Principal Building Services Engineer (Electrical)

Arup; Scotland; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Arup is seeking a Principal Building Services Engineer in Edinburgh to lead electrical design across various projects, ensuring sustainability and safety. The role requires Chartered Engineer status, extensive experience in electrical systems, and leadership to manage engineering teams while fostering diversity and inclusion.

Benefits

Private Medical Insurance

Life Assurance

Accident Insurance

Flexible benefits

Qualifications

• Chartered Engineer with a degree in Electrical Engineering or related discipline.
• Extensive experience in designing electrical systems, including power, lighting, and safety.
• Leadership skills and ability to manage engineering teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead electrical design on diverse projects.
• Manage and oversee the electrical team and project delivery.
• Ensure quality and develop engineers and graduates.

Skills

Electrical design

Leadership

Team management

Understanding of legislation

Proficiency in electrical design tools

Education

Degree in Electrical Engineering or related discipline

Chartered Engineer (CEng) status

Tools

Revit

Amtech (Trimble)

Dialux

Job description

Job Title – Principal Building Services Engineer (Electrical)

Location: Edinburgh

Joining Arup

Arup’s purpose, shared values and collaborative approach have set us apart for over 75 years, guiding us to shape a better world.

Electrical engineers at Arup play a vital role in ensuring the sustainability, efficiency, and safety of electrical systems across various building types.

Globally, Arup’s electrical engineers bring specialist expertise to solutions for transport, utilities, and more. Our services include energy audits, demand assessment, supply and system resilience, utilities consultancy, and others.

Whether in education, mission-critical facilities, healthcare, commercial, science, or industrial projects, we meet the creative and commercial demands of designers and developers.

Our people are passionate about their work, believe in our values, and enjoy coming to work every day. This is why many choose to build their careers here and stay.

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

The Opportunity

Electrical Building Services Engineers at Arup are crucial in ensuring the sustainability, efficiency, and safety of electrical systems across various building types. We are looking for an energetic Principal Engineer to join our Edinburgh team. The team is involved in local, national, and international projects, including major infrastructure, renewables, healthcare, commercial, science, and industrial sectors.

The successful candidate will lead electrical design on projects and contribute to managing the electrical team, overseeing delivery, ensuring quality, and developing talented engineers and graduates to reach their full potential.

At Arup, you belong to an extraordinary collective that encourages individuality. Our strength comes from respecting, sharing, and connecting diverse experiences, perspectives, and ideas.

You will have the opportunity to do socially useful work that is meaningful to Arup, your career, our members, and the communities we serve.

Is this role right for you?

We’re seeking a candidate who:

• Has Chartered Engineer (CEng) status with a relevant professional institution (e.g., IET or CIBSE) and a degree in Electrical Engineering or a related discipline.
• Has extensive experience in designing, specifying, and delivering electrical building services systems—including power, lighting, life safety, and sustainable technologies—with a strong background in designing from first principles. Proficient in HV and LV systems, lighting and controls, fire alarms, security, renewable energy electrical systems, and earthing across various projects.
• Demonstrates leadership in managing engineering teams and coordinating with multidisciplinary stakeholders, ensuring high-quality project delivery on time and within budget.
• Has strong awareness of sector-specific legislation, regulatory requirements, and future trends.
• Is proficient in electrical design tools and BIM software, such as Revit, Amtech (Trimble), and Dialux, with the ability to produce and review detailed technical documentation.

What we offer you

At Arup, we care about each member’s success, enabling us to grow together.

We provide an attractive total reward package that recognizes your contributions and supports your health and wellbeing, learning opportunities, and impact through meaningful work.

Owned in trust on behalf of our members, we offer the freedom and personal responsibility to set our own direction, choose projects aligned with our purpose, and contribute to Arup’s legacy. Profit Share allows members to share in our collective success.

Additional benefits include Private Medical Insurance, Life Assurance, Accident Insurance, Income Protection, and flexible benefits to support your wellbeing and individual needs.

Different People, Shared Values

Arup is an equal opportunity employer promoting diversity and inclusion. We welcome applications from all backgrounds—regardless of age, gender identity, marital status, disability, race, ethnicity, faith, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, or family status. We foster an inclusive environment that values diverse experiences, perspectives, and ideas.

Aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, we create equitable spaces and systems, supporting a sense of belonging for all. Our employee networks promote inclusivity across race, ethnicity, gender, LGBTQ+, disability, and more.

Our Application Process

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Recruitment Agencies

We work with trusted partners and do not acknowledge unsolicited CVs or candidate introductions from agencies not on our approved list.