Principal Mechanical Engineer

Principal Mechanical Engineer

Location: Gloucestershire

Salary: £70,000 – £90,000

Contract: Permanent

Role Overview – Principal Mechanical Engineer

Are you a highly experienced Mechanical Engineer with deep expertise in downhole drilling systems and a passion for improving, refining, and sustaining complex mechanical products? This is an excellent opportunity to join an innovative engineering organisation developing advanced drilling technologies for extreme environments.

Based in Gloucestershire, you will take a senior technical lead role focused on the sustaining engineering of next‑generation drilling tools. You’ll be responsible for ensuring that existing products continue to meet performance, reliability, and safety expectations throughout their lifecycle. This includes design improvements, problem resolution, qualification support, tooling and fixture updates, and engineering change management.

Operating in a fast‑paced, high‑growth environment, you’ll work closely with engineering, manufacturing, quality, supply chain, and external partners to maintain and enhance the performance of cutting‑edge drilling systems that support the advancement of deep geothermal energy.

Key Responsibilities – Principal Mechanical Engineer

• Lead sustaining engineering activities for advanced downhole drilling systems, focusing on reliability, durability, and long‑term product performance.
• Perform detailed mechanical analysis, redesign, and verification to address product issues and improve robustness.
• Support testing, qualification, and troubleshooting of existing drilling tools, including hands‑on involvement in build and tear‑down activities.
• Drive engineering improvement initiatives based on field data, failure modes, and operational feedback.
• Produce and maintain high‑quality engineering documentation—drawings, calculations, technical reports, and design updates.
• Collaborate with procurement, manufacturing, quality, and QHSE to assess design changes, manage engineering risk, and ensure compliance.
• Work closely with suppliers and external partners to resolve technical challenges related to manufacture, assembly, and component performance.
• Support technical risk identification, assessment, and mitigation throughout the sustaining phase.
• Champion a strong HSEQ culture in all sustaining and engineering activities.

Key Experience & Qualifications – Principal Mechanical Engineer

• 5+ years’ mechanical engineering experience, ideally focused on downhole drilling tools, harsh‑environment systems, or complex mechanical products
• Strong background in sustaining engineering, reliability improvement, and lifecycle support for complex mechanical or electromechanical systems.
• Deep understanding of tool performance in extreme conditions (high temperature, pressure, vibration, shock).
• Expertise in machine design, mechanisms, hydraulics, actuators, fatigue, and load‑bearing structures.
• Hands‑on capability supporting assembly, testing, failure investigation, and corrective action activities.
• Proficiency with engineering tools such as Autodesk Inventor, Autodesk Vault, ANSYS (FEA/CFD), SAP, and MS Office.
• Strong communication, collaboration, and leadership skills.
• BSME required, MSME preferred.

Benefits – Principal Mechanical Engineer

• Competitive salary: £70,000 – £90,000
• Opportunity to support the development of cutting‑edge geothermal drilling technology
• Work within a fast‑paced engineering environment solving complex mechanical challenges
• Collaboration with highly experienced engineering and industry specialists
• Strong benefits package and long‑term progression opportunities
• Direct impact on a global clean‑energy innovation program

For more information on this role, please contact Ben Dawson on or send your CV to .

For details of other opportunities available within your chosen field, please visit www.omegaresource.co.uk