Principal Mechanical Engineer

Principal or Associate Mechanical Engineer role with Hoare Lea, based in Oxford. We are a human-centric and planet-conscious engineering consultancy offering sustainable solutions for the built environment.

We are seeking a Principal or Associate Mechanical Engineer to join our Operational Assets team in Oxford. You will work on existing buildings, designing pragmatic solutions to operational and performance issues, using real-time data to support a net zero future.

Hoare Lea is a human-centric and planet-conscious engineering consultancy. We offer intelligent and sustainable solutions to complex design challenges for the built environment throughout the UK and further afield. We provide a wide range of engineering and consultancy services, including acoustics, air quality, building services (MEP), fire, lighting, security and sustainability. We embed teams to bring buildings to life and ensure design and operations meet community needs. We offer opportunities such as a 9-day fortnight, staff groups, networking events, and professional development, plus benefits including private medical cover, electric vehicle salary sacrifice, stock options, and up to 30 days of annual leave.

We support a diverse environment where everyone can realise their potential.

You will be joining the Operational Assets team and will:

• Secure new projects and service existing and new clients, assisting the regional lead in planning specialist delivery of the Operational Assets group.
• Focus on work delivery, organisational support and team growth to support local and regional clients.
• Demonstrate strong leadership, providing supervision and guidance to team members and other staff.
• Collaborate with other teams to deliver a wide variety of projects, with Team Leaders meeting regularly to discuss workload and management issues.
• Help recruit, train and develop team members to ensure ongoing succession and growth of the Practice.
• Undertake design work, specification and site monitoring, etc.
• Monitor commissioning and conduct post-occupancy engineering services activities.
• Write technical reports (feasibility, issue investigation, condition surveys, etc.).
• Liaise with clients (commercial and project management awareness).

What You’ll Be Doing

You will manage a varied portfolio of UK-based frameworks and projects, with some overseas opportunities. You will lead small projects up to a few £million and provide technical support to end users, landlords, management agents, and project managers.

The Operational Assets scope includes:

• Decarbonisation, performance improvements and energy reduction — delivering projects that reduce energy use, improve occupant performance, and support client decarbonisation/net zero targets.
• Design — specialise in challenging existing buildings across all RIBA stages, delivering high-quality and sustainable designs.
• Property consultancy — a suite of services for property management, operation and transactions, including:
• Technical due diligence (vendors and pre-acquisition)
• Dilapidations surveys
• Planned preventative maintenance reports
• Licence to Alter
• Maintenance inspections, validations management
• Asset registers, troubleshooting, energy optimisation surveys, EPCs

Projects span Commercial Offices, Retail, Residential, Education, Healthcare, MoJ, Defence, Heritage, Industrial and Technology. Previous experience in the Science & Research sector is required for this position.

To be successful, you’ll need:

• Qualified design engineer (chartered status or working towards).
• Experience on projects in existing buildings (refurbishment and fit-out).
• Excellent written and spoken English.
• Strong knowledge of data and metering.
• Experience with performance specification, detailed design work, contract administration and site duties.
• Experience in Building Services (all-rounder).
• Willingness and strong technical knowledge in primary engineering discipline with a good understanding of secondary discipline.
• Comfortable with UK and applicable EU regulations and design guides.
• Excellent organisational and planning skills to meet timescales and deadlines.
• Ability to develop effective relationships with strong interpersonal and influencing skills.
• Proven track record in work winning and building successful teams.

To apply, complete a CV profile and submit your application, or contact for further information. If shortlisted, a recruitment team member will arrange an introductory call (~30 minutes) to discuss the role and your experience, followed by a panel interview via Microsoft Teams or in person at one of our offices.

If adjustments or accommodations are needed to participate in the recruitment process, please let us know.

We have updated our terms and conditions for candidates; please review for details.

We operate a Preferred Supplier List of trusted partners and do not acknowledge speculative CVs or unsolicited introductions from agencies not on the list.

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