Lead Cable Design Engineer

Arup; City of Edinburgh; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Profit Share

Private medical insurance

Life assurance

Accident insurance

Income protection

Flexible benefits

Job summary

Arup is seeking a highly experienced technical leader to drive transmission cable system designs across major projects. You will guide teams, champion best practices for HVAC and HVDC cabling, and act as the primary technical authority throughout project lifecycles.

You will mentor engineers, oversee design reviews, and support tendering with insightful cost-optimisation strategies while ensuring compliance with IEC, IEEE and national standards.

Qualifications

• Degree in Electrical Engineering; Chartered Engineer status essential.
• Extensive experience in high‑voltage transmission cable design (HV/EHV).
• Proven track record of leading engineering teams and delivering large‑scale projects.
• Strong knowledge of IEC, IEEE, and other relevant standards.
• Proficiency in advanced design software (CDEGS, CYMCAP, Comsol, AutoCAD or equivalent).
• Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Previous National Grid experience (preferred but not essential).

Responsibilities

• Lead technical delivery and strategic direction for transmission cable system designs.
• Define best‑practice design standards for HVAC and HVDC cables across projects.
• Oversee lifecycle of cable systems (AC/DC, overhead/underground) and approve designs.
• Mentor junior engineers and conduct rigorous technical reviews.
• Support tendering with authoritative cost and technical insights.

Skills

HV transmission design

Leadership experience

IEC/IEEE standards

CDEGS

CYMCAP

Comsol

AutoCAD

Chartered Engineer

Electrical engineering degree

Education

Electrical Engineering degree

Chartered Engineer status

Tools

CDEGS

CYMCAP

Comsol

AutoCAD

Job description

Joining Arup

Arup’s purpose, shared values and collaborative approach have set us apart for 80 years, guiding how we shape a better world. Arup undertakes transmission and distribution design projects across the globe. In the UK we deliver concept through to detail design for a wide range of clients including established asset owners and new market entrants (interconnectors, private wire schemes etc).

As an example, Arup recently formed a joint venture with AECOM to serve as the design and consenting service partner for the UK National Grid’s Great Grid Partnership. Over a period of 8–12 years, Arup will help deliver key aspects of the transmission grid transformation, ensuring a resilient, low-carbon energy network for the future. This is the UK’s major grid modernisation programme, set to deliver five times more electricity infrastructure than has been built in the past three decades. These projects, part of the Accelerated Strategic Transmission Investment (ASTI) framework, will enhance the country’s energy backbone, supporting planned renewable developments such as wind farms in the North Sea and East Anglia coastline. By expanding and enhancing the grid, this programme will accelerate the transition to net zero, reduce reliance on fossil fuels, and drive down energy costs. This collaboration will drive a comprehensive design and construction programme aimed at connecting clean energy to homes and businesses across England and Wales by 2030 and beyond.

The Opportunity

We are seeking a highly experienced individual for technical leadership and strategic delivery of transmission cable system designs. This role combines deep technical expertise with leadership responsibilities, ensuring the successful design and integration of cable systems for major electricity transmission projects. You will champion best practice design, guide teams, and act as the key technical authority for complex cable projects. Step into a pivotal leadership role where you’ll define and uphold best‑in‑class practices for HVAC and HVDC cable design across a diverse portfolio of projects. As the organisation’s principal technical authority, you’ll guide design teams with clarity and confidence, driving innovation, managing risk, and ensuring every solution meets the highest IEC, IEEE, and national grid standards. You’ll oversee the full lifecycle of high‑voltage transmission cable systems—both AC and DC, overhead and underground—approving detailed designs and championing continuous improvement. Alongside delivering complex projects, you’ll play a key role in developing talent, mentoring junior engineers, and leading rigorous technical reviews. Acting as the primary technical interface for clients, regulators, and contractors, you’ll support tendering with authoritative insight and cost‑optimisation strategies. You’ll also shape the future of the industry by spearheading new technology initiatives, enhancing design methodologies, and representing the organisation in key industry forums.

At Arup, you belong to an extraordinary collective – in which we encourage individuality to thrive. Our strength comes from how we respect, share and connect our diverse experiences, perspectives and ideas. You will have the opportunity do socially useful work that has meaning – to Arup, to your career, to our members and to the clients and communities we serve.

Is this role right for you?

We Are Looking For People Who Have

• A Degree in Electrical Engineering or related discipline; Chartered Engineer status essential.
• Extensive experience in high-voltage transmission cable design (HV/EHV systems).
• A Proven track record of leading engineering teams and delivering large-scale projects.
• Strong knowledge of IEC, IEEE, and other relevant standards.
• Proficiency in advanced design software (such as CDEGS, CYMCAP, Comsol, AutoCAD or equivalent).
• Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Previous National Grid experience (preferred but not essential).

What We Offer You

At Arup, we care about each member’s success, so we can grow together. Guided by our values, we provide an attractive total reward package that recognises the contribution of each of our members to our shared success. As well as competitive, fair and equitable pay, we offer a career in which all of our members can belong, grow and thrive – through benefits that support health and wellbeing, a wide range of learning opportunities and many possibilities to have an impact through the work they do.

We are owned in trust on behalf of our members, giving us the freedom, with personal responsibility, to set our own direction and choose work that aligns with our purpose and adds to Arup’s legacy. Our members collaborate on ambitious projects to deliver remarkable outcomes for our clients and communities. Profit Share is a key part of our reward, enabling members to share in the results of our collective efforts.

We also provide Private medical insurance, Life assurance, Accident insurance and Income protection cover. In addition, you’ll have access to flexible benefits to help you look after all aspects of your wellbeing and give you the freedom and flexibility to find the best solutions for you, your family, and your individual needs.

Different people, shared values

Arup is an equal opportunity employer that actively promotes and nurtures a diverse and inclusive workforce. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, regardless of age (within legal limits), gender identity or expression, marital status, disability, neurotype or mental health, race or ethnicity, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, and whether you’re pregnant or on family leave. We are an open environment that embraces diverse experiences, perspectives, and ideas – this drives our excellence.

Guided by our values and alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, we create and contribute to equitable spaces and systems, while cultivating a sense of belonging for all. Our internal employee networks support our inclusive culture: from race, ethnicity and cross-cultural working to gender equity and LGBTQ+ and disability inclusion – we aim to create a space for you to express yourself and make a positive difference. Discover more about life at Arup at www.arup.com/careers/your-life-at-arup.

We are committed to making our recruitment process and workplaces accessible to all candidates. Please contact [e-mail] to let us know if you need any assistance or reasonable adjustments throughout your application or interview process, and/or to perform the essential functions of the role. We will do everything we can to support you.

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