Lead Protection & Control Substation Engineer

Arup; England; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private medical insurance

Life assurance

Accident insurance

Income protection cover

Flexible benefits

Profit Share

Job summary

Arup is seeking a senior engineer to provide technical leadership for protection and control across major transmission projects in the UK.

You will lead multidisciplinary design teams, ensure compliance with IEC/IEEE standards, and drive innovative protection schemes for HV/EHV substations.

Qualifications

• Degree in Electrical Engineering and Chartered Engineer status mandatory.
• Extensive experience in substation protection and control engineering (HV/EHV).
• Proven track record leading engineering teams on large projects.
• Expertise in protection relays, SCADA and comms protocols (IEC 61850, DNP3).
• Strong leadership, strategic thinking and stakeholder management.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership and direction for protection and control across multiple projects.
• Oversee design, configuration and implementation of protection schemes for substations.
• Ensure compliance with IEC/IEEE and national standards while driving innovation.
• Manage budgets, timelines and resources for engineering teams.
• Mentor junior engineers and lead technical reviews.

Skills

Electrical Engineering

Chartered Engineer

Substation protection & control

Team leadership

Protection relays & SCADA

IEC 61850 / DNP3

Stakeholder management

Power system analysis tools

National Grid experience

Education

Electrical Engineering degree

Tools

ETAP

DIgSILENT

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 program aimed at connecting clean energy to homes and businesses across England and Wales by 2030 and beyond.

Watch this short clip to discover how Arup are shaping a better world and how you could be a part of it!

Is this role right for you?

Technical leadership and strategic delivery of transmission substation protection and control systems. In this role, you will deliver excellence in design, act as lead interface with multidisciplinary design teams and ensure the successful execution of complex projects that underpin the reliability and resilience of the power network.

We are looking for people who have:

Leadership & Strategy

Provide technical leadership and direction for protection and control engineering across multiple projects.

Define best practices, standards, and methodologies for substation protection and automation systems.

Act as a trusted advisor to senior stakeholders on grid protection strategies and emerging technologies.

Project Delivery

Oversee design, configuration, and implementation of advanced protection and control schemes for transmission substations.

Ensure compliance with IEC, IEEE, and national grid standards while driving innovation in system design.

Manage project budgets, timelines, and resource allocation for engineering teams.

Team Development

Mentor and develop junior engineers, fostering a culture of technical excellence and continuous improvement.

Lead technical reviews and provide authoritative guidance on complex engineering challenges.

Stakeholder Engagement

Serve as the main technical interface for clients, regulators, and contractors.

Support tendering processes with authoritative technical input and cost optimization strategies.

Innovation & Strategy

Serve as the primary technical interface for clients, regulators, and contractors.

Represent the organization in industry forums and contribute to shaping future standards.

Qualifications & Skills

Degree in Electrical Engineering or related discipline; Chartered Engineer status essential.

Extensive experience in substation protection and control engineering (HV/EHV systems).

Proven track record of leading engineering teams and delivering large‑scale projects.

Expertise in protection relays, SCADA systems, and communication protocols (IEC 61850, DNP3, etc.).

Strong leadership, strategic thinking, and stakeholder management skills.

Familiarity with power system analysis tools (such as ETAP, DIgSILENT, or similar).

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.

• Private medical insurance
• Life assurance
• Accident insurance
• Income protection cover
• flexible benefits
• Profit Share