant industry standards.
• Experience with design software and engineering calculation tools.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to work independently and lead technical workstreams.

Desirable Experience

• Critical infrastructure projects.
• Power generation or transmission facilities.
• HVDC converter stations.
• Substations and industrial facilities.
• Data centres and mission-critical environments.
• BIM and digital engineering delivery.
• Vendor and contractor management.

With over 90 years' combined experience, NES Fircroft (NES) is proud to be the world's leading engineering staffing provider spanning the Oil & Gas, Power & Renewables, Chemicals, Construction & Infrastructure, Life Sciences, Mining and Manufacturing sectors worldwide. With more than 80 offices in 45 countries, we are able to provide our clients with the engineering and technical expertise they need, wherever and whenever it is needed. We offer contractors far more than a traditional recruitment service, supporting with everything from securing visas and work permits, to providing market-leading benefits packages and accommodation, ensuring they are safely and compliantly able to support our clients.