Innovation Engineer

National Grid plc; Warwick; Hybrid; GBP 56,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Holiday allowance

Annual bonus

Pension scheme

Life insurance

Private medical insurance

Flexible benefits

Job summary

National Grid plc in the UK is seeking to recruit across three levels for a hybrid role based in Warwick, combining office time with remote work. You will explore and develop innovative projects, build strong relationships with industry partners and deliver value through measurable outcomes.

The role offers the chance to influence the future of the UK energy system, with progression from Associate to Innovation Engineer and potentially a senior leadership path, supported by a collaborative team

Qualifications

• A relevant engineering or technical background with understanding of electricity networks/high-voltage environments or other safety-critical sectors.
• Experience developing, researching, trialling or deploying innovative or technology-based solutions.
• Experience in innovation, energy networks or related industries.

Responsibilities

• Identify and evaluate new ideas addressing current and future transmission network challenges.
• Develop innovation projects and business cases with clear objectives, benefits, delivery plans and deployment routes.
• Manage or lead R&D and demonstration activities from concept to completion.

Skills

Electrical engineering

HV networks

Innovation research

Stakeholder management

Communication skills

MS Office

Tools

MS Office

Job description

At National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET), we are at the heart of the energy transition. Our Innovation team works with colleagues, industry partners, academics and innovators to anticipate the future needs of the transmission network and develop pioneering solutions. You could be researching emerging technologies, shaping new project ideas, delivering trials and demonstrations, or helping successful innovation become part of our day-to-day operations.

We are recruiting across three career levels in a single campaign. During the application process, you will be able to indicate the role level you are most interested in. We will consider your skills and experience against the level that offers the best fit and opportunity for you.

Why Join Us

• Work on real transmission challenges with the potential to influence the future of the UK energy system.
• Join a supportive, forward-thinking team and collaborate across the business and the wider energy ecosystem.
• Build your expertise across technical, commercial, regulatory and project disciplines.
• Benefit from hybrid working, combining time at our Warwick office with working from home, subject to business needs.

What You'll Do

• Explore, evaluate and prioritise new ideas that address current and future transmission network challenges.
• Develop innovation projects and business cases with clear objectives, benefits, delivery plans and routes to deployment.
• Manage or lead research, development and demonstration activity from concept through to completion.
• Build effective relationships with colleagues, suppliers, academics, innovators and wider industry partners.
• Ensure projects are delivered with appropriate technical, commercial, regulatory and project governance.
• Share learning, champion innovation and help embed successful solutions into business as usual.

About You

Across all three levels, we are looking for curious, creative engineers who enjoy turning difficult problems into practical outcomes. The depth of evidence expected will increase with the level of role.

• A relevant engineering or technical background, with an understanding of electricity networks, high-voltage environments or another transferable safety-critical sector.
• Experience of developing, researching, trialling or deploying innovative or technology-based solutions.
• Experience working in innovation, whether that be energy network innovation or innovation from a different industry.
• The ability to communicate complex ideas clearly and work effectively with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Project, supplier and stakeholder management skills appropriate to the level of role.
• Commercial awareness and an outcome-focused approach to delivering measurable value.
• Good written and verbal communication skills, with proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

How the levels differ: L6 applicants may still be developing breadth and independence; L7 applicants should be ready to own projects and portfolios; L8 applicants should evidence strategic leadership, influence and delivery of complex innovation across organisational boundaries.

Choose the level that best reflects you

L6 | Associate

Build your innovation career

• Support several technical portfolios and contribute to research, project development and delivery.
• Develop project management, commercial and stakeholder skills with guidance from experienced colleagues.
• Ideal if you bring a relevant technical foundation and enthusiasm to grow your innovation experience.

L7 | Innovation Engineer

Own and deliver

• Take ownership of a varied portfolio and lead projects from idea development through trial and deployment.
• Develop robust business cases and manage suppliers, stakeholders, governance, reporting and benefits.

Shape and lead

• Set direction for an innovation portfolio and influence future priorities with senior sponsors and the wider business.
• Lead complex, strategically important programmes and create strong routes from innovation to adoption and value.
• Ideal if you bring deep expertise, strategic judgement, commercial awareness and leadership across organisational boundaries.

What You'll Get

A competitive salary between

Innovation Engineer £56,000 > £65,000

As well as your base salary, you will receive

• 26 days holiday, plus eight statutory days, an option to buy extra holiday days, and the option to holiday swap up to 3 bank holiday days
• An annual performance incentive
• A generous pension scheme, double matched up to 6% of your salary each month. For every £1 you contribute we’ll put in another £2, so if you put in 6%, we’ll add 12% giving a total of 18% to your pension pot
• Life insurance at 10 times basic salary
• Employer funding towards a portion of your Private Medical Insurance.
• You will also have access to a number of flexible benefits such as a share incentive plan, salary sacrifice car and technology schemes, support via employee assistance lines and matched charity giving to name a few.

More Information

The closing date for this vacancy is 6th November. However, we encourage candidates to submit their applications as early as possible and not to wait until the published closing date. National Grid’s recruitment periods can and may vary. We reserve the right to remove this advert or close it to further applications at any point during the recruitment process.

In NGET we are passionate about both operating our network safely and providing highly reliable quality of supply for our customers. At the heart of achieving these outcomes is the effective control and operation of our network.

To find out more about us, please follow the link below:

At National Grid, we work towards the highest standards in everything we do, including how we support, value and develop our people. Our aim is to encourage and support employees to thrive and be the best they can be. We celebrate the difference people can bring into our organisation, and welcome and encourage applicants with diverse experiences and backgrounds, and offer flexible and tailored support, at home and in the office.

Our goal is to drive, develop and operate our business in a way that results in a more inclusive culture. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, the innovation from diverse teams & perspectives and business need. We are committed to building a workforce so we can represent the communities we serve and have a working environment in which each individual feels valued, respected, fairly treated, and able to reach their full potential.

Please note that in most cases, National Grid is unable to offer sponsorship for employment under the UK points-based immigration system. As such, applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK without requiring sponsorship now or in the future under the UK points-based immigration system. However, in exceptional circumstances where there is a clear and demonstrable need for specialist skills that cannot be sourced from the local labour market, National Grid may consider offering sponsorship. All applications are welcome from candidates who meet these requirements, regardless of race, nationality, or ethnic origin.

National Grid operates in both the UK and US, with a broad portfolio of energy businesses dedicated to providing safe, reliable, and sustainable power.

From electricity and gas transmission to advancing clean energy and modernising grids, our work covers every aspect of the energy system.

Our energy flows through absolutely everything we do

Life here at National Grid is more than just our purpose or our values, it’s everything we put into everything we do. It’s our commitment to diversity and inclusion; how we help our employees learn and grow; and how we partner and support the communities where we live and work. It’s all this, and so much more.

We leverage our collective strengths to do meaningful BIG work so that we can be at the heart of a fair and affordable energy future.

Your salary is reviewed each year against the market for your role, skills, knowledge and experience.

Incentive

Annual performance plan or bonus (depending on your role) rewards your contribution to our success each year.

Retirement

Generous pension plan with company contributions up to 12%.

Private medical insurance for self and family.