Principal Substation Primary (HV Plant) Design Engineer

AtkinsRéalis UK Limited; Epsom; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working culture

Flexible holiday allowance

Training & development

Career progression opportunities

Job summary

AtkinsRéalis UK Limited is seeking a Principal Engineer in HV Electrical within our Power Grids team. You will lead a high-performing group, oversee FEED and detailed design for transmission substations, and coordinate with clients and internal teams to deliver best-in-class solutions.

Based in the UK with opportunities to travel to client sites, you’ll shape technical excellence, manage bids, and mentor engineers while advancing your professional qualifications and career development in a

Qualifications

• Experience in managing technical teams.
• Degree qualified in Electrical Engineering.
• Chartered Engineer or working towards it.
• Proven experience in primary plant design of substations in UK or internationally.
• Experience in preparing bids and cost estimates for FEED and detailed design work.
• Good knowledge of electrical codes and standards (IEC, IEEE).
• Ability to communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders.
• Flexibility to travel to client sites when required.
• Capability to work under tight deadlines while achieving objectives with the ability to deal with competing priorities and manage time appropriately.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of engineers and support career development.
• Lead FEED and detailed design workstreams for substations.
• Oversee FEED, detailed design, and bid submissions.
• Review HV plant layouts, earthing, interlocking, busbar calculations.
• Coordinate interfaces with back-office engineers and suppliers.
• Act as tender manager for HV plant packages.
• Chair design and hazard review meetings; site visits, FAT/SAT.
• Maintain and grow client relationships for future work.

Skills

Team Leadership

Electrical Engineering

Chartered Engineer

Substation Design

Bid Estimation

IEC/IEEE Standards

Client Communication

Travel Flexibility

Deadline Management

Education

Electrical Engineering degree

Chartered Engineer status or in progress

Job description

Job Description Overview

Grow your career while reshaping the world. You might know us for the great work we do across our wide variety of projects. We're proud to say it's thanks to our people's diversity of thought, expertise and knowledge. And when you join us, you'll be a part of this genuinely collaborative environment, where everyone's voice is valued and treated equally. We're passionate about what we do, but we don't take ourselves too seriously. Simply put, this a great place to be. So, when it comes to your life outside of work, ask us about our flexible and remote working policies designed to help you get the most out of life. AtkinsRéalis are proud to be working at the heart of the challenges in the energy industry and within our Power Grids team we are continually developing and growing within this area. Our team is currently delivering work across the Transmission and Distribution sectors across the UK as well as supporting other Energy and infrastructure business sectors. Your role AtkinsRéalis offers a dynamic, innovative, and collaborative environment where you can advance your career at the forefront of engineering. As a Principal Engineer, you will play a pivotal role in shaping our technical excellence and leading a high-performing team within our HV Electrical Engineering group. This position provides exposure to a diverse range of projects and technologies, with outstanding opportunities for both technical and leadership development. You will be based in one of our offices in Glasgow, Leeds, Birmingham or Epsom, working closely with clients and internal teams to deliver best-in-class solutions. Building strong, trusted relationships is central to this role, and you’ll thrive in a mix of office-based and client‑facing environments. You will be accountable for the following tasks including but not limited to:

• Team Leadership & Line Management Line manage a team of engineers, providing mentorship, performance management, and career development support. Support the Electrical Group Lead with recruitment, resourcing, and workforce planning. Drive training initiatives and technical development programs for junior engineers.
• Technical Leadership Lead Lead FEED and detailed design workstreams for electricity transmission substation projects, ensuring technical integrity and compliance with client specifications.
• Quality Assurance Oversee and assure the delivery of FEED, detailed design, and bid submissions to the highest standards.
• Design Review Provide expert review of HV plant aspects, including layouts, earthing design, interlocking schemes, busbar calculations, and technical specifications for HV equipment.
• Project Coordination Manage interfaces with back‑office engineers, subcontractors, and suppliers to ensure seamless delivery.
• Tender Management Act as tender manager for HV plant packages, reviewing technical offers and ensuring competitive, compliant submissions.
• Stakeholder Engagement Chair design and hazard review meetings, attend site visits, FAT and SAT as required.
• Client Focus & Business Development Maintain and grow client relationships, identifying opportunities for future work and contributing to business development activities.

About you

• Experience in managing technical teams
• Degree qualified in Electrical Engineering or equivalent qualifications and experience.
• Chartered Engineer or working towards it.
• Proven experience in primary plant design of substations in UK or internationally
• Experience in preparing bids and cost estimates for FEED and detailed design work
• Good knowledge of electrical codes and standards (IEC, IEEE).
• Ability to communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders.
• Flexibility to travel to client sites when required.
• Capability to work under tight deadlines while achieving objectives with the ability to deal with competing priorities and manage time appropriately.

Rewards & benefits

Explore the rewards and benefits that help you thrive – at every stage of your life and your career. Enjoy competitive salaries, employee rewards and a brilliant range of benefits you can tailor to suit your own health, wellbeing, financial and lifestyle choices. Make the most of a myriad of opportunities for training and professional development to grow your skills and expertise. And combine our hybrid working culture and flexible holiday allowances to balance a great job and fulfilling personal life. Be rewarded. Find out more.

About AtkinsRéalis

We’re AtkinsRéalis, a world‑class engineering services and nuclear organization. We connect people, data and technology to transform the world’s infrastructure and energy systems. Together, with our industry partners and clients, and our global team of consultants, designers, engineers and project managers, we can change the world. We’re committed to leading our clients across our various end markets to engineer a better future for our planet and its people. Find out more.

Created by the integration of long‑standing organizations dating back to 1911, AtkinsRéalis is a world‑class engineering services and nuclear company dedicated to engineering a better future for our planet and its people. We create sustainable solutions that connect people, data and technology to transform the world’s infrastructure and energy systems. We deploy global capabilities locally to our clients and deliver unique end‑to‑end services across the whole life cycle of an asset including consulting, advisory & environmental services, intelligent networks & cybersecurity, design & engineering, procurement, project & construction management, operations & maintenance, decommissioning and capital. The breadth and depth of our capabilities are delivered to clients in strategic sectors such as Engineering Services, Nuclear and Capital. News and information are available at Atkinsrealis or follow us on LinkedIn.

Additional information

Security clearance

This role may require security clearance and offers of employment will be dependent on obtaining the relevant level of clearance. If this is necessary, it will be discussed with you at interview. The vetting process is delivered by United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) and may require candidates to provide proof of residency in the UK of 5 years or longer. If applying to this role please do not make reference to (in conversation) or include in your application or CV, details of any current or previously held security clearance.

We are committed to creating a culture where everyone feels that they belong - a place where we can all be ourselves, thrive and develop to be the best we can be. So, we offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements and employee resource groups to support all employees. As an Equal Opportunities Employer, we value applications from all backgrounds, cultures and ability.

As a Disability Confident Leader, we are committed to offering an interview to all applicants who have a disability and meet the essential criteria. If you would like to be considered under this commitment, please let us know at the application stage.

We strongly believe that world‑class talent makes no distinctions based on gender, ethnic or national origin, sexual identity and orientation, age, religion or disability, but enriches itself through these differences.