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Lead Design Engineer – Engineering Design Team (Multiple Engineering Disciplines)

 

Hello! Thanks for stopping by. Let us tell you about all the great reasons to join us here at Yorkshire Water.

 

  • Competitive salary of £50,300 - £62,877, depending on experience.
  • Annual incentive-related bonus (£1,000 maximum bonus opportunity).
  • Attractive pension scheme (up to 12% company contribution).
  • Development opportunities aligned to the Lead Design Engineer progression plan.
  • 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays, plus two extra wellness days.
  • Life assurance cover of 4 times pensionable salary.
  • Flexible benefits package including health cash plan, critical illness insurance, dental insurance, life assurance flex and partner cover.
  • Retail savings scheme.
  • Online GP service, cycle to work scheme, gym membership discounts and much more! 

 

Location: This role will initially be based in Bradford, moving to Leeds Valley Park in Summer 2026. Hybrid working with a minimum of one day per week in the office.

 

Work Type: Permanent, 37 hours per week, Monday to Friday. 

 

What We Do

 

Everyone has an idea of what a water company does. Here in Yorkshire, we make sure that over 5.4 million people can rely on clean drinking water and wastewater services every day. We look after communities, protect the environment and invest in the future of Yorkshire's water infrastructure. Our Engineering Design Team sits at the heart of our capital programme, delivering technical leadership across water, wastewater, bioresources, networks, nature-based solutions and major infrastructure projects. We are building a Design Authority and Engineering Centre of Excellence that will set the standard for how Yorkshire Water designs and delivers infrastructure. 

 

The Opportunity

 

We are recruiting a number of Lead Design Engineers and are keen to hear from experienced professionals across multiple engineering disciplines, including:

 

  • Civil Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Electrical, Instrumentation, Control & Automation (EICA)
  • Process Engineering (Clean Water)
  • Process Engineering (Wastewater)
  • Process Engineering (Bioresources)

 

Rather than recruiting discipline-specific vacancies, we're seeking talented engineers who can bring specialist expertise whilst working collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams to deliver safe, sustainable and innovative engineering solutions across Yorkshire Water's AMP8 investment programme. This role offers the opportunity to shape the future of water infrastructure, influence engineering standards and contribute to the continued development of our Engineering Centre of Excellence.

 

Where You Fit In

 

As a Lead Design Engineer, you will:

 

  • Provide technical leadership and engineering expertise across multidisciplinary projects.
  • Support projects from concept and optioneering through detailed design, construction and commissioning.
  • Work closely with Strategic Planning Partners, Design Partners and Delivery Partners to ensure high-quality engineering outcomes.
  • Review and assure engineering design documentation, ensuring compliance with Yorkshire Water standards and industry regulations.
  • Develop innovative, technically robust and cost-effective engineering solutions aligned to TOTEX and whole-life cost and carbon principles.
  • Participate in design governance activities including value engineering reviews, constructability assessments, HAZOP and HAZCON workshops.
  • Drive standardisation, innovation and the adoption of Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA).
  • Provide mentoring, leadership and technical guidance to engineers and graduates.
  • Champion excellence in health and safety, sustainability and engineering quality throughout the project lifecycle. 

 

What Skills & Qualifications You Will Need

 

  • Significant engineering design experience within water, wastewater, bioresources or comparable infrastructure sectors.
  • Experience working within multidisciplinary engineering teams.
  • Strong technical, analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
  • Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
  • Experience delivering multiple workstreams against project deadlines.
  • Knowledge of engineering quality assurance and document control principles.
  • A commitment to safety, sustainability and engineering excellence.
  • A full valid driving licence with fewer than six penalty points. 

 

It Would Be Great If You Also Have

 

  • Experience in water treatment, wastewater treatment or bioresources processing.
  • Expertise in Civil, Mechanical, EICA or Process Engineering design.
  • Knowledge of hydraulic modelling, treatment infrastructure, automation, instrumentation or control systems.
  • Experience in development of engineering standards, guidance and best practice.
  • Experience supporting innovation, standardisation and continuous improvement activities. 

 

Flexible Working

 

Although we operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, we understand the importance of balancing work and home life. Flexible working arrangements and job-share opportunities will be considered where operationally possible. 

 

Do We Sound Like Your Cup of Tea?

 

If you're passionate about engineering excellence and want to help deliver the next generation of water and wastewater infrastructure for Yorkshire, we'd love to hear from you.

 

Whether your background is in Civil, Mechanical, EICA, Clean Water Process, Wastewater Process or Bioresources Process Engineering, this is an opportunity to join a high-performing multidisciplinary team and make a real impact across Yorkshire Water's future investment programme.

 

Although we operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, it’s important to us that we support flexible working patterns and job share options (when we can), to help you make the best of both your work and home life. We know that juggling childcare responsibilities or getting that ideal work/life balance isn’t always easy!

 

Accessibility 

 

We are committed to removing barriers and ensuring our recruitment process is accessible to everyone. We offer a range of adjustments to make your application experience as comfortable and straightforward as possible.

 

If you have an accessibility need, disability, or condition that requires changes to the recruitment process, please include this information in your application. We will then discuss any reasonable adjustments required.

 

Just a heads-up! We might start interviewing and close the position earlier based on the response. To make sure you’re considered, please send in your application as soon as you can.

 

If successful for the role, you will be required to undergo pre-employment checks that will include a Basic Disclosure Check, carried out through a Third-Party Company, prior to commencing employment. Depending on the role, you may also be required to go through the security vetting process for either a Counter Terrorist Check or Security Check clearance.

 

All our roles are subject to a medical questionnaire, and further medicals when required.

 

No agencies please

What's in it for you?

Career enhancement and development, colleague well-being and a genuinely positive work experience for all are key priorities. We are continuously evolving and improving our ways of working and you will support us in achieving our vision of 'taking responsibility for the water environment for good'.

If you feel this opportunity is suitable and you match the skills required, then please apply on line and complete the application process.

Kelda Group reserve the right to close this position before the published closing date, should the need occur. We therefore advise that you complete and submit your application as soon as possible.

The Kelda Group provides water and sewerage services to domestic and business customers across the UK, managing the following subsidiary companies: - 

Yorkshire Water, is the main subsidiary company providing water and sewerage services to 4.7 million people and 130,000 businesses in the Yorkshire region. Its activities are regulated by the Water Services Regulation Authority, Ofwat Loop Customer Management Ltd specialises in delivering customer service support to Yorkshire Water that includes billing, debt recovery and incident management. Employing more than 600 people, Loop have built up an impressive list of industry awards and achievements since being created in 2000 and is currently listed in the Sunday Times Top 100 list as being one of the best companies to work for.

Kelda Water Services (KWS) manages Kelda's non-regulated water and waste water contract operations. It is now the second biggest player in the UK market for outsourced clean and waste water services.

Kelda Water Services Retail offer quality, integrity and partnership but it is never just about the technologies behind our solutions in water. It is about the structure, delivery and even the financing of those solutions, and about giving our customers a level of convenience they never knew was possible.

KeyLand Developments Limited (KeyLand Developments) is responsible for managing, developing and disposing of the group's surplus property assets, either on its own or in partnership with outside organisations.

Kelda Group values equality, diversity and inclusion we believe that everyone should be treated with respect. We welcome applications from all individuals, regardless of gender, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation, race, colour, ethnic or national origin, disability, age, religion or belief and trade union membership.

Kelda Group reserve the right to close this position before the published closing date, should the need occur. We therefore advise that you complete and submit your application as soon as possible.

Lead Design Engineer - Engineering Design Team (Multiple Engineering Disciplines)

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