Principal Engineer

At ABB, we help industries run leaner and cleaner—and every person here makes that happen. You’ll be empowered to lead, supported to grow, and proud of the impact we create together. Join us and help run what runs the world.

This position reports to:

Senior Engineering Manager

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As Principal Engineer you provide technical leadership and industry expertise across complex engineering projects in highly regulated sectors including Power Generation, Pharmaceuticals, Oil & Gas, Nuclear and Offshore. Drive technical excellence, regulatory compliance and successful project delivery while positioning ABB as the trusted authority for innovative solutions and emerging industry requirements.

Our Team Dynamics

Our teams support each other, collaborate, and never stop learning. Everyone brings something unique, and together we push ideas forward to solve real problems. Being part of our team means your work matters because the progress we make here creates real impact out there.

What's in it for you?

We want you to bring your full self to work, your ideas, your energy and your ambition. You'll have the opportunity to apply deep technical expertise, influence engineering excellence and support the delivery of complex projects across critical industries.

Your Role and Responsibilities

• Act as the technical authority for assigned industry sectors, ensuring compliance with relevant regulations, standards, and ABB engineering practices.
• Lead, mentor and develop multi-disciplinary engineering teams, promoting technical excellence, knowledge sharing and capability growth.
• Define technical approaches, quality standards, project milestones and resource plans across multiple concurrent projects.
• Conduct technical reviews, risk assessments and compliance evaluations to ensure safe, high-quality project delivery.
• Lead regulatory change assessments and implement appropriate technical and compliance solutions.
• Serve as the senior technical escalation point for complex engineering, operational and regulatory challenges.
• Build trusted relationships with customers, industry bodies and internal stakeholders, providing technical leadership throughout bids and project execution.
• Ensure successful delivery of projects to agreed scope, schedule, budget and quality targets while driving continuous improvement.

Work model: hybrid from our St Neots, Daresbury or Aberdeen locations

Qualifications for the Role

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Chemical, Process Control, Mechanical, Electrical or related discipline) or HNC/HND with significant relevant industry experience.
• Proven experience in engineering or technical roles within highly regulated industries such as Power, Oil & Gas, Pharmaceuticals, Nuclear or Offshore sectors.
• Proven experience leading engineering teams or operating as a recognised technical specialist.
• Strong knowledge of process control systems, industrial automation, instrumentation and multi-disciplinary engineering projects.
• Expertise in either ABB system upgrades and modernisation programmes or gas turbine replacement and renewal systems.
• Working knowledge of industry standards and regulations including IEC 61508/61511, IEC 62682, IEC 61882 and relevant sector-specific directives.
• Experience with PLC, SCADA and DCS architectures, configuration and implementation.
• Strong project delivery capability, including risk management, resource planning and stakeholder engagement.
• Professional Engineering registration and/or Functional Safety certification (desirable).
• Experience contributing to technical communities, industry initiatives or emerging energy transition technologies (desirable).

Benefits

ABB offers a full range of benefits to help you thrive at work and beyond.

 

• Competitive salary
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Competitive contributory pension scheme
• Life assurance
• Flexible benefits scheme (Includes options to buy/sell holidays, health checks, dental, eye care, gym memberships, cycle to work, gadget discounts and more)
• Internal mobility opportunities, mentorships & access to projects globally
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Generous employee referral scheme
• Private medical cover
• Generous bonus scheme

 

For the 6th consecutive year ABB UK has been recognised as a Top Employer in UK. Being certified as a Top Employer showcases an organisation’s dedication to a better world of work and exhibits this through excellent HR policies and people practices.

 

More about us

The Energy Industries Division serves a wide range of industrial sectors, including hydrocarbons, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, power generation and water. With its integrated solutions that automate, digitalize and electrify operations, the Division is committed to supporting traditional industries in their efforts to decarbonize. The Division also supports the development, integration and scaling up of new and renewable energy models. The Division’s goal is to help customers adapt and succeed in the rapidly changing global energy transition. Harnessing data, machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI), the Division brings over 50 years of domain expertise delivering solutions designed to improve energy, process and production efficiency, as well as reduce risk, operational cost and capital cost, while minimizing waste for customers, from project start-up and throughout the entire plant lifecycle.

Join us. Be part of the team where expertise makes a real difference every day.

Run What Runs the World.

#RunWithABB

Building a cleaner, smarter future takes all kinds of minds: the curious, the courageous, and the creative. That's why we welcome people from all backgrounds and experiences.

Ready to make an impact?

Apply today or visit https://www.abb.com to learn more about the impact of our solutions across the globe.