Lead MEICA Engineer - Water

Tetra Tech is looking for a Senior Associate/Technical Director MEICA Engineer to lead major water infrastructure projects that shape the future of essential services. This is a senior opportunity for a technically credible MEICA leader who wants to influence complex, high-value programmes from concept through to commissioning. Working across major water and wastewater schemes, you will guide multidisciplinary teams, shape robust engineering solutions and help deliver infrastructure with lasting operational impact. Purpose Scope of the Role As Senior Associate / Technical Director, MEICA Engineering, you will provide technical leadership across major water and utilities infrastructure projects, guiding multidisciplinary design teams through the full project lifecycle. From early-stage definition and optioneering through to detailed design, procurement support, commissioning and technical sign-off, you will ensure MEICA solutions are practical, buildable, efficient and aligned to client requirements. You will work closely with clients, contractors, internal teams and specialist consultants to drive design development, coordinate technical reviews and support clear, informed decision-making on complex engineering matters. This is a hands-on leadership role that requires confidence, clarity and a strong commitment to quality, compliance, programme and delivery. Your Impact in this position In the short term, you will build trust as a credible technical lead, support high-quality delivery and help progress live projects with strong public and operational visibility. In the medium term, you will shape technical standards, influence design quality across major programmes and strengthen relationships with key clients and delivery partners. Longer term, you will have the opportunity to grow into wider leadership within a developing water infrastructure practice, contribute to nationally significant schemes and play a central role in delivering critical infrastructure for Ireland. Core Capabilities Technical Leadership in MEICA Design You will bring strong technical depth across mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, control and automation disciplines, with particular strength in water and wastewater infrastructure. You will lead the development of integrated solutions for pumping stations, treatment works, process systems, pumping plant, motors, instrumentation, controls and SCADA, ensuring designs are technically sound, operationally practical and fully aligned with scope, standards and asset performance requirements. Team Leadership and Delivery Management You will lead and support a small design team, setting direction, maintaining momentum and creating clear accountability for delivery. You will balance strategic oversight with a willingness to get involved directly when needed, resolving issues, protecting quality and helping the team perform at its best. Strong mentoring skills and a collaborative leadership style will be key. Project and Contract Awareness You will understand how engineering design is delivered within consultancy and capital works environments, from design and procurement through to construction support, commissioning and close-out. Familiarity with public works and NEC forms of contract will help you manage design responsibilities effectively, assess tender submissions and review contractor design outputs under design and build arrangements. Stakeholder Engagement and Technical Communication You will communicate clearly and confidently with clients, contractors, project teams and wider stakeholders. You will be comfortable producing high-quality technical outputs, presenting options and explaining complex engineering issues in a way that is engaging, concise and persuasive for both technical and non-technical audiences. Risk, Safety and Operational Thinking You will understand how designs perform in the real world, with a strong focus on safety, operability, maintainability, resilience and whole-life value. Experience of HAZID, HAZOP and similar design reviews will be valuable, alongside the ability to translate operational constraints into practical engineering solutions that stand up in delivery and operation. Training, Qualifications and Experience A Level 8 qualification in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering is required, together with chartered status or equivalent professional standing. Significant MEICA design experience in the water and utilities sector is essential, ideally gained in a consulting or design-led environment. Strong technical knowledge of heavy infrastructure, pumping systems, instrumentation, controls and SCADA is also required, alongside excellent written and spoken English. Additional professional development in water infrastructure, project delivery or leadership would be an advantage, as would experience of major water or wastewater schemes, design assurance, HAZID, HAZOP, design and build delivery, 3D design tools, digital coordination and client-side environments. Working Environment This role is ideally based in Dublin or Cork. It will require regular office attendance and a visible presence with colleagues, clients and delivery partners. The working pattern is hybrid, aligned to project and team needs, with some flexibility available where compatible with delivery requirements. This is not a fully remote position. Travel to client meetings, project sites and workshop sessions will be expected as part of the role. #LI-LD1 #LI-HYBRID