Technical Director Hydropower

Location/s: Barcelona, ES
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 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

Our hydropower business has delivered in excess of 100GW of hydropower and pumped storage across the globe, from technical advisory services, through to Owner’s Engineer and Contractor’s Designer. We are seeking a Hydropower Technical Director to provide senior mechanical leadership and technical governance, with particular strength in refurbishment programmes and/or experience working for an OEM. 

As Hydropower Technical Director, you will be a key part of a multidisciplinary team delivering hydropower and pumped storage projects worldwide. You will act as a senior technical authority for mechanical and refurbishment scopes, shaping solutions from early feasibility through detailed design, site support and commissioning. The role combines technical leadership, client engagement and business development, including leading and assuring proposal development for complex assignments.

This role will have a particular focus on mechanical engineering, hydropower refurbishment and life-extension, including technical governance, risk management and integration with OEMs and supply chain partners, based in one of our European or UK offices.

The successful candidate will work on a range of projects in a variety of roles, including:

• Providing technical leadership and design authority for hydropower mechanical and refurbishment scopes
• Leading technical delivery of assignments, including concept development, optioneering, detailed design, site support and commissioning input
• Setting and assuring technical governance (reviews, standards compliance, safety in design, and quality) across projects
• Developing refurbishment and life-extension strategies for turbines, generators and balance-of-plant, including condition assessment and scope definition
• Building, managing and maintaining senior client relationships, acting as a trusted technical advisor
• Leading and assuring bids and proposals, including technical inputs, deliverable planning, resourcing and risk/opportunity reviews
• Interfacing with OEMs, vendors and contractors; reviewing and managing technical submissions, specifications and contractual deliverables
• Mentoring and developing engineers, strengthening mechanical capability, tools and best practice in refurbishment delivery

Candidate specification

We are looking for a motivated, collaborative leader with a genuine passion for technical excellence and client outcomes, with the following attributes: 

• MEng/MSc or BEng/BSc in Mechanical Engineering (or equivalent)
• Chartered Engineer status or full membership of a relevant professional institution
• Extensive experience as a mechanical engineer in hydropower, with a strong background in refurbishment/life-extension and/or experience working for an OEM 

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We offer some fantastic benefits including:

• Competitive annual leave
• Pension scheme 
• Life insurance
• An annual professional institution subscription
• Private medical insurance 
• Optional benefits via salary sacrifice (restaurant voucher/transport card/day care voucher)
• Continuous development opportunities – because we want you to thrive  
• Agile/flexible working – because life isn’t 9-5  
• Annual bonus scheme  
• Wellbeing support including access to an independent Employer Assistance Scheme, wellbeing champions and access to learning and support resources 
• Access to our Advanced Employee Networks which support our LGBTQ+, gender, race and ethnicity, disability and parents/carers communities 
• The opportunity to make a difference; learn more about our social outcomes

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.

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.

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