Head of Substation Engineering | Lead HV Systems & Innovation

SSE PLC; Aberdeen City; Hybrid; GBP 101,000 - 151,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private healthcare discounts

Gym membership discounts

Free online GP

24/7 counselling

Cycle to Work scheme

Family entitlements (maternity/adopt.)

Paternity leave

Job summary

SSEN Transmission, part of SSE plc, is hiring a Head of Engineering - Substations in Scotland. You will lead a team of about 40 engineers, shape design and governance, and steer delivery across transmission substations as the network grows toward Net Zero.

This permanent, full-time role offers hybrid working and strong career development. The role requires a degree in engineering, deep HV Substation knowledge, senior leadership experience, and robust stakeholder engagement.

Qualifications

• Degree-level engineering qualification or equivalent experience, ideally electrical background.
• Strong knowledge of high-voltage electrical systems and Substation engineering.
• Significant senior engineering or technical leadership experience, ideally within electricity transmission or a safety-critical infrastructure environment.
• Understanding of engineering governance, Technical Authority and Design Authority, with credibility to influence senior stakeholders.
• Exceptional people leadership, communication and commercial judgement with a track record of developing high-performing technical teams.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership across the Substations discipline, setting direction and ensuring engineering standards, policies and technical guidance are in place.
• Lead Technical Authority for Substations, ensuring engineering decisions are robust and well governed across projects.
• Drive innovation, Value Engineering and standardisation to improve project and asset outcomes.
• Provide senior technical judgement on complex or novel engineering challenges, balancing safety, reliability and cost.
• Build a high-performing engineering community, leading around 40 engineering specialists and collaborating across SSEN Transmission and partners.

Skills

Electrical engineering

Senior leadership

People leadership

Stakeholder management

Education

Degree-level engineering qualification

Job description

SSEN Transmission, part of SSE plc, is hiring a Head of Engineering - Substations in Scotland. You will lead a team of about 40 engineers, shape design and governance, and steer delivery across transmission substations as the network grows toward Net Zero.

This permanent, full-time role offers hybrid working and strong career development. The role requires a degree in engineering, deep HV Substation knowledge, senior leadership experience, and robust stakeholder engagement.