Lead Mechanical Engineer

About Dalkia UK and Dalkia Energy Services  

Dalkia UK is one of the UK’s leading technical and energy services providers, at the forefront of delivering net zero solutions to a wide range of clients in private and public sector across the UK.  

With a talented workforce of over 4,000 people, Dalkia UK rises to the challenges of today’s world to create a sustainable, prosperous, resilient society and a Net Zero UK. Dalkia is committed to building quality relationships to drive long term value for our clients through innovative solutions and services.  

Dalkia UK delivers a wide range of energy, engineering and facilities services, as well as specialist services in systems integration, fire & safety systems and critically controlled environments.  

At Dalkia Energy Services, we develop, deliver, and operate sustainable energy services and solutions to help the transition into an effective Net Zero future. Our solutions are tailored to specific needs and result in significant cost savings, improved efficiency, resilience, and a healthier environment. 

Role Overview 

The Lead Mechanical Design Engineer will have proven experience with the technical delivery of decarbonisation projects from conception through to completion, whilst specialising in the mechanical aspects.  The suitable candidate for this role would possess solid multi-tasking and organisational skills as they are required to oversee a portfolio of complex projects, and the technical delivery of the mechanical and project engineers of the business across the country.  

 The role requires constant monitoring and regular reporting of the technical developments and challenges across the portfolio, to assist the teams with technical problem solving, compliance, and approaches to resolving complex design and coordination issues.    

The successful candidate will have in depth experience of decarbonisation and retrofit energy projects on live operational sites.  The candidate is required to have detailed working knowledge of heat pump systems or another relevant core plant technology and the development of detailed designs for tender and construction.  The company’s main client base is NHS hospital trusts however projects also include other public sector buildings, universities, and industrial applications.  

Typical projects include air or ground source heat pump systems, heating and hot water systems (VLTHW, LTHW, MTHW, DHW), cooling systems (CHW), and all supporting auxiliary systems (e.g. mechanical ventilation, thermal storage, pressurisation, filtration, drainage etc.).  The projects also include all appropriate supporting disciplines and activities, such as LV electrical, HV electrical, controls, structural, architectural, hydrogeologists, and other specialists as required.  

The full range of projects undertaken by the business also include boiler and burner replacements, steam systems, CHP systems, solar PV installations, AHU fan upgrades, AHU replacements, lighting upgrades, and fabric measures including window, roofing, and façade replacements.  As the broadest engineering discipline the Lead Mechanical role involves providing support and engagement across all energy measures.  

Key Responsibilities & Accountabilities 

• Technical management of the company’s mechanical and project engineers, including oversight of key design decisions, development, and compliance.
• Regular liaison with the company’s mechanical and project engineers, and reporting the statuses of projects including current activities, risks, challenges, and solutions being deployed.
• Support project teams with identifying due-diligence and compliance requirements, and assist in scoping the services of 3rd party surveys, studies, and analyses to progress designs and de-risk projects.
• Undertaking design reviews through RIBA Stages 2 through 6 to ensure the appropriate concepts, design detailing, quality, and results are achieved.
• Review design concepts for safety, delivery, and business risks, and guide designs to maximise opportunities for safety, cost savings, and system optimisation.
• Support the mechanical and project engineers with resolving technical problems and design coordination challenges, helping to evaluate options, consult and input, and to set out clear paths forward to solutions.
• Liaise and coordinate with the Lead Electrical Engineer and Lead Controls Engineer to coordinate multi-disciplinary alignment and problem solving.
• Host technical workshops and design reviews, with internal and external stakeholders, to help progress key technical concepts, decision making, and facilitate client design approvals.
• Support the setup and configuration of new projects, including scoping of external consultant services and technical content to support client contracts.
• Assist engineers with gaps in resourcing to manage design development and reviews, including downstream consultant management and upstream client updates.
• Undertake site attendance and surveys throughout the UK for familiarisation with projects, key milestone events, and to support colleagues and clients with understanding designs.
• Liaise with the front-end Energy Engineering team and back-end Asset Performance Team to help technically guide projects from start to finish delivering the intended outcomes.
• Actively maintain a thorough working knowledge of current regulations, standards, and their developments to be able to support engineers and ensure compliance.
• Development and upkeep of the company mechanical engineering specifications.
• Development and upkeep of the company mechanical design management tools, templates, processes, and quality controls.
• Representation of the mechanical design capability and technical centre of excellence in the undertaking of internal ISO audits.

Knowledge, Skills, Education & Experience 

The successful candidate is expected to be able to demonstrate: 

• BEng/MEng Mechanical Engineering or similar education. 
• IEng/CEng status and/or engaged on a programme of continual professional development.  
• Experience in energy performance contracting, decarbonisation, energy infrastructure projects, and/or other relevant employment. 
• Experience in a technical authority or senior detailed design and management role or similar.

The successful candidate is expected to be able to demonstrate the majority of: 

• Experience working with core plant including heat pump schemes, energy centres, boilers, chillers, thermal stores, AHUs, CHP, heat exchangers, and associated systems.  
• Thorough working knowledge of current engineering and design standards (e.g. BS EN, RIBA, BSRIA, CIBSE, IGEM, Building Regulations, HTM, HBN). 
• Experience working with multi-disciplinary design teams to deliver engineering projects (e.g. mechanical, electrical, structural, architectural, controls, planning) 
• Experience working with external providers for surveys, studies, and other topics to progress design development (e.g. acoustics, laser scanning, GPR scans, DSEAR assessments, ecology, Arboricultural, planning, building control, heat metering, Hysopt). 

So, what’s in it for you?

Firstly, you get to join a fantastic, friendly, forward-thinking team of people, who will welcome you and are passionate about the work that we do.

We’re part of something bigger, Dalkia is owned by EDF Energy, Britain’s biggest generator of low carbon electricity means we can access the strength of our wider Group, without losing the appeal or agility of being a smaller, but rapidly growing business.

We offer a wide range of benefits and rewards;

• Pension Scheme with 6% employer contribution
• Health cash back plan where you can claim back costs such as dental, optical and medical
• Life assurance at 4 times your basic salary
• Cycle to work scheme
• An electric vehicle scheme – where we help you lease an electric vehicle for a fixed monthly cost to yourself (after 3 months service and post probationary period)
• Access to My Perks, where you can access hundreds of offers to help you save on your purchases (online and in person)
• Access to our training portal and other approved training
• Reimbursement for one professional membership fee relevant to your role
• All the necessary equipment to perform your job role, such as laptop and mobile phone

To agencies: We are only currently considering direct applicants, and already have a preferred agency supplier’s list in place, which we use from time to time, please do not send any unsolicited cv’s to our managers, we will deem those as direct applicants.