Principal Electrical Engineer | Building Services / MEP
Birmingham - Hybrid working
Expanding the team - multiple hires. flexible on salary
Cannot sponsor at this time
We’re looking for an experienced and commercially aware Principal Electrical Engineer to lead an Electrical Design Team and deliver high-quality building services engineering solutions across a diverse portfolio of projects.
This is a senior, client-facing leadership position offering the opportunity to take technical ownership of electrical building services design, lead a talented team of engineers and play a key role in the continued growth of a multidisciplinary MEP consultancy.
The Role
As Principal Electrical Engineer, you’ll act as the technical authority for electrical building services design, providing technical leadership, mentoring and strategic direction to the team.
You’ll oversee projects from feasibility and concept through to construction and handover, working across RIBA Stages 1–6 and collaborating closely with clients, contractors and multidisciplinary design teams.
Key Responsibilities
Technical Leadership
- Lead the design, specification and technical delivery of electrical building services projects across all relevant RIBA stages.
- Act as the principal technical authority for electrical engineering.
- Undertake and review electrical designs, including:
- LV power distribution
- Small power installations
- Internal and external lighting
- Security and access control
- Data and communications infrastructure
- Photovoltaic and other renewable energy systems
- EV charging infrastructure
- Ensure designs comply with relevant legislation, British Standards, Building Regulations, CIBSE guidance, BS 7671 and other applicable industry standards.
- Review and approve engineering calculations, specifications, drawings and technical reports.
- Act as Project Lead on a range of commissions, managing multiple projects simultaneously.
- Take responsibility for programme, budget, quality and technical compliance.
- Lead client, contractor, design team and site meetings.
- Undertake site surveys, inspections and commissioning reviews where required.
- Prepare feasibility studies, technical due diligence reports and option appraisals.
- Contribute to cost planning, resource forecasting and fee proposals.
- Lead, manage and develop the Electrical Design Team.
- Allocate resources and manage workloads across multiple projects.
- Support performance management, development planning and regular one-to-ones.
- Mentor and develop Senior Engineers, Engineers, Graduates and Apprentices.
- Promote best practice, technical excellence and knowledge sharing.
- Support recruitment, onboarding and succession planning.
Commercial & Business Development
- Build and maintain strong client relationships.
- Identify opportunities for repeat business and new services.
- Support bids, framework applications and technical presentations.
- Contribute to departmental reporting, budgeting and strategic planning.
- Help drive the continued growth and development of the engineering consultancy.
- Work closely with Mechanical, Electrical, Sustainability and Energy teams.
- Support integrated multidisciplinary design and project delivery.
About You
We’re looking for someone with a strong combination of technical expertise, leadership capability and commercial awareness.
You’ll ideally have:
- Significant experience within a Building Services or MEP consultancy environment.
- Experience leading electrical design projects from concept through to completion.
- Proven experience managing and developing engineering teams.
- Strong client-facing and stakeholder management skills.
- Experience managing multiple projects and competing priorities.
- Strong project and programme management capability.
- Commercial awareness, including fee and resource management.
- Experience supporting business development, bids and proposals.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- A degree or equivalent qualification in Electrical Engineering, Building Services Engineering or a related discipline.
- Strong knowledge of electrical building services design and installations.
- Detailed understanding of BS 7671 and relevant electrical standards.
- Experience producing and reviewing electrical calculations, specifications and technical documentation.
- Experience with AutoCAD and Revit.
- Chartered Engineer status (CEng) or working towards chartership.
- Membership of the IET, CIBSE or an equivalent professional institution.
- Knowledge of low-carbon and renewable technologies.
- Understanding of net-zero and sustainable design principles.
- Experience coordinating with mechanical building services disciplines.
- Experience across healthcare, education, commercial, industrial or public sector projects.
- Experience in renewable energy, decarbonisation and energy efficiency projects.
What’s on Offer
- Permanent, full-time position
- 37.5 hours per week
- Hybrid working – minimum two days per week in the office
- Monday to Friday, 9:00am–5:00pm
- Generous annual leave, including your birthday off
- Annual KPI-driven bonus
- Employee benefits and retail discounts
- Opportunities to get involved in volunteering and charity initiatives
- A supportive environment focused on professional development, technical excellence and career progression
The Opportunity
This is an excellent opportunity for an ambitious Principal Electrical Engineer who wants to combine technical leadership, project delivery, people development and commercial responsibility within a growing consultancy environment.
If you’re ready to take the next step in your career and have the technical expertise and leadership experience to make an impact, we’d love to hear from you.