Engineer (Network Access Planning)

National Energy System Operator; Wokingham; Hybrid; GBP 49,000 - 68,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

26 days annual leave

Company-contributory pension (12% max)

NESO Savings Plan with 50% matching

Flexible benefits programme

Cycle to Work Scheme

Private Medical Insurance

Critical Illness Insurance

Personal Accident Insurance

Job summary

National Energy System Operator is seeking a Network Access Planning Engineer to design and optimise outage plans from six years ahead to day-ahead, ensuring secure and cost-effective configurations for the Control Room. The role emphasises cross-team collaboration and agile problem solving within a dynamic energy grid environment.

You will join a structured six-month training programme; deep power systems knowledge is not required on day one, with hybrid work from Wokingham and office/on-site

Qualifications

• Degree in Engineering, STEM, or related discipline
• Strong numerical and analytical ability
• Ability to prioritise and stay focused when demands compete
• Clear communication skills
• Experience working with different teams, departments or customers
• Genuine appetite for learning

Responsibilities

• Developing and optimising outage plans across a 6-year to day-ahead horizon
• Producing daily, secure, cost-effective system configurations for the Control Room
• Managing transmission constraint costs and minimising system risk
• Liaising with internal teams and external customers to resolve access conflicts
• Innovating solutions when the standard approach won’t cut it

Job description

About the Role

Britain’s electricity grid runs 24 hours a day. Keeping it secure while hundreds of planned maintenance windows, engineer access requests, and interconnector agreements are in motion simultaneously — that’s the puzzle this role solves.

As a Network Access Planning Engineer at NESO, you’ll be building and optimising the outage plan that makes it all possible, working anywhere from six years ahead down to the day itself. If you like complex problems with real consequences, you’ll fit right in.

National Energy System Operator (NESO) is on a journey towards a sustainable and secure energy future. Together we build on this momentum, advancing the National Energy System Operator’s (NESO) plan to achieve the government’s Clean Power 2030 ambition and support the transition to net zero.

Are you ready to dive into the dynamic world of energy and network planning at NESO (National Energy System Operator)?

You’ll own a critical slice of Britain’s electricity planning — from long-range outage scheduling to same-day operational plans used live in the Control Room. Day to day, that means:

• Developing and optimising outage plans across a 6-year to day-ahead horizon
• Producing daily, secure, cost-effective system configurations for the Control Room
• Managing transmission constraint costs and minimising system risk
• Liaising with internal teams and external customers to resolve access conflicts
• Innovating solutions when the standard approach won’t cut it

We’re hiring a cohort of engineers across the team, and we’ll match each person’s background to the right position. You’ll join a well-established team with a structured six-month training programme — so deep prior knowledge of power systems is not a requirement on day one.

This role is based in Wokingham , and we continue to offer hybrid working from office and home, with the specific split determined by business needs. More one day a week on site might be required

The team

The Network Access Planning team is responsible for assessing, coordinating, and sanctioning the planned release of transmission assets for maintenance, new connections, and equipment commissioning. Using AC and DC system analysis tools, the team optimises access to the grid while ensuring the transmission system stays within Security and Quality of Supply Standards at every stage. When the planning work is done, a fully operable outage plan is handed over to the Electricity Network Control Centre to deliver in real-time — so the work you do here has a direct, visible impact.

Applicants must have the right to work in the UK by the start of employment. Visa sponsorship may not be available for this role and will be considered in line with business requirements.

About You

This role suits analytically-minded, technically curious people who enjoy working through structured problems under real time pressure. We’re open to a wide range of backgrounds — from recent graduates to engineers with number of years’ experience.

You’ll need:

• A degree in Engineering, STEM, or a related discipline — or an HNC/Diploma in Power System Operation with relevant experience
• Strong numerical and analytical ability
• The ability to prioritise and stay focused when demands compete
• Clear communication skills — you’ll be writing plans that others act on
• Experience working with different teams, departments or customers
• A genuine appetite for learning; this field rewards curiosity

What You’ll Get

A competitive salary of £49,000 - £68,000 dependent on experience and capabilityAs well as your base salary, NESO’s core benefits are the essential perks and advantages that form part of your employee package.- You will receive a bonus based on company performance- 26 days annual leave as standard- A competitive contributory pension scheme where we will double match your contribution to a maximum company contribution of 12%.- Annual Enrollment to NESO Savings Plan, when you save between £20- £500 a month from your take-home pay, we will pay a 50% matching contribution.

NESO’s flexible benefits programme provides you with more flexibility around your health, lifestyle and protection benefits, here’s just a few available:

• Flexible Bank Holidays & Holiday Trading
• Additional Birthday Day Off
• Cycle to Work Scheme, Retail & Gym Discounts
• Private Medical Insurance, Critical Illness Insurance & Personal Accident Insurance

About Us

At the National Energy System Operator (NESO), we play a vital role in tackling climate change and securing Great Britain’s energy future. We already operate the world’s fastest decarbonising electricity system and are working towards our ambition to run it carbon-free for a short period this year - provided the market supplies electricity exclusively from renewable sources. Alongside this, we provide expert advice to government on how to deliver a clean power system by 2030.

In autumn 2024, the Electricity System Operator (ESO) transitioned to become NESO - an independent, expert public corporation with a whole-system view across electricity, gas, and hydrogen. NESO operates independently and transparently, always acting in the best interests of all energy users.

Licensed and regulated by Ofgem, we make impartial decisions that balance sustainability, affordability and security. Our organisation is fully independent from government, the regulator and all commercial interests, with a clear focus on system-wide benefit, long term thing and public value.

The time to deliver is now. Join the energy transformation and help shape the future.

Your energy. Our future. Together

National Energy System Operator (NESO) recognises the potential of bright and talented individuals, and we encourage you to join us as Great Britain’s energy system undergoes an ambitious, exciting, and vital transformation. Together with industry, we are creating a cleaner, more sustainable energy future.

More Information

This role closes at 23:59, on the day before date shown above, however we encourage candidates to submit their application as early as possible and not wait until the published closing date as this can vary.

Research shows that some people may hesitate to apply unless they meet every single requirement. At NESO, we believe potential comes in many forms and we’re committed to a fair, inclusive recruitment

We’re committed to building a workforce that represents the communities we serve, and a working environment in which each individual feels valued, respected, fairly treated, and able to reach their full potential. If this role sparks your interest but you’re not sure you tick every box, we still want to hear from you. process where everyone has the opportunity to show their talents. We celebrate the difference people can bring into our organisation, and welcome and encourage applicants with diverse experiences and backgrounds.