Principal Overhead Line Engineer

Mott MacDonald; United Kingdom; Hybrid; GBP 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private medical insurance

Health cash plan

Pension contributions matching 4.5%–7%

Life assurance 4x salary

Flexible benefits

Job summary

Mott MacDonald is seeking a Principal Overhead Line Engineer to join our Transmission & Distribution team in the UK. You will lead design across international projects, mentor juniors, and ensure compliance with HV OHL standards using PLS-CADD/PLS-Tower/PLS-Pole and AutoCAD.

The role offers a hybrid UK working policy with opportunities to collaborate across multiple offices and client environments. You will drive design excellence and coordinate with a broader energy portfolio within a global,

Qualifications

• BSc or MSc in Civil/Structural Eng or equivalent with relevant experience.
• Extensive OHL engineering experience including scheme and project design management.
• Experience mentoring junior staff and leading teams.
• Proficiency in PLS-CADD, PLS-Tower, PLS-Pole and AutoCAD.

Responsibilities

• Perform, review and approve High Voltage OHL designs per standards.
• Ensure designs meet legislation, standards, policies and procedures.
• Update design standards and documentation for compliance.
• Manage a team and mentor juniors.
• Carry out studies in line and foundation design, tower spotting, sag-tension, plan and profile, conductor selection, structural design of lattice towers, structural design of steel poles and wood pole design.
• Prepare, review, and manage specs, schedules, BOQ, and design docs.
• Provide input to identify best approaches in multidisciplinary issues.
• Investigate and implement innovative design solutions.
• Provide competitive design solutions to meet client objectives.
• Proficient in PLS-CADD, PLS-Tower, PLS-Pole, AutoCAD for designs.
• Deliver projects per client requirements and best practices.
• Manage construction activities by contractor and lead meetings.
• Provide technical input into proposals.
• Lead design and drawings coordination.

Skills

OHL design

Team leadership

Mentoring

Risk assessment

Communication

Project management

Client coordination

Design reviews

Education

BSc or MSc Civil/Structural Eng

Tools

PLS-CADD

PLS-Tower

PLS-Pole

AutoCAD

Job description

Brighton, United Kingdom / London, United Kingdom / Glasgow, United Kingdom / Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom / Altrincham, United Kingdom

Mott MacDonald is a global engineering, management, and development consultancy with over 20,000 employees across more than 50 countries and 140+ offices.

We work across incredible global industries, delivering exciting work that is defining our future and making an important societal impact in the communities we serve. Our people power our performance – we succeed when they do. With countless opportunities to collaborate, learn, and grow, the possibilities for excellence are as varied as every individual.

Whether you want to grow as a subject matter expert or broaden your experience with roles across our international community, you’re surrounded by global specialists who want to combine their expertise and champion you to be your best. As a proudly employee-owned business, we benefit our clients, our communities, and each other, investing in creating the right space for everyone to feel empowered, included, and valued. Whatever your ambition, Mott MacDonald is where people come to be brilliant.

About thebusinessunit:

The Energy unit delivers services to clients globally across several sectors including hydropower, nuclear, waste, renewable generation and transmission & distribution networks. Together we provide integrated engineering and project management services across the project lifecycle – from concept and design to construction and operations, to decommissioning or repowering and life extension. Together with our clients, we’re helping to deliver the energy transition globally.

About the role:

The Transmission & Distribution division are recruiting a Principal Overhead Line Engineer to be part of an integral team delivering large projects across the world.

The Principal OHL Engineer provides specialist advice, designs, reports, and delivers engineering advice and input across a portfolio of projects. Specifically, you will manage, and complete design work associated with transmission and distribution line design.

Engineering work includes route selection, PLS-CADD modelling, structural model in PLS TOWER and PLS POLE, line schedules, stringing tables and charts, design reports, site verification, drawings, specifications and design standards. The incumbent will coordinate with the wider team for successful completion of the deliverables.

The Principal OHL Engineer should be able to complete complex projects or assignments without supervision and provides technical solutions to problems with little or no precedent.

