HVAC Engineer

Sector: Nuclear New Build / Piping & Mechanical Infrastructure

Location: Hinkley Site, Somerset (Bridgwater area)

Position Type: Full-Time, Permanent (Site-Based)

The Opportunity:

We are partnering with a primary engineering delivery branch at Hinkley Point C (HPC) to recruit a site-based Mechanical Piping Engineer. This role sits within an integrated engineering office specifically established to provide rapid, reactive design and technical solutions directly to ongoing field construction.

This position offers a unique blend of client-side oversight and design-authority engineering. You will be responsible for the technical and safety assessment of piping systems and support frameworks across both nuclear island and conventional balance-of-plant buildings.

Key Responsibilities:

• Technical Query Resolution: Review and provide rapid, engineering-backed responses to technical queries (TQs), non-conformance reports (NCRs), modification requests, and concession/exemption requests raised by the primary MEH (Mechanical, Electrical, HVAC) contractor.

• Nuclear Safety & Regulatory Assessment: Lead the nuclear safety and environmental categorisation assessments for all incoming piping design queries, ensuring full compliance with stringent site license obligations.

• Design Strategy & Challenge: Review and challenge site design decisions to ensure all modifications, routing updates, and support adjustments align directly with the project's overarching engineering strategy.

• Cross-Functional Interface: Act as a central engineering liaison, interfacing daily with on-site construction crews, quality assurance teams, package managers, and off-site back-office design entities.

• Technical Risk Mitigation: Identify, assess, and resolve technical design risks, tracking and driving project "Open Points" through to formal closeout.

• Stakeholder Coordination: Collaborate with external engineering organisations, specialist consultants, and international design teams to expedite complex piping and stress analysis issues.

What We're Looking For:

• Education: Degree or equivalent higher qualification in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related technical discipline.

• Piping Expertise: Proven experience in the design, stress analysis, installation, or commissioning of heavy industrial piping systems and structural pipe supports.

• Nuclear Sector Track Record: Solid experience applying multi-disciplinary technical knowledge within the UK nuclear industry or a similarly high-compliance, heavily regulated sector (e.g., high-pressure petrochemical or marine engineering).

• Regulatory Compliance: Strong working knowledge of industrial Health & Safety legislation, including CDM Regulations and high-integrity safety case frameworks.

• Communication & Influence: Exceptional interpersonal skills with the ability to influence a diverse array of stakeholders, from site-based construction supervisors to corporate design authorities.

• Autonomy: A proactive, independent engineer who thrives in a fast-paced site environment and knows when to effectively escalate critical design holds.