Hydro Maintenance Lead

SSE; Inverness; Hybrid; GBP 72,000 - 86,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Car or car allowance

Performance-related bonus

Benefits for finances, wellbeing and a

Job summary

SSE in Scotland is seeking a Lead Engineer to join the Hydro Asset Maintenance Team. You will lead engineers and technicians across the Affric Beauly and Connon Shin sections, focusing on safety, defect rectification and long-term asset reliability.

You will direct work packages, manage risks, build capable teams, and oversee outage and budget plans with precise forecasting and cost control. The role requires clear, timely decisions and a commitment to safety and compliance.

Qualifications

• Degree in engineering or HNC with substantial technical experience.
• Proven experience in a process/engineering environment, hydro generation preferred.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and analytical skills with attention to detail.
• Ability to coach or mentor others and make timely safety-focused decisions.
• Strong commercial management with budgets experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead the maintenance team to deliver high safety standards, from designing work packages to on-site completion.
• Own engineering risks across the section, prioritise activities to optimise asset performance and manage business risk.
• Develop and map competency, promote knowledge and continuous improvement across the section.
• Manage long-term and in-year outage and budget plans with forecasting and cost control.
• Lead collaboration with operations, providing engineering expertise and supporting compliance decisions.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Analytical thinking

Education

Engineering degree or HNC with substantial experience

Job description

Base Location: You'll be expected to spend 50% of your working week in one of the following locations Affric Beauly or Connon Shin Areas.

Salary: SS10 £71,869 - £85,880 depending on skills and experience + car /car allowance + performance-related bonus + a range of benefits to support your finances, wellbeing and family.

Working Pattern: Permanent | Full Time

The role

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Hydro Asset Maintenance Team as Lead Engineer. In this key leadership role, you'll support a team of engineers and technicians across the Affric Beauly & Connon Shin sections, with a strong focus on safety, defect rectification and long-term asset reliability. Through clear direction and confident, informed decision-making, you’ll help maximise the performance and reliability of our hydro fleet.

Some of your other main accountabilities will include;

• Leading the maintenance team to deliver the highest standards of safety, from the design of work packages through to the successful completion of on-site activities.
• Owning engineering risks across your section, prioritising team activities to optimise asset performance and effectively managing business risk.
• Building a capable and adaptable team by understanding, mapping and developing competency, while promoting broader knowledge and continuous improvement across the section.
• Managing long-term and in-year outage and budget plans, ensuring accurate forecasting, effective cost control and clear performance reporting.
• Leading your team in partnering with operational colleagues, providing trusted engineering expertise and supporting sound compliance and operational decisions.

To be successful in this role, we would love you to have;

• A degree in a relevant engineering discipline, or an HNC supported by significant demonstrable technical experience.
• Proven experience in a process or engineering environment, ideally within Hydro generation, supported by a strong track record of effective engineering and technical decision-making.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and analytical skills, combined with strong attention to detail and experience of coaching or mentoring others.
• The confidence to make clear, timely decisions in a challenging operational environment, with a focus on safety, risk and strategic priorities.
• Strong commercial management capability, coupled with demonstrable experience of managing both operational and capital budgets.

About SSE

SSE’s purpose is to be restless every day until we make electricity clean, affordable and available for all.

We do this by developing, building, operating and investing in electricity infrastructure and businesses needed in the energy transition. This includes electricity transmission and distribution networks, onshore and offshore wind farms, hydro‑electric power and flexible thermal generation. We also provide products and services for businesses and other customers.

Our investment plan will see SSE invest £33bn in critical electricity infrastructure to 2030.

SSE Renewables delivers the clean power needed to support the clean energy transition. We lead the way in the development, build, and operation of renewable power assets, including windfarms, hydro power stations, and solar and battery projects. Join a global team of 1,800 expertshelping lead the transition to a clean, reliable electricity system.

Flexible benefits to fit your life

• Enjoy discounts on private healthcare and gym memberships.
• Wellbeing benefits like a free online GP and 24/7 counselling service.
• Interest-free loans on tech and transport season tickets, or a new bike with our Cycle to Work scheme.
• As well as generous family entitlements such as maternity and adoption pay, and paternity leave.

Work with an equal opportunity employer

SSE will make any reasonable adjustments you need to ensure that your application and experience with us is positive. Please contact Pamela Hendry on [e-mail] 01738 342002 to discuss how we can support you.

We're dedicated to fostering an open and inclusive workplace where people from all backgrounds can thrive. We create equal opportunities for everyone to succeed and especially welcome applications from those who may not be well represented in our workforce or industry.