Principal Design Assurance Engineer – Power Grids

AtkinsRéalis; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

AtkinsRéalis in the UK is seeking a Principal Design Assurance Engineer to provide independent technical assurance across major transmission and distribution projects. You will work with multidisciplinary teams and client organisations to uphold safety, compliance and quality in complex power network deliverables.

The role emphasises leadership, governance, and stakeholder engagement within the National Grid ecosystem, with flexible/hybrid working arrangements and security clearance where

Qualifications

• Experience in UK Electricity Transmission/Distribution projects.
• National Grid Design Assurance authorisation (BP141) and/or CDAE experience.
• Strong leadership and communication skills.
• Ability to lead design reviews and governance panels.

Responsibilities

• Provide independent technical assurance across the project lifecycle.
• Lead technical reviews and governance panels, identifying risks and improvement opportunities.
• Ensure designs meet safety, operational, asset management and performance requirements.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary interfaces and align with client requirements.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Technical design assurance

Power networks

Governance

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Engineering degree

Job description

Take our vision into the future

Are you ready to take up a vital role in shaping some of our exciting projects? How about joining our talented team, where everyone has a voice, and together we face our clients' problems head-on. It's'a diverse and inclusive work environment where world-class talent knows no distinctions.

Overview

We know that different people have different priorities, which is why we're here to support you. Flexible and remote working is a central part of our culture. So talk to us about what's'ideal for you – from reduced weeks to buying more leave over school holidays. And if you're returning from a career break, ask us how we can help you transition back into work with us.

Our team is supporting major transmission and distribution programmes across the UK, including National Grid, Distribution Network Operators (DNOs), renewable energy developers and strategic infrastructure clients.

We are seeking experienced Design Assurance Engineers to join our growing UK Power Grids team. This role offers the opportunity to provide independent technical assurance across some of the most significant electricity transmission and distribution projects in the country.

We Welcome Applications From Specialists Across The Following Disciplines

• High Voltage (HV) Plant.
• Protection & Control (P&C).
• Substation Civil Engineering.
• Overhead Line Engineering.
• Cable Systems.
• Commissioning & Energisation Assurance.

Your role

As a Principal Design Assurance Engineer, you will provide independent technical assurance throughout the project lifecycle, ensuring engineering solutions are safe, compliant, buildable and aligned with client requirements. Working alongside our multidisciplinary design teams and client organisations, you will play a critical role in maintaining engineering quality, managing technical risk and ensuring the successful delivery of complex power network projects.

This role is ideally suited to individuals with previous National Grid Design Assurance experience and a strong understanding of transmission and distribution engineering governance processes.

In This Role You May

Technical Assurance Leadership

• Act as a technical authority within your discipline area.
• Undertake Design Assurance Engineer responsibilities in accordance with National Grid and client-specific governance requirements.
• Provide independent review and challenge of engineering designs throughout the project lifecycle.
• Ensure compliance with relevant technical specifications, legislation, engineering standards and regulatory requirements.
• Support the acceptance and approval of Design Compliance and Assurance Audit Reports (DCAARs) and associated technical documentation.
• Promote technical excellence and consistency across project delivery teams.

Design Review & Governance

• Lead technical reviews of design submissions, identifying risk, non-conformances and opportunities for improvement.
• Verify that designs have appropriately addressed safety, operational, asset management and performance requirements.
• Ensure multidisciplinary coordination and alignment across engineering interfaces.

Safety & Risk Management

• Champion Safety by Design principles across all project activities.
• Support compliance with CDM Regulations and associated design risk management obligations.

Client & Stakeholder Engagement

• Develop trusted relationships with National Grid, DNOs, EPC contractors and key project stakeholders.
• Act as a technical authority within your discipline area.

About You

• In addition to having strong communication and leadership skills, you will have experience in and be able to demonstrate a selection of the following attributes:
• Demonstrable experience within the UK Electricity Transmission and/or Distribution sector working on National Grid, SSEN, SPEN, National Grid Electricity Distribution, Northern Powergrid, UK Power Networks or other DNO programmes.
• Previous or current National Grid Design Assurance Engineer authorisation (BP141) and/ or previous experience as a Contractor Design Approval Engineer (CDAE).
• Strong technical expertise in one or more Power Networks disciplines.
• Experience leading engineering reviews, governance panels or technical assurance activities.
• If you don't meet every requirement, we still encourage you to apply — we value potential as well as experience.

Rewards & benefits

Explore the rewards and benefits that help you thrive – at every stage of your life and your career. Enjoy competitive salaries, employee rewards and a brilliant range of benefits you can tailor to suit your own health, wellbeing, financial and lifestyle choices. Make the most of a myriad of opportunities for training and professional development to grow your skills and expertise. And combine our hybrid working culture and flexible holiday allowances to balance a great job and fulfilling personal life.

Rewards and benefits – Careers at AtkinsRéalis

Explore the rewards and benefits that help you thrive – at every stage of your life and your career. Enjoy competitive salaries, employee rewards and a brilliant range of benefits you can tailor to suit your own health, wellbeing, financial and lifestyle choices. Make the most of a myriad of opportunities for training and professional development to grow your skills and expertise. And combine our hybrid working culture and flexible holiday allowances to balance a great job and fulfilling personal life.

About AtkinsRéalis

We're AtkinsRéalis, a world-class engineering services and nuclear organization. We connect people, data and technology to transform the world's'infrastructure and energy systems. Together, with our industry partners and clients, and our global team of consultants, designers, engineers and project managers, we can change the world. We're committed to leading our clients across our various end markets to engineer a better future for our planet and its people.

Find out more.

Additional information

Additional information

Security clearance

This role may require security clearance and offers of employment will be dependent on obtaining the relevant level of clearance. If this is necessary, it will be discussed with you at interview. The vetting process is delivered by United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) and may require candidates to provide proof of residency in the UK of 5 years or longer. If applying to this role please do not make reference to (in conversation) or include in your application or CV, details of any current or previously held security clearance.

We are committed to creating a culture where everyone feels that they belong - a place where we can all be ourselves, thrive and develop to be the best we can be. So, we offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements and employee resource groups to support all employees.

As an Equal Opportunities Employer, we value applications from all backgrounds, cultures and ability.

As a Disability Confident Leader, we are committed to offering an interview to all applicants who have a disability and meet the essential criteria. If you would like to be considered under this commitment, please let us know at the application stage.

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