CDM Principal Designer for HV/EHV Substations

WSP in the UK & Ireland; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work policy

Wellbeing programmes

Inclusive culture

Job summary

WSP is seeking a Principal Designer in the Networks Engineering team to lead safe delivery of HV and EHV substation projects, providing CDM leadership and design governance from concept through construction.

You will oversee multi-disciplinary design teams, manage design risk, review specifications, and ensure compliance with regulations, client requirements, and budget objectives across 11kV to 132kV assets.

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent in Electrical Engineering with HV/EHV experience.
• Proven experience as Principal Designer under the CDM regulations.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary design teams through lifecycle stages.
• Strong knowledge of HV/EHV substations including AIS and GIS (11kV–132kV).
• Experience designing substations, reinforcement, refurbishment and retrofit projects.
• Ability to review and assure designs to meet regulatory, technical and client requirements.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.

Responsibilities

• Undertake the statutory role of CDM Principal Designer for HV/EHV projects.
• Lead and coordinate the project design phase with multidisciplinary teams.
• Oversee development and review of technical specifications for substation work.
• Ensure design solutions are robust, buildable, maintainable and compliant.
• Manage the design risk process and communicate health and safety risks.
• Review designs to ensure compliance with legislation, standards and client specs.
• Prepare pre-construction information and support Health and Safety File development.
• Chair design review meetings, hazard workshops and stakeholder sessions.
• Provide design governance and assurance meeting quality and contract requirements.
• Support project delivery during construction with design leadership and changes.
• Monitor design performance against programme, quality, safety and commercial objectives.
• Develop relationships with clients, suppliers and internal teams as a trusted advisor on CDM and design management.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder mgmt

Communication

Design governance

CDM

HV/EHV design

Education

Electrical Engineering degree

Job description

WSP is seeking a Principal Designer in the Networks Engineering team to lead safe delivery of HV and EHV substation projects, providing CDM leadership and design governance from concept through construction.

You will oversee multi-disciplinary design teams, manage design risk, review specifications, and ensure compliance with regulations, client requirements, and budget objectives across 11kV to 132kV assets.