Principal Pipeline Engineer

Location/s: Leicester, UK
Recruiter contact: Maria Marchidan

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 incredible global industries, delivering exciting work that is defining our future and making an important societal impact in the communities we serve. Our people power our performance – we succeed when they do. With countless opportunities to collaborate, learn, and grow, the possibilities for excellence are as varied as every individual. 

Whether you want to grow as a subject matter expert or broaden your experience with roles across our international community, you’re surrounded by global specialists who want to combine their expertise and champion you to be your best. As a proudly employee-owned business, we benefit our clients, our communities, and each other, investing in creating the right space for everyone to feel empowered, included, and valued. Whatever your ambition, Mott MacDonald is where people come to be brilliant.

About the business unit

The Energy unit delivers services to clients globally across several sectors including energy transition, hydropower, nuclear, waste, renewable generation and transmission & distribution networks. Together we provide integrated engineering and project management services across the project lifecycle – from concept and design to construction and operations, to decommissioning or repowering and life extension. Together with our clients, we’re helping to deliver the energy transition globally.

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.

Working within a large and well-established engineering practice, you will engage with clients throughout the full project lifecycle—from early feasibility and FEED through to detailed design, construction and commissioning.

Our team works with private developers, utilities, government bodies, funders, EPC contractors and OEMs, enabling you to apply your expertise across a diverse range of projects and technologies. You will help deliver innovative, first-of-a-kind solutions alongside more established energy infrastructure schemes, contributing to the transition towards a low-carbon future.

Key responsibilities and duties include:

• 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:

• Degree in a relevant engineering discipline
• Typically 15+ years 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 (Front-End Engineering Design) 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 multi-disciplinary 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 

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UK Immigration

Mott MacDonald Ltd. are not currently offering sponsorship to candidates under the Skilled Worker visa route in the UK. This decision is as a consequence of the changes made to the Skilled Worker route by the UK Government in April 2024. 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 reasonable.adjustments@mottmac.com and we will talk to you about how we can support you.

We offer some fantastic benefits including:

Financial wellbeing

• We match employee pension contributions between 4.5% and 7%.
• Life assurance equal up to 4 x your basic salary, with an option to increase the level of cover to 6 x 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 every day 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

• Join a wide range of groups including our Advanced Employee Networks which support our LGBTQ+, gender, race and ethnicity, disability, and parents/carers communities.
• Make a difference within our communities through our social outcomes.

Apply now, or for more information about our application process, click here.