• Perform, review and approve High Voltage OHL designs complying to relevant international standards
• Ensure designs approved for delivery comply with relevant legislation, standards, policies and procedures;
• Update or create design standards and related documentation to ensure continued compliance to standards and industry best practice;
• Manage a team and mentor juniours
• Carry out studies in specialist areas such as line and foundation design, tower spotting, sag -tension, plan and profile, conductor selection, structural design of lattice towers, structural design of steel poles and wood pole design;
• Prepare, review and manage specifications, schedule, BOQ’s and other design documentation;
• Provide information as required to identify the best approach for the successful completion of the project in complex multi-disciplinary issues involving other groups;
• Investigate and implement innovative design solutions to meet business and project needs;
• Provide competitive design solutions to support the achievement of MM’s client objectives;
• Be proficient in the use of engineering software to prepare transmission and distribution lines designs including PLS CADD, PLS Tower, PLS Pole;
• Deliver engineering projects in accordance with client requirements and in line with company and industry best practice;
• Management of construction activities by contractor, lead project and design review meetings.
• Provide technical input into proposals.
• BSc or Master’s degree qualification in Civil Structural Engineering or equivalent with numerous years of relevant experience;
• Proficient in writing and reviewing reports;
• Extensive Experience in an OHL engineering environment including significant scheme and project / design management and proven track record of scheme delivery;
• Experience in being a mentor to junior staff
• Ability to chair meetings, communicate to project team and produce reports
• Proficient in leading the preparation, co-ordination and review of design drawings;
• Good working knowledge of appropriate British and International Standards and Codes of Practice relevant to the design of transmission and distribution OHLs
• Knowledge and understanding of relevant legislation, policies and procedures applicable to the preparation of designs and specifications;
• Knowledge of HSE and CDM regulations;
• Able to perform Risk Assessments and develop mitigation strategies;
• Manage or complete Construction Design Studies (CDS) to conclude feasibility studies;
• Excellent Proficiency in the use of engineering design software including PLS-CADD (required), PLS-Tower (required), PLS-Pole (required) and AutoCAD and other design software to develop designs;
• Deep knowledge of design quality assurance processes to ensure that designs meet quality requirements;
• Working knowledge and demonstrated experience in the requirements and application of Safety design requirements;
• Ability to promote a high standard of professionalism, effective communication and personal integrity within the design team;
• Proactive, and proficient in working with clients both internally and externally;
• Ability to work in a team environment.
• Prior experience in site based OHL roles.
• TP141 authorised preferrable;
• Experience in leading a team

#LI-AB2

UK Immigration

Mott MacDonald Ltd. are not currently offering sponsorship to candidates under the Skilled Worker visa route in the UK. This decision is as a consequence of the changes made to the Skilled Worker route by the UK Government in April 2024. We continue to welcome applications from candidates who are eligible for alternative immigration routes in the UK, that do not require sponsorship as a Skilled Worker now or in future.

At Mott MacDonald, we believe it makes business sense for you and your manager to choose how you can work most effectively to meet your client, team, and personal commitments. We offer a hybrid working policy that embraces your well-being, flexibility, and trust.

Equality, diversity, and inclusion

We put equality, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of our business, seeking to promote fair employment procedures and practices to ensure equal opportunities for all. We encourage individual expression in our workplace and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels they can contribute.

Accessibility

We want you to perform your best at every stage in the recruitment process. If you are disabled or need any support to enable you to apply or attend an interview, please contact us at [e-mail] and we will talk to you about how we can support you.

We offer some fantastic benefits including:

Health and wellbeing

• Private medical insurance for all UK colleagues.
• Health cash plan to support you with every day health costs and treatments.
• Access to Peppy, providing free support from menopause experts for all UK colleagues.
• A variety of wellbeing support is available through our comprehensive wellbeing program, including access for you and your family.
• Ability to flex your salary to opt into a wide range of health benefits, many of which can be extended to your family too.

Financial wellbeing

• We match employee pension contributions between 4.5% and 7%.
• Life assurance equal up to 4 x your basic salary, with an option to increase the level of cover to 6 x your salary.
• Our income protection scheme provides a financial benefit, as well as absence and return to work support due to long-term illness or injury.
• Flexible benefits, including increased life assurance cover, critical illness insurance, payroll saving and will writing.
• As an independently owned business we share the financial success of the business with all our colleagues in various ways including annual bonus schemes.

Lifestyle

• A minimum of 33-35 days holiday each year, inclusive of public holidays and dependent on level, with the ability to buy or sell leave through our flexible benefits programme.
• Holiday entitlement increased to a minimum of 35 days after 5 years’ service.
• Variety of employee saving schemes and discounts from high-street retailers.

Enhanced family and carers leave

• Enhanced family leave policies, including 26 weeks paid maternity and adoption leave, and two weeks paid paternity/partner leave.
• Our shared parental leave matches maternity leave meaning we pay up to 24 weeks at full pay.
• Up to five additional days leave are provided for those with significant caring responsibilities, two of which are paid.

Learning and development

• Primary annual professional institution subscription.
• A broad range of opportunities to enhance both technical and soft skills through mentoring, formal training, and self-development options.

Networks, communities, and social outcomes

• Join a wide range of groups including our Advanced Employee Networks which support our LGBTQ+, gender, race and ethnicity, disability, and parents/carers communities.