Principal Electrical Engineer - Nuclear

Costain Group; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading engineering firm in the UK seeks a Principal Electrical Engineer to lead projects in the Nuclear sector. The ideal candidate will have significant electrical engineering experience and a degree in a related field. Responsibilities include managing technical input, mentoring junior engineers, and ensuring compliance with UK standards. This role offers a hybrid work model, mixing remote and site-based tasks, with a focus on delivering high-quality engineering solutions.

Qualifications

• Significant electrical engineering experience within the Nuclear sector.
• Security Clearance or capability to achieve it.
• Awareness of risk identification and management.

Responsibilities

• Lead electrical discipline technical input for projects and proposals.
• Mentor and develop less experienced engineers.
• Prepare high-quality engineering deliverables to client satisfaction.

Skills

Electrical engineering experience within the Nuclear sector

Knowledge of UK legislation and standards

Mentoring and developing graduates

Good knowledge of design working practices

Education

Degree in electrical engineering or equivalent

Chartered or Incorporated engineer status

Job description

Description

This is an exciting and challenging role where you will perform the Principal Electrical Engineer role on a range of Defence and Nuclear Energy projects from Concept Studies through to Detailed Design.

Working predominantly for our Nuclear Energy clients there may also be a requirement to support work across other sectors within Costain. Industries can range across Water, Transport and Energy including Green Energy, Nuclear and Oil and Gas.

Working in a multi-disciplinary team delivering projects in the Nuclear Sector, you will be responsible for the production of electrical design deliverables including analysis, calculations, reports and specifications.

Taking responsibility for leading projects and sub tasks from a technical perspective.

Communicating designs effectively to electrical engineer and designers, other disciplines, construction personnel and stakeholders.

Hybrid role with a mix of remote and site/office based work.

Attendance occasionally required for site visits, design reviews and client meetings, mainly within the Northwest region.

You will also support and guide more junior team members. You will challenge and deliver value engineering solutions so you will need to be confident and assertive in front of clients.

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Responsibilities

As a client facing Principal Engineer, your responsibilities will/may involve:

• Electrical discipline technical input for projects and/or proposals; including preparation, checking and/or approval of engineering documentation
• Organising discipline staff, allocating work and ensuring delivery against plan
• Mentoring and developing graduates and less experienced engineers
• Production of high-quality electrical engineering deliverables to schedule, budget and client satisfaction
• Ensuring designs are compliant with all applicable national and international codes of practice, legislation and company/client standards
• Preparing equipment specifications and requisitions for a variety of electrical equipment including HV and LV switchboards, transformers, UPS systems, power factor correction, motors, VFD’s, trace-heating, lighting and other electrical equipment
• Preparing installation scopes of works
• Reviewing supplier’s quotations and preparing technical bid assessments

More specific tasks could include:

• Protection grading studies and earthing calculations
• Power system analysis including fault level calculations and load flows
• Electrical equipment sizing calculations
• Commissioning support
• DNO engagement and procurement support

Qualifications

Essential

• Good knowledge of design working practices and installation requirements of the discipline within the Nuclear sector.
• Significant electrical engineering experience within the Nuclear sector
• Security Clearance or capability to achieve it
• Extensive knowledge of UK legislation and standards
• Competence in the requirements for installation of equipment on Nuclear plant
• Experience in the requirements for CE marking of plant and equipment, including ATEX, PED, Low Voltage Directive, Machinery Directive and EMC Compliance
• Awareness of risk identification, quantification, management and of HSE requirements
• Degree in electrical engineering or suitable equivalent (e.g. Electronic / Electrical / Control Engineering) Apprenticeships may be considered
• Chartered or Incorporated engineer status with a relevant professional body or evidence of being close to gaining these professional titles

Desirable

• Experience of working in multi-discipline teams
• Experience of leading projects in a client facing role
• Experience in the requirements for ATEX
• 18th Edition Wiring Regulations