Job Description:

Mechanical QA Resident Engineer - Cardiff - 1 year contract minimum

Role Overview

We are seeking an experienced Mechanical QA Resident Engineer to provide independent and structured technical quality assurance across the mechanical building services installations for the prestigious project in Cardiff.

The role will provide progressive inspection and technical review throughout the construction period, with the objective of identifying non-conforming works, workmanship issues and departures from the approved project requirements at the earliest practical opportunity.
The Mechanical QA Resident Engineer will act as an important link between the design, quality and construction teams, ensuring that the installed mechanical services reflect the approved design intent, Employer's Requirements, project specifications, technical submissions, benchmarks and applicable standards.

This is a design and technically focused QA role, rather than a purely inspection or snagging position. The successful candidate must be capable of reading and understanding mechanical design specifications, drawings and technical submissions and applying that knowledge when assessing installations on site.
The project QA period is anticipated to run from Q3 2026 through Q2/Q3 2028, subject to the development of the project programme.

Key Responsibilities

Design & Technical Assurance
•    Review and interpret mechanical design specifications, Employer's Requirements, drawings, schedules and approved construction information.
•    Review mechanical design information and understand the intended performance and installation requirements of the systems.
•    Assess installed works against the latest approved construction information available within the project document management system.
•    Review approved technical submissions, equipment data, manufacturers' requirements and material approvals.
•    Verify that approved materials and equipment are being installed and that installations generally reflect the approved technical submissions.
•    Review benchmark installations and sample areas against the Employer's Requirements and project specifications.
•    Confirm alignment between approved benchmarks, specifications, drawings, technical submissions and installed works.
•    Identify discrepancies, omissions, non-conformances and potential quality issues at an early stage.
•    Provide technically informed input where installation issues arise and liaise with the design and project teams where clarification is required.
•    Identify issues which may affect subsequent testing, commissioning, completion or handover.

Mechanical Installation QA
Carry out progressive site inspections of mechanical and public health installations, including, as applicable:
•    HVAC and ventilation systems
•    Air handling units and associated systems
•    Chilled water and heating systems
•    Pumps and mechanical plant
•    Domestic hot and cold water systems
•    Above-ground drainage
•    Plantrooms
•    Mechanical equipment
•    Valves, controls and associated components
•    BMS interfaces
•    Mechanical supports and secondary steelwork
•    Pipework and ductwork
•    Insulation
•    Access and maintainability provisions
•    Specialist mechanical systems and equipment 

Inspections shall include consideration of:
•    Workmanship and installation quality
•    Compliance with approved drawings and specifications
•    Correct materials and equipment
•    Supports, brackets, fixings and secondary steelwork
•    Alignment, levelling and installation tolerances where applicable
•    Equipment installation and manufacturer requirements
•    Accessibility and maintainability
•    Service identification and labelling
•    Cleanliness and protection
•    Coordination with other MEP services
•    Fire-stopping associated with mechanical penetrations
•    Protection of completed installations
•    Readiness for testing and commissioning

Progressive Inspection & Quality Control
•    Review Inspection and Test Plans (ITPs) and associated quality checklists for completeness and compliance.
•    Undertake progressive inspections at appropriate stages of construction.
•    Inspect installations before concealment, including prior to closure of:
o    Ceilings
o    Walls
o    Risers
o    Shafts
o    Builders' work openings
o    Plantrooms and other restricted-access areas
•    Identify defects and non-conforming works before they become inaccessible.
•    Raise and record Quality System Observations (QSOs), snagging items and other quality observations.
•    Establish appropriate target close-out dates and monitor progress.
•    Re-inspect completed works following notification from subcontractors that items are ready for inspection.
•    Verify close-out based on physical re-inspection and supporting evidence, rather than relying solely on subcontractor confirmation.
•    Provide photographic evidence and supporting records for inspections and close-out activities.
•    Verify that approved workmanship standards and benchmarks continue to be maintained throughout the project.

Equipment & Material Verification
•    Review technical submittals and supporting documentation against ITP requirements and installed equipment.
•    Verify that approved materials, equipment and products are being installed.
•    Review manufacturers' installation requirements for major mechanical equipment.
•    Confirm through site inspection that equipment has generally been installed in accordance with approved manufacturer requirements.
•    Verify specialist installation requirements including:
o    Alignment
o    Levelling
o    Setting
o    Vibration isolation
o    Equipment supports
o    Access requirements
o    Maintenance requirements
•    Verify appropriate labelling and identification of mechanical equipment and systems.
•    Check that equipment and installations are suitably protected from damage, contamination and deterioration during construction.

Coordination & Maintainability
•    Review mechanical installations for appropriate coordination, accessibility and maintainability.
•    Confirm access is available to maintainable components including:
o    Valves
o    Dampers
o    Filters
o    Controls
o    Access panels
o    Equipment
o    Other maintainable components
•    Identify issues where services have been installed in a manner that may restrict access, maintenance or future operation.
•    Identify coordination issues with electrical, architectural, structural and other MEP services.
•    Attend relevant MEP coordination, quality and subcontractor meetings where technical quality issues require review or resolution.

Quality Management & Reporting
•    Maintain an accurate and auditable record of MEP QA activitieS.
•    Maintain the MEP QA dashboard/tracker, recording:
o    Inspections undertaken
o    Open QSOs
o    Snagging items
o    Overdue actions
o    Closed items
o    Recurring defects
o    Trends by subcontractor
o    Trends by system
o    Trends by area
•    Monitor recurring defects and workmanship trends.
•    Identify repeated non-conformances and report areas requiring corrective action or additional quality controls.
•    Provide regular photographic records of inspections, defects and close-out.
•    Prepare regular monthly MEP QA reports summarising:
o    Inspections completed
o    Key quality concerns
o    Recurring defects
o    Outstanding QSOs
o    Ageing of open actions
o    Overdue items
o    Areas of concern
o    Risks to completion, testing, commissioning or handover
•    Provide timely escalation of significant quality concerns to the client.

