Protection and controls engineer

SmartTek Global; Glasgow; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Benefits package

Professional development

Chartership support

Collaborative EPC environment

Job summary

SmartTek Global is seeking an experienced Protection & Control Engineer to lead the design and delivery of protection, control, and SCADA systems for HV substations and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) projects across the UK.

You will work within an EPC delivery team, developing protection and control solutions from concept to commissioning, ensuring safe, reliable, and compliant operation of grid-connected assets, and collaborating with construction, procurement and commissioning teams.

Qualifications

• Experience in protection design for HV substations (11-400kV)
• Strong understanding of construction and commissioning environments
• Experience with BESS EMS/PCS integration and Grid Code testing

Responsibilities

• Lead or support design and development of protection and control systems for HV substations and BESS projects
• Produce protection schematics, SLDs, interlocking diagrams, wiring diagrams, relay setting calculations, and SCADA I/O schedules
• Carry out protection coordination studies and relay settings calculations per DNO/TO/NGESO requirements
• Specify and integrate protection relays, control panels, RTUs, and SCADA systems into substation and BESS architectures
• Support FAT and SAT activities, including relay configuration and testing
• Collaborate with engineering, procurement and construction teams to ensure compliant, cost-effective designs
• Coordinate with DNOs/TOs/NGESO for approvals and Grid Code compliance
• Provide technical support during construction and commissioning
• Manage engineering documentation using Procore or similar platforms
• Contribute to engineering standards and project delivery improvements
• Experience with Procore or similar platforms like BIM 360/Aconex
• Chartered Engineer status or active progression toward chartership

Skills

Protection & Control Design

SCADA integration

Relay settings calculations

Protection coordination studies

Grid Code compliance

Procore experience

BESS EMS/PCS integration

Education

Chartered Engineer (CEng) status or working towards IET

Tools

Procore

BIM 360

Aconex

Job description

Protection & Control Engineer - HV Substations & BESS (EPC Projects)

Employment Type: Full-time, Permanent

Reports to: Lead Electrical Engineer / Engineering Manager

Sector: EPC | Power Systems | Energy Storage | Grid Connections

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Protection & Control Engineer to play a key role in the design and delivery of protection, control, and SCADA systems for high-voltage substations and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) projects across the UK.

Working within a multidisciplinary EPC delivery team, you will develop and integrate protection and control solutions from concept through to commissioning, ensuring the safe, reliable, and compliant operation of grid-connected assets.

This position requires a strong background in electrical protection design, a solid understanding of the construction and commissioning environment, and the ability to collaborate effectively with engineering, construction, procurement, and commissioning teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead or support the design and development of protection and control systems for HV substations (11-400kV) and grid-scale BESS projects.
• Produce, review, and approve protection schematics, single-line diagrams (SLDs), interlocking diagrams, wiring diagrams, relay setting calculations, and SCADA I/O schedules.
• Carry out protection coordination studies, grading studies, and relay settings calculations in accordance with DNO, TO, and NGESO requirements.
• Specify and integrate protection relays, control panels, RTUs, and SCADA systems into overall substation and BESS control architectures.
• Support Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) and Site Acceptance Testing (SAT), including relay configuration and testing activities.
• Work closely with internal engineering, procurement, and construction teams to ensure designs are practical, cost-effective, and compliant with client specifications and industry standards.
• Liaise with DNOs, Transmission Owners (TOs), and NGESO to obtain design approvals, demonstrate Grid Code compliance, and coordinate protection submissions.
• Provide technical support throughout construction and commissioning, resolving design issues and ensuring the correct implementation of protection and control schemes.
• Manage engineering documentation and deliverables using Procore or equivalent EPC project management platforms.
• Contribute to the continual improvement of engineering standards, design processes, and project delivery methodologies.
• Experience with BESS control systems, including EMS/PCS integration, interface design, and Grid Code compliance testing.
• Knowledge of functional safety, interlocking logic, and control philosophy documentation.
• Experience using Procore or similar digital project collaboration platforms such as BIM 360 or Aconex.
• Chartered Engineer (CEng) status, or actively working towards professional registration through the IET or an equivalent institution

What We Offer

• Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package.
• The opportunity to work on cutting-edge renewable energy, HV infrastructure, and grid-scale BESS projects that are supporting the UK's transition to Net Zero.
• Ongoing investment in professional development, technical training, and chartership support.
• A collaborative, forward-thinking environment within a rapidly growing EPC organisation delivering critical energy infrastructure projects.