Lead Principal Engineer - HVDC Plant

SSEN Transmission; Inverness; On-site; GBP 81,000 - 121,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private healthcare discounts

Gym membership discounts

Online GP and 24/7 counselling

Cycle to Work scheme

Family entitlements (maternity/adption

Paternity leave

Job summary

SSEN Transmission is seeking a Lead Principal Engineer – HVDC Plant to provide technical leadership across a multi-project offshore portfolio as part of a £30bn programme to advance the UK's HVDC capabilities. The role focuses on development, standardisation and continuous improvement of HVDC systems, balancing risk and delivery across major projects.

You will guide a team of engineers, ensure regulatory and safety alignment, and collaborate with internal teams and external partners to shape

Qualifications

• Proven track record of delivering complex HVDC converter projects.
• Strong initiative and collaborative decision making.
• Deep knowledge of HVDC plant engineering and related regulations (CDM & ESQCR).
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership and accountability for HVDC Plant engineering initiatives.
• Drive resolution of technical issues across the programme.
• Lead and mentor a team of specialist engineers.
• Ensure health, safety and environmental excellence per standards.
• Promote innovation and continuous improvement.
• Engage with technology providers to inform future strategies.

Skills

Technical leadership

HVDC engineering

Team leadership

Problem solving

Stakeholder management

Education

Engineering degree

Chartered Engineer status preferred

Job description

Base Location:For this role, we require successful applicants to be basedfromone of our Scottish locations – Perth, Glasgow,Aberdeenor Inverness and you'll be expected to spend 50% of your working week in the office

Salary:£80,700 - £121,100 + car / car allowance + performance-related bonus + a range of benefits to support your finances,wellbeingand family.

Working Pattern:Permanent | Full Time (Part Time options available) |Flexible Firstoptions available

The role

This is an opportunity to play a pivotal leadership role in shaping the future of HVDC Plant engineering across some of the UK’s most complex and ambitious transmission projects. As we deliver a programme valued at c.£30bn over the next 5 years and accelerate towards Net Zero, we are seeking collaborative, influencial and technically respected leader to join our Offshore Project Engineering team.

As Lead Principal Engineer – HVDC Plant, you will provide technical leadership into development, standardisation and continuous improvement of our HVDC System across a multi-project offshore portfolio. You will lead the resolution of HVDC Plant related design issues, ensuring solutions align with SSEN Transmission standards, statutory requirements, programme objectives and long-term operational needs. You will play a key role in driving consistency, balancing technical risk, and delivery certainty across major projects.

Working closely with colleagues across our business, supply chain and industry partners, you will help shape technical standards and best practice, strengthen engineering capability and contribute to the successful delivery of strategically important HVDC infrastructure. Through collaboration and knowledge sharing, you will help advance the development of HVDC technology while raising the profile of SSEN Transmission's offshore delivery programme and achievements.

You Will

• Provide technical leadership and accountability for all HVDC Plant engineering initiatives, ensuring solutions meet business, regulatory, and safety requirements.
• Drive proactive and pragmatic resolution of technical issues across the programme. Bring together diverse perspectives, foster collaborative problem-solving and apply sound engineering judgement to deliver effective outcomes. Ensuring both programme delivery and engineering excellence remain at the forefront of decision-making.
• Guide and nurture a team of specialist engineers from across the business, fostering a supportive and inclusive culture and encouraging career growth.
• Promote health, safety, and environmental excellence, ensuring compliance with CDM, ESQCR, and SSEN standards.
• Drive Innovation by encouraging creativity and continuous improvement, implementing enhancements and engaging with industry forums to shape best practice.
• Actively engage with Technology providers to develop a thorough understanding of technical developments, new solutions and emerging providers. Feeding into technology strategies for our future project pipeline

You Have

• A proven track record of bringing out the best in people and delivering complex HVDC Converter engineering projects.
• Strong ability in taking initiative to solve complex problems using collaborative decision making, influencing outcomes and a passion for growing others
• Deep technical knowledge of HVDC Plant engineering, relevant legislation (including CDM & ESQCR), and industry standards.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build trust and simplify complex ideas.
• A degree in an appropriate engineering discipline, with Chartered Engineer status (or equivalent) preferred.

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. SSEN Transmission own and operate the electricity transmission network across the north of Scotland. We transport electricity from where it is generated to where it is needed, ensuring a safe and reliable electricity supply for the communities we serve. But that's not all – we're upgrading the grid to deliver cleaner, homegrown power for the future and building the infrastructure needed for a cleaner electricity system to create secure power for generations to come.

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.