Director – Substations (Primary Design) - UK Grid Network

JACOBS; Greater London; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free single medical cover

Enhanced parental leave pay

Membership of employee assistance programs

Wellbeing benefits

Job summary

A leading engineering firm in Greater London is seeking a Director for Substations (Primary Design). The role involves defining and leading the strategic direction across UK and Europe, ensuring excellence in project delivery, and developing engineering talent. The ideal candidate will have a degree in Electrical Engineering, significant experience in HV substation engineering, and strong leadership skills. Competitive package includes health and family benefits, and a focus on work-life balance with hybrid working options.

Qualifications

• Recognized authority in HV substation engineering (132kV–400kV), including AIS/GIS and HVDC systems.
• Proven leadership across large-scale infrastructure programmes.
• Demonstrated success in team growth, recruitment, and capability development.
• Proven leadership across large-scale infrastructure programmes and multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong commercial acumen with experience in bid strategy and client engagement.
• Demonstrated success in recruitment and capability development.
• Excellent communication, strategic thinking, and stakeholder management.
• Ability to influence technical standards and contribute to industry innovation.

Responsibilities

• Define and lead the strategic direction of Substation Primary capability.
• Ensure quality assurance, technical governance, and delivery excellence.
• Oversee resource planning and ensure adequate training.
• Lead recruitment, onboarding, and development of engineering talent to support growth and delivery.
• Drive team billability, utilisation, and performance metrics aligned with business objectives.
• Oversee resource planning and ensure adequate training and capability development.
• Lead and support major bids, including technical strategy, resource alignment, and client engagement.
• Review and approve HV plant aspects including layouts, earthing, interlocking, busbar calculations, and specifications.
• Chair high-level design reviews, hazard reviews, and technical assurance meetings.
• Attend site visits, FAT and SAT as required.
• Represent Jacobs in industry bodies and forums, influencing standards and best practices.
• Maintain and grow strategic client relationships, supporting business development and market positioning.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Stakeholder management

Strategic thinking

Commercial acumen

HV substation design

Education

Degree in Electrical Engineering or equivalent

LCDAE/PD (TP137) and TP141 authorisation

Job description

At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission‑critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting‑edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good.

Your impact

Jacobs is playing a leading role in the global energy transition. As our UK and Continental Europe team continues to expand, we are seeking a Director – Substations (Primary Design) to support a range of high‑profile projects across our Power & Energy portfolio. This includes high voltage AIS and GIS Substations, transmission system assets, HVDC interconnectors, and energy storage systems.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and lead the strategic direction of Jacobs’ Substation Primary capability across the UK and Europe
• Provide executive leadership on FEED and detailed design workstreams for National Grid and DNO clients
• Ensure quality assurance, technical governance, and delivery excellence across all substation projects
• Lead recruitment, onboarding, and development of engineering talent to support growth and delivery
• Drive team billability, utilisation, and performance metrics aligned with business objectives
• Oversee resource planning and ensure adequate training and capability development
• Lead and support major bids, including technical strategy, resource alignment, and client engagement
• Review and approve HV plant aspects including layouts, earthing, interlocking, busbar calculations, and specifications
• Chair high‑level design reviews, hazard reviews, and technical assurance meetings
• Attend site visits, FAT and SAT as required
• Represent Jacobs in industry bodies and forums, influencing standards and best practices
• Maintain and grow strategic client relationships, supporting business development and market positioning

Here’s what you’ll need

• Degree in Electrical Engineering or equivalent
• LCDAE/PD (TP137) and TP141 authorisation
• Recognised authority in HV substation engineering (132kV–400kV), including AIS/GIS and HVDC systems
• Proven leadership across large‑scale infrastructure programmes and multidisciplinary teams
• Strong commercial acumen with experience in bid strategy and client engagement
• Demonstrated success in team growth, recruitment, and capability development
• Excellent communication, strategic thinking, and stakeholder management skills
• Ability to influence technical standards and contribute to industry innovation

Why Jacobs?

People are Jacobs’ greatest asset, and we offer a competitive package to retain and attract the best talent.

In addition to the benefits you’d expect, UK employees also receive free single medical cover and digital GP service, family‑friendly benefits such as enhanced parental leave pay and free membership of employee assistance and parental programmes, plus reimbursement towards relevant professional development and memberships. We also give back to our communities through our Collectively program which incorporates matched‑funding, paid volunteering time and charitable donations.

Work‑life balance and flexibility is a key focus area for Jacobs. We’re happy to discuss hybrid, part‑time and flexible working hours, patterns and locations to suit you and our business.

Joining Jacobs not only connects you locally but globally. Our values stand on a foundation of safety, integrity, inclusion and belonging. We put people at the heart of our business, and we truly believe that by supporting one another through our culture of caring, we all succeed. We value positive mental health and a sense of belonging for all employees.

With safety and flexibility always top of mind, we’ve gone beyond traditional ways of working so you have the support, means and space to maximize your potential. You’ll uncover flexible working arrangements, benefits, and opportunities, from well‑being benefits to our global giving and volunteering program, to exploring new and inventive ways to help our clients make the world a better place. No matter what drives you, you’ll discover how you can cultivate, nurture, and achieve your goals – all at a single global company. Find out more about life at Jacobs.

We aim to embed inclusion and belonging in everything we do. We know that if we are inclusive, we’re more connected and creative. We accept people for who they are, and we champion the richness of different perspectives, lived experiences and backgrounds in the workplace, as a source of learning and innovation. We are committed to building vibrant communities within Jacobs, including through our Jacobs Employee Networks, Communities of Practice and our Find Your Community initiatives, allowing every employee to find connection, purpose, and belonging. Find out more about our Jacobs Employee Networks here.

Jacobs partners with VERCIDA to help us attract and retain talent from a wide range of backgrounds. For greater online accessibility please visit https://www.vercida.com/uk/employers/jacobs to view and access our roles.

As a disability confident employer, we will interview disabled candidates who best meet the criteria. We welcome applications from candidates who are seeking flexible working and from those who may not meet all the listed requirements for a role.

We value collaboration and believe that in‑person interactions are crucial for both our culture and client delivery. We empower employees with our hybrid working policy, allowing them to split their work week between Jacobs offices/projects and remote locations enabling them to deliver their best work.

Your application experience is important to us, and we’re keen to adapt to make every interaction even better. If you require further support or reasonable adjustments with regards to the recruitment process (for example, you require the application form in a different format), please contact the team via Careers Support.