Lead Principal Engineer - HVDC Protection & Control

SSEN Transmission; Glasgow; Hybrid; GBP 81,000 - 121,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Car or car allowance

Performance bonus

Flexible benefits

Family entitlements

Job summary

SSEN Transmission in the UK is seeking a Lead Principal Engineer for HVDC Power & Control to lead cross-project HVDC P&C efforts. Based in Scotland with a requirement to spend 50% of time in the office, you will shape strategies, standards and delivery across a multi-project offshore portfolio.

You will drive technical leadership, guide a team of engineers, ensure regulatory compliance, and push for innovation to support a £30bn programme toward Net Zero.

Qualifications

• Deep technical knowledge of HVDC P&C engineering and relevant legislation (CDM & ESQCR).
• Proven ability to lead and develop teams delivering complex HVDC P&C outcomes.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience across design, construction or operations of HVDC P&C.
• Professional engineering accreditation or Chartered status preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership and accountability for HVDC P&C engineering initiatives.
• Drive issue resolution across the programme with pragmatic engineering judgement.
• Guide and nurture a team of specialist engineers and promote an inclusive culture.
• Ensure health, safety and environmental excellence per CDM ESQCR and SSEN standards.
• Promote innovation and continuous improvement, engaging with industry forums.
• Engage with technology providers to shape future project pipelines.

Skills

HVDC P&C

Engineering leadership

Problem solving

Stakeholder management

Chartered Engineer

Education

Engineering degree

Chartered Engineer (preferred)

Job description

Base Location: For this role, we require successful applicants to be based from one of our Scottish locations – Perth, Glasgow, Aberdeen or 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, wellbeing and family.

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

The role

This is an opportunity to play a pivotal leadership role in shaping the future of HVDC Protection & Control (P&C) 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 a collaborative, influential and technically respected leader to join our Offshore Project Engineering team.

As Lead Principal Engineer – HVDC P&C, you will provide technical leadership into development, standardisation and continuous improvement of HVDC P&C strategies and solutions across a multi-project offshore portfolio. You will lead the resolution of HVDC P&C 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 HVDC P&C 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 frontier 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 P&C engineering design outcomes, construction or operations.
• 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 P&C 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.

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 [e-mail] /01738 341147 to discuss how we can support you.

We'rededicated 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.