Principal Engineer – Control & Automation Systems

NextGenEnergyJobs; Stafford; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

NextGenEnergyJobs seeks a Control Automation System Principal Engineer to act as the technical authority for automation systems, industrial controls, and operational technologies across the organisation.

You will lead the design, architecture, and delivery of HVDC and digital substation solutions, ensuring compliance with IEC 61850 and IEC 60870-5 standards while mentoring engineers and collaborating with cross-functional teams.

Qualifications

• Seasoned power systems engineer with hands-on experience in substation automation and HVDC control systems.
• Active participation in IEC, CIGRE, or equivalent industry standards working groups.
• Experience leading root cause analysis for complex Voltage Source Converter (VSC) control and protection issues.
• Familiarity with cybersecurity design principles for industrial control systems.

Responsibilities

• Own the technical solution for control and automation systems end-to-end.
• Define and govern requirements, architecture, and implementation for HVDC and digital substations.
• Lead HVDC control and protection design and IED integration.
• Advance SQDC improvements across the team and collaborate with stakeholders.
• Represent the organization at industry conferences and professional bodies; mentor junior engineers.

Skills

HVDC control

Substation automation

IEC 61850

IEC 60870-5

Cybersecurity design

Root cause analysis

Leadership

Industry standards

Job description

The Control Automation System Principal Engineer serves as the technical authority for automation systems, industrial controls, and operational technologies across the organization.

Responsibilities

• You'll lead the technical design, architecture, and delivery of advanced control and automation systems for HVDC and digital substation environments. Specifically, you will:
• Own the technical solution for control and automation systems end-to-end — from requirements definition and architecture through to implementation, validation, and governance — ensuring designs meet customer requirements and comply with IEC 61850, IEC 60870-5, and related power system communication standards.
• Lead HVDC control and protection design , including network and cybersecurity architecture, Substation Configuration Language (SCL) data modelling, protection logic, interlocking logic, and integration of Intelligent Electronic Devices (IEDs), bay controllers, merging units, and Human-Machine Interfaces (HMIs) within digital substations.
• Drive engineering excellence by identifying and implementing improvements to methods, tools, processes, and systems that enhance customer value, and by upholding Safety, Quality, Delivery, and Cost (SQDC) principles across the team.
• Collaborate and influence across project teams, New Product Introduction (NPI), utilities, and vendors to support system integration, testing, and commissioning; provide technical consultation to cross-functional teams on manufacturing, supply chain, and field challenges.
• Shape the profession — represent GE Vernova externally at industry conferences and in professional bodies such as IEC and CIGRE; contribute to the Patent Evaluation Board (PEB); mentor junior engineers; and support hiring, promotion, and succession planning within Engineering & Technology.

Requirements

• You're a seasoned power systems engineer with significant hands-on experience in substation automation and HVDC control systems — someone who combines deep technical authority with the ability to lead, influence, and inspire.
• Active participation in IEC, CIGRE, or equivalent industry standards working groups.
• Experience leading root cause analysis for complex Voltage Source Converter (VSC) control and protection issues.
• Familiarity with cybersecurity design principles for industrial control systems.