Principal Pipeline Engineer

Location/s: Leicester / Croydon UK

Relocation supported: Not supported, but internal applications are welcome

Recruiter contact: Maria Marchidan

Hiring manager contact: Alireza Fakhraie

Mott MacDonald is a global engineering, management, and development consultancy with over 20,000 employees across more than 50 countries and 140+ offices.

We work across global industries delivering projects that define the future and make an important societal impact in the communities we serve.

Overview of the Role

As part of our growing Energy Transition business, you will play a key role in supporting our expanding portfolio of low‑carbon and future‑fuel projects across the UK and internationally. From concept development to detailed engineering and through to construction and operational support, you will help deliver the infrastructure needed for a modern, sustainable energy system.

As a Principal Pipeline Engineer, you will lead the technical development of pipeline systems across our energy transition portfolio, which spans natural gas at a range of pressures, hydrogen, carbon dioxide transport, and wider future‑fuels applications.

As a key technical leader, you will guide multidisciplinary teams, mentor engineers, and work closely with clients, construction teams, and regulatory bodies to deliver high‑quality engineering outcomes.

Key Responsibilities and Duties

• Technical Leadership
• Serve as the subject matter expert for onshore pipeline design, integrity, and operation
• Lead the development and review of pipeline engineering deliverables including FEED, detailed design, specifications, and technical reports
• Ensure designs comply with all relevant codes, standards, and regulatory requirements

Project Delivery

Oversee pipeline engineering activities across multiple projects, ensuring scope, cost, quality, and schedule targets are met

Provide technical direction to engineering teams, subcontractors, and third‑party specialists

Support project risk assessments, constructability reviews, HAZOP/HAZID workshops, and design reviews

Stakeholder Management

Act as the primary pipeline engineering contact for clients, partners, and regulatory authorities

Present technical solutions and recommendations to senior stakeholders and project leadership

Innovation & Continuous Improvement

Drive engineering excellence, championing digital tools, new design methodologies, and operational best practices

Mentor and develop early career professionals, fostering a culture of learning and innovation

Candidate Specification

As a key technical leader, you will guide multidisciplinary teams, mentor engineers, and work closely with clients, construction teams, and regulatory bodies to deliver high‑quality engineering outcomes.

Essential Qualifications

• Degree in a relevant engineering discipline
• Relevant experience in pipeline engineering
• Chartered status with relevant professional body (or equivalent experience with progress toward chartered status)
• Proven experience delivering pipeline FEED, detailed design, construction support, and integrity management in the energy sector
• Strong understanding of fluid mechanics, hydraulic modelling, pipeline materials and corrosion control
• Proficiency with relevant engineering software (e.g., AutoCAD, pipeline simulation tools, modelling and stress analysis packages)
• Broad knowledge of industry standards, legislation, and engineering principles
• Strong commercial awareness, with experience in FEED and detail design projects
• Strong communication, leadership, and stakeholder management capabilities
• Client‑facing experience, with the ability to maintain and build strong client relationships
• Capable of managing and prioritising multiple projects in a dynamic environment
• Experience of leading, managing and working with multidisciplinary teams
• Proactive in seeking input from other engineers, specialists, and team members to enhance project outcomes
• Committed to continuous professional development and staying abreast of industry advancements

UK Immigration

Mott MacDonald Ltd. are not currently offering sponsorship to candidates under the Skilled Worker visa route in the UK. We continue to welcome applications from candidates who are eligible for alternative immigration routes in the UK, that do not require sponsorship as a Skilled Worker now or in future.

Agile Working

At Mott MacDonald, we believe it makes business sense for you and your manager to choose how you can work most effectively to meet your client, team, and personal commitments. We offer a hybrid working policy that embraces your well‑being, flexibility, and trust.

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

We put equality, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of our business, seeking to promote fair employment procedures and practices to ensure equal opportunities for all. We encourage individual expression in our workplace and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels they can contribute.

Accessibility

We want you to perform your best at every stage in the recruitment process. If you are disabled or need any support to enable you to apply or attend an interview, please contact us at and we will talk to you about how we can support you.

Benefits

• Financial wellbeing
• We match employee pension contributions between 4.5% and 7%
• Life assurance equal up to 4 × your basic salary, with an option to increase the level of cover to 6 × your salary
• Our income protection scheme provides a financial benefit, as well as absence and return to work support due to long‑term illness or injury
• Flexible benefits, including increased life assurance cover, critical illness insurance, payroll saving and will writing
• As an independently owned business we share the financial success of the business with all our colleagues in various ways including annual bonus schemes

Employee Ownership

Our employee ownership model means no external investors, just us, creating a culture of shared success

Our employees have a stake and a voice in our business, giving them a direct connection to our success through our personal and group performance bonuses

As your career grows, so does your stake, recognising your long‑term impact and contribution

Your voice matters, with the opportunity to connect directly with senior leadership through formal channels to help shape our future

For our senior roles you will have a direct pathway towards ownership from day one

Health and wellbeing

Private medical insurance for all UK colleagues

Health cash plan to support you with everyday health costs and treatments

Access to Peppy, providing free support from menopause experts for all UK colleagues

A variety of wellbeing support is available through our comprehensive wellbeing program, including access for you and your family

Ability to flex your salary to opt into a wide range of health benefits, many of which can be extended to your family too

Lifestyle

A minimum of 33‑35 days holiday each year, inclusive of public holidays and dependent on level, with the ability to buy or sell leave through our flexible benefits programme

Holiday entitlement increased to a minimum of 35 days after 5 years’ service

Variety of employee saving schemes and discounts from high‑street retailers

Enhanced family and carers leave

Enhanced family leave policies, including 26 weeks paid maternity and adoption leave, and two weeks paid paternity/partner leave

Our shared parental leave matches maternity leave meaning we pay up to 24 weeks at full pay

Up to five additional days leave are provided for those with significant caring responsibilities, two of which are paid

Learning and development

Primary annual professional institution subscription

A broad range of opportunities to enhance both technical and soft skills through mentoring, formal training, and self‑development options

Networks, communities, and social outcomes

Wide range of groups including our Advanced Employee Networks which support LGBTQ+, gender, race and ethnicity, disability, and parents/carers communities

Make a difference within our communities through our social outcomes

Job Details

Location(s): Leicester, GB; Croydon, GB

Contract Type: Permanent

Work Pattern: Full Time

Market: Energy

Discipline: Energy

Job Ref: 14007

Recruiter Contact: Maria Marchidan

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