Process Engineer
Posted 14 Oct 2026
Advertised as “Principal Process Engineer (Asset Optimisation)”
BranchFactor Summary
The original posting with the fluff stripped out
- Management level
- People management
- Employment
- Hybrid
No salary listed for this role.
Field of studyProcess Engineering
Study levelBachelor's
CertificationsCIWEM, IChemE
Study levelPost-doctorate
Fabulous opportunity for a Principal Process Engineer to join the Costain Asset Optimisation Team who provide wastewater process engineering consultancy to support our clients across the UK to get the very best from their assets and programmes.
We are an agile technical team of process engineers working within capital delivery frameworks and on the front line with operational teams to develop innovative, practical and digital process solutions.
Our team delivers optimisation studies at feasibility, concept, optioneering and preliminary design stages to mitigate risk, return sites to compliance, or enable low or no build solutions to be provided.
As a Principal Process Engineer, you will;
Provide strategic support to our water sector frameworks to define and shape projects and programmes.
Manage the execution of asset optimisation projects and lead teams to propose, develop, and define process optimisation solutions.
For this role, we have a specific need for someone with experience of large, activated sludge plant design and or membrane treatment processes.
This is a predominantly home - based role with attendance required for site visits, design reviews and client meetings, often within the Northwest region (Manchester/Cheshire) as per business needs circa 2-3 days week, so will ideally suit someone based in the Northwest to support our Northern team.
#LI-MR1
Responsibilities
Key Responsibilities
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To lead teams in the execution of process optimisation studies and solution triage, with accountability for quality, budget, and schedule.
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Development of process optimisation, initiatives, and solutions at both site and programme level.
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Technical thought leadership and strategic consultancy advise to clients and joint venture partners.
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Work collaboratively with business development, work winning and marketing functions to develop and tender new opportunities.
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Review of process design deliverables such as calculations, drawings, reports, presentations and proposals.
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Line management, mentorship and development of more junior engineers.
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Grow our team capability and service to our AMP Frameworks
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Lead troubleshooting and embedding solutions
Knowledge, Skills, and Experience
Essential
Significant UK experience in the design, operation, and optimisation of wastewater treatment plants.
Experience of large, activated sludge plant design and or membrane treatment processes