Building Service Design Engineer – Renewable Energy / Heat Pumps

We are looking for a talented Building Service Design Engineer to join our design function at Better Planet. We need someone who thrives at the drawing board as much as they do leading a team.

The scope of the role covers our full range of low-carbon technologies – heat pumps, photovoltaic (PV) solar systems, mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR), underfloor heating, and battery storage – across both domestic and commercial projects.

The role also involves regular client and stakeholder contact, so we need someone who is confident communicating technical concepts to non-technical audiences and comfortable in a client-facing environment.

Based at our office in Islington, London, this is a fantastic opportunity to play a leading role in one of the UK's fastest-growing sectors.

Role and Responsibilities

Design (primary focus):

• Act as the Lead Designer across the business, personally producing M&E technical drawings, schematics, and system layouts for heat pump, PV, MVHR, underfloor heating, and battery storage projects in both domestic and commercial settings.
• Specify equipment including heat pumps, circulation pumps, piping, inverters, battery units, ventilation units, and associated controls.
• Carry out power and control system design, including electrical schematics and wiring diagrams.
• Undertake 2D and 3D CAD modelling to support project design and client presentations.
• Carry out site surveys and feasibility assessments for new and existing projects.
• Review site installations to ensure conformance to design specifications and relevant standards.

Client and stakeholder engagement:

• Support the sales team on client calls and meetings, providing technical input to help scope and win new projects.
• Meet clients on site to discuss requirements, present design proposals, and address technical queries.
• Act as a technical point of contact for Architects, consultants, and other external stakeholders, answering design and specification questions.

Team leadership and management:

• Manage, mentor, and develop a small team of Mechanical and Electrical Design Engineers, allocating workload and providing day-to-day technical guidance.
• Set and maintain design standards, procedures, and quality benchmarks across the team.
• Evaluate and implement advances in design technologies and software to enhance the team's capabilities and efficiency.
• Collaborate with project management, sales, and installation teams to ensure designs are practical, cost-effective, and delivered on time.
• Support the growth of the design function as the business scales, including involvement in recruitment and onboarding of new Engineers.

Knowledge and Experience

Essential:

• Minimum HND Qualified Engineer (mechanical or electrical); degree-level qualification preferred.
• At least three years of hands-on M&E design experience within the building services or renewable energy industry.
• Proven experience designing systems involving one or more of heat pumps, PV solar, MVHR, underfloor heating, or battery storage.
• Strong proficiency in 2D and/or 3D CAD software (e.g. AutoCAD, Revit, or equivalent).
• Solid understanding of UK building regulations, Part L, and relevant standards (e.g. MCS, BS 7671).
• Comfortable operating as a working Designer while also managing a team – this is not a desk-only management role.
• Confident communicator, happy engaging with clients, Architects, and other stakeholders in both meetings and on site.
• Excellent attention to detail and a commitment to producing high-quality, accurate design work.

Desirable:

• People management or team leadership experience.
• Experience working across both domestic and commercial building services projects.
• Familiarity with BIM workflows and collaborative design environments.
• Membership of a relevant professional body (e.g. CIBSE, IET, or Engineering Council registration).

What We Offer:

• A leadership role in a purpose-driven company at the forefront of the UK's net-zero transition.
• The opportunity to shape and grow the design function within a fast-scaling business.
• Exposure to a diverse and expanding portfolio of renewable energy technologies.
• Competitive salary and benefits package.
• A collaborative, supportive working environment based in Islington, London.
• £32,000.00 – £55,000.00 per year.