Design Engineer (Mechanical/Chemical/Process) — Environmental Control Systems

Job Description

for

Design Engineer (Mechanical/Chemical/Process)

Environmental Control Systems

Location: Remote (UK-based) with travel to client sites

Grade: S4 – Intermediate Project/Design Consulting Engineer

Salary: £42,000 – £48,000 per annum (dependent on experience)

Contract: Permanent, full-time (40 hours/week, flexible)

Reports to: Managing Director / Senior Engineer

OUR COMPANY

MECHON is an independent environmental control systems consultancy. We design ventilation, LEV, specialist HVAC, and air pollution control systems for manufacturing, defence, pharmaceutical, and R&D environments across the UK and internationally. Our clients include major defence contractors, automotive manufacturers, chemical companies, and research facilities.

We are not a contractor or installer. We are the consulting engineers who assess the problem, design the solution, write the specifications, and oversee delivery. Our work combines chemical and mechanical engineering — from workplace exposure assessment and DSEAR risk analysis through to full system design, dispersion modelling, and commissioning support.

We are looking for a Design Engineer to join our team at Intermediate level (Grade S4), with a structured 2–4 year development pathway toward becoming a fully independent consulting engineer.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

You will work under the guidance of senior engineers to deliver environmental control system designs from concept through to completion. This is a consulting engineering role — the primary outputs are engineering calculations, risk assessments, technical reports, and design specifications. We have a dedicated CAD team; drawing production is not your core function.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Engineering calculations for LEV and process HVAC systems (airflow, pressure drop, thermal loads, exposure benchmarking)
• ite surveys and audits to assess existing systems and gather design information
• Risk assessment work including COSHH exposure assessment and DSEAR under senior supervision
• Technical report writing and design specifications for clients
• Client liaison - attending design meetings, presenting findings, managing technical relationships
• Supporting project delivery from concept through to commissioning and handover

WHAT WE NEED FROM YOU

We don't expect you to arrive as a ventilation specialist. We do expect a solid grounding in engineering fundamentals that we can build on.

Essential:

• Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Process Engineering, or closely related discipline
• Minimum 3 years' post-graduation engineering experience (does not need to be in ventilation
• process engineering, chemical plant, risk assessment, building services, or similar are equally relevant)
• Working knowledge of fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, and heat transfer applied in a professional setting
• Strong written English and the ability to produce clear, structured technical reports
• Full UK driving licence
• UK right to work

Desirable:

• Experience with risk assessment methodologies (HAZOP, DSEAR, COSHH, or similar)
• Exposure to consultancy or client-facing technical roles
• Professional registration or working toward CEng/IEng
• Competence with CAD software (AutoCAD, Revit, or similar)

THE KIND OF ENGINEER WHO DOES WELL HERE

Our environment is different from a large consultancy. There's no layer of project managers between you and the client. You won't have a team of 20 around you. What you will have is direct responsibility, genuine autonomy, and senior engineers who will invest time in your development.

Our most successful engineers share certain qualities: they take ownership of problems without waiting to be told, they communicate clearly under pressure, they're motivated by the quality of their work rather than their job title, and they have the patience to develop genuine expertise in a specialist discipline.

Our most successful hires have come from a range of backgrounds including chemical engineering, process engineering, and mechanical engineering. What matters more than your specific discipline is how you think, how you communicate, and whether you take pride in producing work that stands up to scrutiny.

WHAT WE OFFER

• £42,000 – £48,000 depending on experience
• Fully remote working with UK-wide site visits
• Structured development programme with senior engineer mentoring
• Funded CPD and professional development (training courses, BOHS qualifications, chartership support) 22 days annual leave plus bank holidays, increasing to 25 at the next grade
• Pension with employer contribution
• Travel expenses for site visits fully reimbursed
• A specialist consultancy where your engineering skills are the product, not a support function

HOW TO APPLY

Please submit your CV and a brief covering statement (no more than 300 words) explaining why this role interests you and what you would bring to MECHON. We are particularly interested in the breadth of your professional experience and how you approach unfamiliar technical problems.

We don't use automated screening. Every application is reviewed by the team.