Principal Engineer

Western Power; Perth; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work arrangements

Up to four weeks additional leave

Salary packaging

Discounted health insurance

Wellness leave

End-of-trip facilities

Parental leave

Job summary

Western Power is seeking a Principal Engineer to provide strategic technical leadership across the transmission network in Perth CBD. The role influences engineering direction, drives network innovation, and ensures reliability and security for Western Australia’s energy systems.

You will set standards and policies guiding operation and access to critical infrastructure, coordinating with generators and major customers while mentoring others.

Qualifications

• Requires a degree in Electrical Engineering and eligibility for Chartered membership with Engineers Australia.
• Requires extensive technical leadership experience across power transmission networks.
• Demonstrates strong knowledge of engineering standards, regulations and transmission network operations.
• Excellent written, verbal and presentation communication skills; ability to coach and mentor colleagues.
• At least 12+ years of relevant experience in engineering roles within the power sector.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic technical leadership across the transmission network.
• Influence engineering direction, drive network innovation, and ensure reliability and security of energy systems.
• Set standards, policies, and technical criteria for operation and access to critical infrastructure.
• Lead real-time decision making on security, reliability, capacity, and constraints.
• Coordinate with generators, transmission entities, and major customers on engineering matters.
• Oversee commissioning activities and approve operation.
• Manage commercial requirements for non-co-optimised essential system services.

Skills

Engineering leadership

Power systems

Stakeholder management

Technical decision making

Written/verbal/presentation

Coaching/mentoring

Education

Electrical Engineering degree

Job description

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Principal Engineer– Perth CBD – Permanent Full Time

Western Power is seeking a Principal Engineer to provide strategic technical leadership across our transmission network. This is a pivotal role - influencing engineering direction, driving network innovation, and ensuring the reliability and security of the energy systems millions of Western Australians depend on every day. With broad scope and impact, you’ll set the standards, policies, and technical criteria that guide how our critical infrastructure is operated and accessed.

Your Role in Action

• Provide expertise and engineering decision making for real time issues which impact power system security, reliability and capacity.
• Provide guidance and decision making on short term planning for primary network security, reliability, capacity and constraint management.
• Provide operational guidance for stakeholders and customers for long term planning.
• Develop and approve Network Operations policies and standards to substantiate instructions and procedures for managing the operation of the transmission network. This includes but not limited to managing network constraints, contingencies, load reduction and rotation.
• Liaise and coordinate with internal and external generators, transmission and major customers on engineering matters relating to Network Operations.
• Oversee generator commissioning activities and provide approval to operate.
• Manage commercial requirements for non-co-optimised essential system services.

What Makes You a Great Fit

• Degree in Electrical Engineering discipline.
• Eligible for Chartered membership Engineers Australia.
• At least 12+ years relevant broad and or deep technical knowledge and expertise gained through comprehensive experience in engineering with specific knowledge and extensive power system experience
• Extensive experience in providing technical leadership.
• Extensive knowledge of engineering standards, regulations and procedures relating to the operation of the transmission network
• Highly developed written, verbal and presentation communications skills.
• Demonstrated ability to coach and mentor others in relevant discipline.

By joining Western Power, you will contribute to powering a cleaner energy future. We are dedicated to fostering career development and promoting a healthy work-life balance, empowering you to drive innovation as we develop a network that will serve the Western Australian community for generations. You will also benefit from a range of perks and opportunities, including:

• Over 50% of our employment opportunities are driven by career progression.
• Flexible work arrangements to support part time work, working hours and working from home arrangements.
• The opportunity to purchase up to four weeks of additional leave per year.
• Access to salary packaging, social club activities, and discounted health insurance and gym membership.
• An award-winning employee recognition and benefits programme.
• An innovative team culture that’s enabling the transition to renewable energy and decarbonisation.
• In addition to standard leave, enjoy three wellness leave days each year.
• Access to end-of-trip facilities at our Perth office and South Metro Depot, perfect for cyclists.
• 22 weeks paid parental leaveand 5 days of First Nations cultural leaveto support family and cultural connections.

Applications close on 22nd September 2026

We value diversity and inclusivity, encouraging applications from all backgrounds, including women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and LGBTQIA+ communities.As aWORK180 -endorsed employer for women, we are proud of our commitment to inclusion. You can learn more about this through ourReconciliation Action Plan andDisability Access and Inclusion Plan.