Client & Employer Inspections
•    Prepare a rolling two-week look-ahead programme of planned client inspections.
•    Coordinate client and Employer inspections with the relevant project teams and subcontractors.
•    Prepare inspection reports identifying observations, defects and required actions.
•    Coordinate inspection invitations and maintain evidence that the client/Employer was provided with the opportunity to attend.
•    Obtain attendance/sign-off records where required.
•    Maintain all relevant supporting correspondence and inspection records.
•    Attend and facilitate weekly site quality meetings, providing updates on:
o    MEP inspections
o    QSOs
o    Defect status
o    Inspection progress
o    Outstanding and overdue actions
o    Client inspection sign-offs
o    Recurring quality issues
o    Risks to subsequent works
o    Testing and commissioning
o    Completion and handover

Progressive Handover
•    Support the progressive handover of the mechanical and public health installations.
•    Review outstanding MEP defects and QSOs.
•    Re-inspect items reported as complete and verify satisfactory close-out.
•    Confirm that quality records are complete and auditable.
•    Identify outstanding issues which may present a risk to testing, commissioning, completion or handover.
•    Support the project team in achieving progressive completion rather than allowing quality issues to accumulate towards the end of the project.

Technical Requirements

The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate a strong understanding of mechanical building services design and installation.
They should be able to:
•    Read and interpret detailed mechanical design drawings.
•    Read and understand mechanical design specifications and Employer's Requirements.
•    Understand design intent and assess whether the physical installation reflects that intent.
•    Review technical submissions and manufacturers' information.
•    Identify discrepancies between drawings, specifications, technical submissions and installed works.
•    Understand HVAC, ventilation, heating, chilled water, domestic water, drainage and associated mechanical systems.
•    Review mechanical plantroom installations.
•    Understand mechanical supports, brackets, fixings and secondary steelwork.
•    Assess accessibility and maintainability of mechanical installations.
•    Understand installation quality requirements for pipework, ductwork and associated equipment.
•    Identify potential issues before systems become concealed or inaccessible.
•    Understand the requirements associated with testing, commissioning and handover.
•    Identify installation issues which could adversely affect commissioning or system performance.
•    Demonstrate sound engineering judgement when assessing quality issues.

Experience & Qualifications
Essential
•    Degree, HNC/HND or equivalent qualification in Mechanical Engineering, Building Services Engineering or a related discipline.
•    Significant experience in mechanical building services.
•    Previous experience in either:
o    Mechanical Design Engineering; or
o    Mechanical QA/QC Engineering or Management with strong technical/design experience.
•    Proven experience reviewing mechanical drawings, specifications and technical submissions.
•    Strong understanding of mechanical building-services installation.
•    Experience working on major construction projects.
•    Experience with progressive inspection and quality assurance.
•    Experience raising and managing quality observations, defects or NCRs through to close-out.
•    Strong understanding of ITPs and inspection processes.
•    Ability to work independently and provide objective technical assurance.
•    Strong communication and reporting skills.
•    Excellent IT literacy.

Desirable
•    Experience on large-scale commercial, hospitality, entertainment or mixed-use developments.
•    Previous experience on an arena, stadium, hotel or complex public building project.
•    Experience with complex HVAC and mechanical plant systems.
•    Experience with plantrooms and central mechanical services.
•    Knowledge of testing and commissioning processes.
•    Knowledge of relevant British Standards, CIBSE guidance and applicable legislation.
•    Experience using a digital construction/quality management platforms.
•    Experience with BIM and digital coordination platforms.
•    Working knowledge of AutoCAD, Revit, Navisworks or similar software.
•    Relevant QA/QC or quality management qualifications.
•    Chartered or Incorporated Engineer status, or working towards professional registration.

IT & Digital Competence
The role requires a high level of IT and digital competence.
The successful candidate should be comfortable working within a digital construction environment and using:
•    Microsoft Word
•    Microsoft Excel
•    Microsoft Outlook
•    PDF/drawing review software
•    Digital document management systems
•    Common Data Environments (CDEs)
•    BIM/3D coordination platforms
Experience with AutoCAD, Revit and/or Navisworks would be advantageous.
The candidate must be able to maintain accurate digital records and produce clear, professional reports and trackers.

Candidate Profile
The successful candidate will be a technically competent mechanical engineer who can operate confidently between design documentation, site inspection and quality management.
We are particularly interested in candidates from one of two backgrounds:
Mechanical Design Engineer
A mechanical design engineer who has moved into, or has an interest in, technical assurance and site-based quality, and who can apply their understanding of design intent to construction.
Mechanical QA/QC Engineer or Manager
An experienced mechanical QA/QC professional who has strong technical and design knowledge and is capable of reviewing specifications, drawings and technical submissions rather than simply undertaking checklist-based inspections.
In either case, the individual must be able to read the design, understand the specification, inspect the installation and make a technically informed assessment of compliance.

Key Personal Attributes
The successful candidate will be:
•    Technically strong and engineering-led
•    Design focused rather than purely inspection focused
•    Thorough and detail oriented
•    Confident reviewing drawings and specifications
•    Comfortable challenging non-conforming work
•    Independent and objective in their approach
•    Proactive in identifying potential issues before they become defects
•    Strong in communication and stakeholder management
•    Organised and methodical
•    Comfortable working directly with subcontractors and project teams
•    Confident presenting quality issues at project and site meetings
•    Digitally and IT literate
•    Able to manage multiple inspections, actions and priorities
•    Practical and solutions focused
•    Focused on achieving quality progressively rather than relying on end-of-project inspection