Principal Engineer ( Mechanical )

Planet Recruitment are currently working with a well-established engineering and manufacturing business to recruit an experienced Principal Engineer to join their engineering team in Bedford.

This is a senior technical position offering the opportunity to take real ownership of engineering direction, product development and technical strategy within a specialist manufacturing environment.

The successful candidate will act as a key technical authority, working across design, R&D, product development, manufacturing and customer projects, while supporting the wider engineering team and helping to drive continuous improvement and innovation.

The Role

As Principal Engineer, you will:

Provide senior technical leadership across engineering and product development. Take technical ownership of pump hydraulic design and structural integrity. Lead R&D and innovation projects, introducing new technologies and improving existing products. Translate customer requirements and technical specifications into effective engineering solutions. Work closely with Sales, Engineering, Quality, Production and Contract Management throughout the project lifecycle. Drive Design for Manufacture (DFM) and value engineering initiatives. Support product standardisation, cost reduction and improved time-to-market. Provide technical input into product selection, design, testing and validation. Support customers and end users with technical guidance relating to equipment installation, operation and maintenance. Lead technical investigations and root cause analysis, including FMEA and 8D methodologies. Ensure products comply with relevant industry and regulatory standards. Support the development of emerging technologies, including condition monitoring. Act as a technical lead for ATEX compliance across relevant products. Mentor and support engineers, promoting best practice and continuous improvement.

About You

We're looking for a highly experienced Mechanical Engineer with a strong background in industrial rotating machinery , ideally involving pumps, motors or similar equipment.

You will ideally have:

A degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline. 10+ years' experience in mechanical engineering design and analysis. Strong experience with centrifugal pumps, hydraulics and application engineering. Knowledge of mechanical integrity, materials, thermal dynamics, electromechanical systems, rotordynamics and vibration. Experience working to recognised industry standards such as ISO, API and Hydraulic Institute (HI). Experience in design validation and product testing. The ability to interpret complex engineering drawings and technical specifications. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills. Good commercial awareness, with the ability to balance engineering requirements against cost, customer expectations and business objectives. Excellent communication skills and the confidence to work with customers and internal stakeholders at all levels.