Lead Protection & Control Design Engineer – HV Substations

AECO; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Career development opportunities

AECOM University

Job summary

AECOM is seeking a Principal Protection & Control Design Engineer to lead protection and control engineering for HV/EHV substations, coordinating multidisciplinary teams and delivering compliant client specifications.

You will develop SLDs, wiring diagrams, and panel designs, while coordinating with other disciplines and advancing IEC 61850-based systems. Hybrid work model with global project exposure offers opportunities to shape critical energy infrastructure.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or equivalent.
• Excellent knowledge of protection schemes for Transmission and Distribution substations.
• Strong experience with protection relays from manufacturers such as Siemens, GE, ABB/Hitachi Energy, Schneider Electric, or SEL.
• Proficiency in AutoCAD and Microsoft Office.
• Experience in UK, Middle East, Europe, or international utility projects.
• Ability to independently deliver complete Protection & Control engineering packages.
• Knowledge of IEC 61850 and substation automation systems.
• Excellent communication and coordination skills.
• Familiarity with SCADA, RTU, SAS, and communication protocols.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and documentation skills.

Responsibilities

• Prepare Protection & Control engineering designs for HV/EHV substations (11kV-400kV or above).
• Provide expert-level input to develop and oversee Protection Single Line Diagrams (SLDs), AC/DC Schematics, Wiring Diagrams, Terminal Plans, Cable Schedules, and Interconnection Diagrams.
• Design Protection Relay Panels, Control Panels, Annunciation Panels, Metering Panels, and RTU/SCADA interfaces.
• Prepare Protection Relay Settings philosophy and coordinate with system studies where applicable.
• Perform protection coordination and review relay configurations.
• Prepare engineering calculations, cable sizing, voltage drop calculations, and battery sizing (where applicable).
• Coordinate with Civil, Primary, Telecom, and SCADA engineering teams.
• Review vendor drawings and ensure compliance with project specifications.
• Undertake client and stakeholder engagement, providing technical assurance, strategic direction, and value-engineered solutions on high-profile infrastructure programmes.
• Support FAT, SAT, commissioning, and technical issue resolution.
• Drive project execution, managing technical risks, interfaces, and quality reviews while supporting procurement, construction, and commissioning phases.
• Ensure designs comply with IEC, IEEE, National Grid, and client-specific standards.
• Champion mentorship, knowledge-sharing, and technical development within the wider team, supporting capability growth in cable systems engineering.
• Support business development activities, including proposals, bid reviews, and client presentations.

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering or equivalent

Tools

AutoCAD

Microsoft Office

Job description

AECOM is seeking a Principal Protection & Control Design Engineer to lead protection and control engineering for HV/EHV substations, coordinating multidisciplinary teams and delivering compliant client specifications.

You will develop SLDs, wiring diagrams, and panel designs, while coordinating with other disciplines and advancing IEC 61850-based systems. Hybrid work model with global project exposure offers opportunities to shape critical energy infrastructure.