Principal Designer / Design Manager (Energy)

WSP in the UK & Ireland; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Flexible benefits

Thrive wellbeing program

Gymflex scheme

Job summary

WSP in the UK & Ireland is seeking a Principal Designer to lead CDM governance for HV and EHV substations. You will drive design delivery, manage multidisciplinary teams, and ensure compliance with regulations throughout concept to construction.

Role requires strong leadership, risk management, and client engagement across UK projects, with hybrid working and a focus on health and safety in design.

Qualifications

• Degree in Electrical Engineering or equivalent.
• Proven CDM Principal Designer experience and health and safety oversight.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary design teams through all design stages.
• Strong knowledge of HV/EHV substations (11kV–132kV) and associated standards.
• Ability to review and assure designs to regulatory and client requirements.

Responsibilities

• Perform CDM Principal Designer duties for HV/EHV projects, ensuring health, safety, and welfare.
• Lead design phase, coordinating multidisciplinary teams, suppliers, and contractors.
• Oversee technical specifications, design deliverables, and risk management.
• Chair design review meetings and hazard workshops; ensure design outputs meet standards.
• Support construction phase with design leadership and changes management.
• Maintain relationships with clients and stakeholders to achieve outcomes.

Skills

CDM Principal Designer

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Project lifecycle

HV & EHV substations

Design governance

Education

Electrical Engineering degree

HNC or equivalent

Job description

Job Description

What if you could do the kind of work the world needs? At WSP, you can access our global scale, contribute to landmark projects and connect with the brightest minds in your field to do the best work of your life. You can embrace your curiosity in a culture that celebrates new ideas and diverse perspectives. You can experience a world of opportunity and the chance to shape a career as unique as you.

A Little More About Your Role…

Our Networks Engineering team supports some of the UK's largest electricity transmission and distribution organisations, delivering critical infrastructure projects that maintain and enhance the reliability, resilience and performance of the power network. As a Principal Designer, you'll play a key role in the safe and successful delivery of HV and EHV substation projects, providing CDM leadership and design governance from concept through to construction. Working across new-build, refurbishment and network reinforcement schemes from 11kV to 132kV, you'll lead multidisciplinary teams to develop technically robust, compliant and buildable solutions while ensuring health, safety and risk management remain at the forefront of the design process.

What Will You Do...

• Undertake the statutory role of CDM Principal Designer for HV and EHV projects, ensuring compliance with the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations and effective management of health, safety, and welfare throughout the design phase.
• Lead and coordinate the project design phase, managing multidisciplinary design teams, suppliers, contractors, and stakeholders to ensure safe, coordinated, and compliant design delivery.
• Oversee the development and review of technical specifications and design deliverables for substation upgrades and new build projects from 11kV up to and including 132kV.
• Ensure that design solutions are technically robust, buildable, maintainable, and aligned with project requirements, programme objectives, and budget constraints.
• Manage the design risk process, facilitating the identification, assessment, elimination, reduction, and communication of foreseeable health, safety, and operational risks throughout the project lifecycle.
• Review and challenge designs produced by internal teams, clients, and suppliers to ensure compliance with relevant legislation, standards, client specifications, and industry best practice.
• Prepare, maintain, and coordinate pre-construction information and support the development of the Health and Safety File in accordance with CDM requirements.
• Chair and facilitate design review meetings, hazard workshops, and stakeholder engagement sessions to ensure effective communication, collaboration, and resolution of design issues.
• Provide design governance and assurance, ensuring that design outputs meet quality standards and are delivered in accordance with contractual, regulatory, and client requirements.
• Support project delivery during the construction phase by providing design leadership, managing design changes, and ensuring that any residual design risks are appropriately assessed and communicated.
• Monitor and drive design performance against programme, quality, safety, and commercial objectives, ensuring successful project outcomes.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with clients, suppliers, and internal teams, acting as a trusted advisor on CDM and design management matters.

What We Will Be Looking For You To Demonstrate...

• Degree, HNC, or equivalent qualification in Electrical Engineering, with significant experience in the design and delivery of HV and EHV infrastructure projects.
• Proven experience undertaking the role of Principal Designer under the CDM Regulations, with a comprehensive understanding of design risk management and construction health and safety requirements.
• Demonstrable experience leading and coordinating multidisciplinary design teams through all stages of the project design lifecycle.
• Strong technical knowledge of HV and EHV substations, including AIS and GIS installations from 11kV up to and including 132kV.
• Experience managing the design of new substations, network reinforcement schemes, refurbishment, and retrofit projects of varying size and complexity.
• A thorough understanding of relevant engineering standards, legislation, and technical policies relating to HV and EHV substations, including electrical clearances, earthing, and safety by design principles.
• Experience facilitating design risk reviews, hazard identification workshops, and ensuring that risks are eliminated or reduced through the design process.
• Ability to review, challenge, and assure designs produced by internal teams, third parties, and suppliers to ensure compliance with legislative, regulatory, technical, and client requirements.
• Experience engaging with clients, contractors, suppliers, regulatory bodies, and other stakeholders to achieve successful project outcomes.
• Strong understanding of substation plant specifications, protection and control systems, cable systems, and associated equipment sufficient to provide effective technical leadership and assurance.
• Experience preparing or reviewing cost estimates, design programmes, and managing design deliverables to meet quality, commercial, and programme objectives.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence, coordinate, and motivate project teams.

Imagine a better future for you and a better future for us all.

Join our close-knit community of talented individuals who share your passion for making a positive impact. Our global team includes more than 69,000 employees, working together to make a difference in communities both close to home and around the world.

About Us

We are one of the world’s leading engineering and professional services firms. Our passionate people are united by the common purpose of creating positive, long‑lasting impacts on the communities we serve through a culture of innovation, integrity, and inclusion. With over 11,000 professionals across the UK and Ireland, we are dedicated to our local communities and propelled by international brainpower.

WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU?

Work-life balance

At WSP, we understand that work is just one aspect of your life. It’s important to make time for you, your family, friends, interests and your community.

Our hybrid working policy offers the flexibility to work from home two days a week, while also providing opportunities to collaborate in our modern offices across the UK.

Inclusivity & Belonging

We welcome applicants with varied backgrounds and experiences. We enable rewarding careers by encouraging people to bring their whole and authentic selves to work so that our work represents the fullest spectrum of society. We celebrate integrity and treat people with respect, supporting each other and embracing a culture of inclusion and belonging at WSP. We have our employee resource groups bring together employees and allies with different backgrounds to promote a culture of inclusivity.

Health & Wellbeing

We are committed to supporting our people, giving you the tools to make improvements to your health and wellbeing through our Thrive programme.

Our Virtual GP service gives you access to an NHS or Irish Medical Council GP at a time and place that suits you – giving you peace of mind and quick access to medical advice when you need it most. We also provide reasonable workplace adjustments for those in need. Additionally, you can benefit from the Gymflex scheme, which offers up to 40% off annual gym memberships through our WSP flexible benefits program, as well as a comprehensive menopause support package.

Flex your time

To enhance work-life balance, WSP offers the “WSP My Hour,” allowing you to take one hour each day for personal activities, with the flexibility to make up the time earlier or later that day.

We also provide part-time and flexible working arrangements, the option to purchase additional leave, and the ability to use your bank holiday entitlement to suit you.

Your development

We understand the importance of development and training to you. That’s why we foster a supportive environment that invests in your growth, whether through training, mentoring, or Chartership.

#WeAreWSP

Here at WSP we positively encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, pregnancy or maternity/paternity. As a Disability Confident leader, we will interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria, please let us know if you require any workplace adjustments in support of your application.