Principal Engineer Overhead Lines (OHL)

Jacobs; Glasgow; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Jacobs is seeking a Principal Engineer - OHL to lead the design and delivery of high‑voltage transmission line projects (132kV–400kV) across the UK. You will mentor a team of design engineers, coordinate with clients and internal teams, and ensure safety and quality in all work streams.

This role requires strong technical OHL design expertise, familiarity with National Grid standards, and hands‑on experience with PLS tools and AutoCAD to deliver complex projects.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in OHL design (132kV–400kV) within UK transmission environments.
• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Ability to lead technical workstreams and mentor a design team.
• Familiarity with National Grid and DNO standards and processes.

Responsibilities

• Develop detailed engineering drawings and design documentation using PLS-CADD, AutoCAD and Microstation.
• Oversee line routing, sag-tension calculations, structure analysis, and conductor selection.
• Prepare and review proposals detailing scope, timelines, and budgets.
• Lead client-facing design reviews and technical workshops.
• Mentor a team of specialist design engineers on overhead transmission line solutions.
• Identify and manage project risks to ensure successful delivery.
• Promote a strong safety culture and compliance.
• Build relationships with internal teams, stakeholders, and clients to drive project success.

Skills

OHL design

Stakeholder engagement

Team leadership

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering

Master's degree (preferred)

Tools

PLS-CADD

PLS-Tower

PLS-Pole

AutoCAD

MicroStation

Job description

At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission‑critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting‑edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good.

Your impact

Jacobs is playing a leading role in the global energy transition. As our UK and Continental Europe team continues to expand, we are seeking a Principal Engineer - OHL to support a range of high‑profile projects across our Power & Energy portfolio. This includes high voltage AIS and GIS Substations, transmission system assets, HV Overhead Lines, HVDC interconnectors, and energy storage systems.

Main responsibilities include (but are not limited to)

• Develop detailed engineering drawings, specifications, and design documentation using software tools such as PLS-CADD, AutoCAD and Microstation
• Overseeing technical activities, line routing, sag‑tension calculations, structure analysis, conductor selection, clearance reports, and design documentation
• Preparing and reviewing proposals and reports detailing project scope, timelines, budgets, and resource allocations
• Regularly engaging in client‑facing design reviews and technical workshops.
• Leading and mentoring a team of specialist design engineers working on overhead transmission line solutions
• Identifying and manage project risks to ensure successful delivery
• Promoting a strong safety culture
• Building and maintaining strong relationships with internal teams, stakeholders, and clients to drive project success

Here’s what you’ll need

• Proven experience in OHL design (132kV–400kV), ideally within UK transmission and distribution environments
• Bachelor's Degree and/or master's in electrical engineering
• Familiarity with National Grid and DNO standards and processes
• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills
• Ability to manage competing priorities and deliver under pressure
• Demonstrated ability to lead technical workstreams and contribute to strategic project delivery
• Ability to manage competing priorities and deliver under pressure
• Proficient in industry‑standard software such as PLS-CADD, PLS‑Tower, PLS‑Pole, and AutoDesk tools

Joining Jacobs not only connects you locally but globally. Our values stand on a foundation of safety, integrity, inclusion and belonging. We put people at the heart of our business, and we truly believe that by supporting one another through our culture of caring, we all succeed. We value positive mental health and a sense of belonging for all employees.

With safety and flexibility always top of mind, we’ve gone beyond traditional ways of working so you have the support, means and space to maximize your potential. You’ll uncover flexible working arrangements, benefits, and opportunities, from well‑being benefits to our global giving and volunteering program, to exploring new and inventive ways to help our clients make the world a better place. No matter what drives you, you’ll discover how you can cultivate, nurture, and achieve your goals – all at a single global company.

We aim to embed inclusion and belonging in everything we do. We know that if we are inclusive, we’re more connected and creative. We accept people for who they are, and we champion the richness of different perspectives, lived experiences and backgrounds in the workplace, as a source of learning and innovation. We are committed to building vibrant communities within Jacobs, including through our Jacobs Employee Networks, Communities of Practice and our Find Your Community initiatives, allowing every employee to find connection, purpose, and belonging.

Jacobs partners with VERCIDA to help us attract and retain talent from a wide range of backgrounds.

As a disability confident employer, we will interview disabled candidates who best meet the criteria. We welcome applications from candidates who are seeking flexible working and from those who may not meet all the listed requirements for a role.

We value collaboration and believe that in‑person interactions are crucial for both our culture and client delivery. We empower employees with our hybrid working policy, allowing them to split their work week between Jacobs offices/projects and remote locations enabling them to deliver their best work.