Control Engineer

Leep Utilities; Reading; Remote; GBP 68,000 - 83,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary aligned to experience

Birthday day off

Annual discretionary bonus

Car allowance

Company pension

Health plan

Professional memberships

Job summary

Leep Utilities is seeking a Control Engineer to oversee HV and LV network operations in a 24/7 control environment, ensuring safety, compliance, and reliable restoration. You will lead a small Duty Control Engineers team and maintain records and approvals in line with Distribution Safety Rules and Ofgem standards.

Remote role with preference for candidates near Manchester. You will coordinate with ICPs, developers and streetlighting partners, maintain ACOPs and SOPs, and drive continuous

Qualifications

• Proven LV network operations experience and supply restoration capability.
• Experience working under the direction of Control within a network ops environment.
• Strong safety documentation knowledge (TOCs/LOAs/Permits/SFTs) and regulatory awareness.
• Hold LV and 11kV authorisations with SAP (11kV) qualification.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain relationships with developers, ICPs, and contractors ensuring compliance.
• Onboard ICPs/Developers for LV self-authorisation and conduct compliance reviews.
• Audit designated repair contractors and perform site audits and onboarding.
• Develop and maintain ACOPs and SOPs for Safe System of Work.
• Ensure ToC, Codes of Practice, and regulatory standards are followed.
• Coordinate supply restoration activities and manage incident responses to Ofgem standards.
• Utilise SCADA and VizNet for real-time decision making and restoration.
• Deliver control training and provide guidance to teams.
• Maintain auditable control records and handovers, log updates, and energisation requests.
• Coordinate governance activities and manage control-related information requests.
• Monitor Control mailbox and support risk reviews, budgeting and improvements.

Skills

LV network operations

Control environment

SCADA knowledge

Network modelling

Education

SAP (11kV)

Tools

SCADA

VizNet

Job description

Department: Operations

Reports to: Head of Technical

Salary: Circa £75K (depending on experience and voltage level accreditations) i.e LV, HV & EHV

Location: Remote (ideal candidate would be based near to Manchester)

The Opportunity

Join Leep and play a critical role in keeping our electricity networks safe, compliant and connected. As a Control Engineer, you'll be responsible for the safe operation of our HV and LV networks, ensuring that authorised staff, Independent Connection Providers (ICPs), repair contractors and streetlighting teams work in line with Leep's Distribution Safety Rules and Approved Codes of Practice.

You'll maintain network configuration control, oversee networks under construction, support supply restoration activities, and lead a small team of Duty Control Engineers to ensure a Safe System of Work is always maintained. Operating within a 24/7/365 control environment, you'll be part of a 1-in-3 rota, helping to ensure the resilience, regulatory compliance and safe management of Leep's licensed networks.

Key Responsibilities

• Build and maintain strong relationships with developers, ICPs, streetlighting partners, contractors and wider stakeholders, promoting Leep Control's processes and maintaining Leep Utilities' reputation as a reliable and compliant IDNO.

• Onboard, technically assess and manage ICPs, Developers and Streetlighting Partners for LV self-authorisation status, including ongoing technical compliance reviews and audits.

• Support the auditing and compliance management of designated Repairing Contractors (MERs), including onboarding, periodic reviews and site audits.

• Own, develop and maintain relevant Approved Codes of Practice (ACOPs), Group Standard Operating Procedures (GSoPs) and other operational documentation required to ensure a Safe System of Work (SSoW) across Leep's networks.

• Ensure all activities undertaken under Transfer of Control (ToC) arrangements comply with Leep's Codes of Practice, GSoPs, SHEQ policies, UK legislation, ENA Engineering Recommendations, Ofgem licence obligations and wider regulatory requirements.

• Undertake and coordinate supply restoration activities, ensuring incidents are managed safely, escalated appropriately and delivered within Ofgem standards of performance (SLC15A).

• Utilise network monitoring systems, live network drawings (VizNet) and other operational tools to support safe, informed real-time network decision-making and restoration activities.

• Support the ongoing development, implementation and monitoring of Control systems, including SCADA and network modelling applications.

• Deliver Control training to Duty Control Engineers and provide role-specific training and guidance to operational and project teams.

• Maintain accurate and auditable records of network control activities, including authorisations, energisation requests, supply restoration activities, site mimics, control logs and operational handovers.

• Coordinate daily and weekly operational governance activities, including Control handovers, Control meetings, action tracking and the management of Control-related requests for information.

• Monitor and manage the Control mailbox, ensuring enquiries and requests are distributed and actioned appropriately.

• Support operational risk reviews, budget planning, forecasting and continuous improvement initiatives to enhance the efficiency, resilience and compliance of Leep's network operations.

• Participate in the 24/7/365 Control rota, undertaking the Duty Control and Supply Restoration Manager role on a 1-in-3 basis.

Measures of Success

• Safe and compliant operation of Leep's HV and LV networks, with no preventable breaches of Distribution Safety Rules, Approved Codes of Practice or regulatory requirements.

• Supply restoration activities delivered safely, efficiently and within applicable Ofgem Standards of Performance.

• Safe Systems of Work maintained across all sites operating under Transfer of Control arrangements, supported by robust compliance auditing and contractor oversight.

• Accurate, auditable and up-to-date network records, control logs and operational documentation maintained at all times.

• A resilient and effective 24/7/365 Control function, providing high-quality support to customers, contractors, partners and internal stakeholders

About You

Essential

• Proven experience managing LV network operations and supply restoration activities.

• Experience working under the direction of Control within a network operations environment.

• Strong working knowledge and application of safety documentation, including LOAs, Permits, TOCs, IOEs and SFTs.

• Hold industry LV and 11kV network authorisations, with a minimum qualification of SAP (11kV).

• Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise changing workloads and respond to urgent operational requirements.

• High levels of accuracy and attention to detail, particularly in maintaining Control logs and network records.

• Strong communication skills with the ability to work professionally and effectively with stakeholders at all levels.

• Competent in Microsoft Office applications.

• A safe, pragmatic approach to network management, policy development and regulatory compliance.

Desirable

• Experience managing limited HV supply restoration activities.

• Experience working within a Control environment.

• Experience leading and coordinating remote restoration teams across both civils and electrical disciplines.

• Knowledge and experience of street works and civils activities.

• Experience developing Codes of Practice, operational procedures and other technical documentation.

Your Development and Benefits

At Leep, we believe in stable growth and putting our people first. Our 5-year strategic growth plan gives us stability today and prepares us for the future, while nursing a strong collaborative and supportive culture.

Our benefits include:

• Salary which aligns to your experience and skillset

• 25 days paid holiday + bank holidays

• An additional day off to celebrate your birthday

• Annual discretionary bonus

• Car allowance

• Company pension plan

• Health Cash plan through Westfield Health

• Option to purchase additional holiday days through our Holiday Buying Scheme

• Engagement committee with events throughout the year, including Christmas Party, Summer Party and individual team socials

• Paid professional memberships relevant to your role and access to professional development opportunities

Our Values

At the forefront of everything we do:

Safety, Customer Promise, Accountability, Reliability, Respect, Flexibility

Equal Opportunities

Leep Utilities is committed to promoting equality of opportunity for all staff and job applicants. We aim to create a working environment in which all individuals are able to make best use of their skills, free from discrimination or harassment. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, disability, gender reassignment, marital or civil partner status, pregnancy or maternity, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation. If you require any appropriate accommodations during the application or interview process, please let us know.