Principal Mechanical Engineer

Join to apply for the Principal Mechanical Engineer role at Hoare Lea.

Hoare Lea is a human‑centric and planet‑conscious engineering consultancy offering intelligent and sustainable solutions to complex design challenges for the built environment throughout the UK and beyond. We provide services including acoustics, air quality, building services (MEP), fire, lighting, security, and sustainability. Our teams bring buildings to life, ensuring outstanding design and operations that meet community needs. We support professional growth with a 9‑day fortnight scheme, community groups, networking events, and extensive technical development, as well as an benefits package covering medical cover, EV salary sacrifice, stock options, and up to 30 days annual leave.

We have a brand‑new opportunity for a Principal or Associate Mechanical Engineer to join our Operational Assets team based in Oxford.

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• Secure new projects and service existing and new clients while 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, supervising and guiding team members and other staff.
  
• Collaborate with other teams to deliver a wide variety of projects, meeting regularly to discuss workload and management issues.
  
• Recruit, train and develop team members, ensuring succession and growth.
  
• Undertake own design, specification, and site monitoring.
  
• Monitor commissioning and conduct post‑occupancy engineering services.
  
• Write technical reports such as feasibility studies, issue investigations, and condition surveys.
  
• Liaise with clients, with commercial and project management awareness.
  

You will lead a varied portfolio of frameworks and projects, primarily UK‑based with some overseas opportunities, delivering small projects up to a few million pounds and providing technical support to end users, landlords, management agents, and project managers.

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• Decarbonisation, performance improvements, and energy reduction – projects that reduce energy consumption, improve occupant performance, and meet net‑zero targets.
  
• Design – specialising in challenging existing buildings across all RIBA stages, delivering high‑quality and sustainable designs.
  
• Property consulting – providing due diligence, dilapidation surveys, preventative maintenance reports, licence to alter, maintenance inspections, validations management, asset registers, troubleshooting, energy optimisation surveys, and EPCs.
  

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• 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, contract administration, and site duties.
  
• All‑rounder in Building Services.
  
• Strong technical knowledge in primary engineering discipline and good understanding of secondary disciplines.
  
• Comfortable with UK and applicable EU regulations, design guides, etc.
  
• Excellent organisational and planning skills.
  
• Strong interpersonal and influencing skills to develop effective relationships.
  
• Proven track record in winning work and building successful teams.
  
• Previous experience in the Science & Research sector is required.
  

Complete a CV profile and submit your application. For further information, contact .

If shortlisted, a recruiter will arrange an introductory call (about 30 minutes). Following that, successful candidates will be invited to a panel interview via Microsoft Teams or in person.

Let us know if we can provide adjustments to help you participate in the recruitment process.

We have updated our terms and conditions for candidates. Click here to find out more.

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

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• Seniority level: Mid‑senior level
  
• Employment type: Full‑time
  
• Job function: Engineering and Information Technology
  
• Industries: Construction