Protection Engineer

SSE; Wick; On-site; GBP 72,000 - 86,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Company car scheme

Vehicle provided for travel

Travel support

Job summary

SSE is seeking an experienced Protection and Control Engineer to join our Distribution Technical Services team in Scotland, delivering technical leadership and design assurance for protection and control on major capital projects up to 33 kV. You’ll work to ensure schemes are safe, compliant and fit for purpose, with hands-on involvement in design, commissioning and problem solving.

Travel across locations in the north of Scotland is required, and a role will include mentoring less experienced

Qualifications

• Strong safety-first mindset with risk management experience.
• Electrical Engineering qualification (min HNC) or equivalent.
• Experience in design, commissioning and assurance of power system protection up to 33 kV.
• Ability to challenge designs and provide independent technical judgement.
• Experience with protection relays, testing equipment and manufacturer tools.
• Familiarity with PowerFactory and AutoCAD.
• Willingness to travel across locations; full driving licence.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership and design assurance for protection and control on large capital projects.
• Review and approve protection designs, relay settings, and commissioning documentation.
• Act as Design authority for protection-related technical queries and engineering challenges.
• Shape project scope and influence investment decisions via scoping documents and diagrams.
• Carry out detailed protection and control design including AC/DC schematics and grading studies.
• Support onsite activities including commissioning, energisation, fault investigation and post‑fault analysis.
• Provide mentoring to less experienced engineers and coordinate with other teams.

Skills

Power system protection

Protection relays

AutoCAD

PowerFactory

Technical judgement

Distribution network experience

Protection design

Education

Electrical Engineering (min HNC)

Tools

PowerFactory

AutoCAD

Job description

Base Location: You'll be expected to spend 50% of your working week in one of the following locations Inverness, Dingwall, Orkney, Shetland, Wick or Fort William.

Salary: £71,869 - £85,880 depending on skills and experience + a range of benefits to support your finances, wellbeing and family.

Working Pattern: Permanent | Full Time | Flexible First options available

The role

We’re looking for an experienced Protection and Control Engineer to join our Distribution Technical Services team, supporting the delivery of a significant capital investment portfolio across the north of Scotland.

Our team provides specialist technical leadership, design, and assurance for protection and control systems on the distribution network up to 33 kV. We work closely with Capital Delivery, Operations, and external partners to ensure schemes are safe, compliant, and fit for purpose, both technically and operationally.

You’ll take a leading role in providing technical assurance across major capital projects, while still retaining hands‑on involvement in design, commissioning, and problem‑solving where required. You’ll be trusted to make engineering judgements, challenge designs where necessary, and act as a point of escalation for complex protection issues.

You will

• Provide technical leadership and design assurance for protection and control aspects of large and complex capital investment and customer connection projects.
• Take a leading role in providing technical assurance across major capital and connections projects.
• Review and approve protection and control designs, relay settings, and commissioning documentation produced by contractors.
• Act as a Design authority for protection‑related technical queries, deviations, and engineering challenges arising during delivery.
• Shape project scope and influence investment decisions through the production and review of scoping documents, single‑line diagrams, and MC&P diagrams.
• Carry out detailed protection and control design where required, including AC/DC schematics, grading studies, relay settings, and configuration files.
• Support onsite activities including commissioning, energisation, fault investigation, and post‑fault analysis.
• Provide guidance and mentoring to less experienced engineers, supporting capability development within the wider Technical Services team and work closely with Capital Delivery, Operations, Control Room, and external contractors to ensure safe, timely, and compliant project delivery.

You have

• A strong safety‑first mindset with demonstrable experience of managing and mitigating engineering risk.
• A qualification in Electrical Engineering (minimum HNC) or equivalent practical experience.
• Significant experience in the design, commissioning, and assurance of power system protection, ideally within a distribution network environment up to 33 kV.
• The confidence and credibility to challenge designs, influence decisions, and provide independent technical judgement.
• Experience working with a range of protection relays, testing equipment, and manufacturer tools.
• Familiarity with industry‑standard engineering software such as PowerFactory and AutoCAD.
• Operational experience on the distribution network would be highly advantageous.

This role involves travel across various locations to support business needs. To enable you to fulfil these responsibilities, as a role requirement, the company will provide access to a vehicle for work‑related travel.

The requirement will be reviewed on an ongoing basis, and if the company car policy criteria are met, there will be an opportunity to join the company car scheme. Provision of a company car or cash allowance does not form part of the contractual terms and conditions of employment for this role.

A valid driving licence is essential.

About SSE

SSE’s purpose is to provide energy needed today while building a better world of energy for tomorrow. We do this by developing, building, operating and investing in electricity infrastructure and businesses needed in the energy transition. Our Transforming for Growth investment plan sees us investing £33bn in critical electricity infrastructure across the five years to 2030.

SSEN Distribution, part of the wider SSE group, powers 3.9 million UK homes and businesses. Our team of more than 4,200 skilled engineers, customer service advisors and energy experts keep customers connected to a safe, reliable supply of electricity while investing in and developing the flexible networks needed for our low carbon future.

Flexible benefits to fit your life

Enjoy discounts on private healthcare and gym memberships. Wellbeing benefits like a free online GP and 24/7 counselling service. Interest‑free loans on tech and transport season tickets, or a new bike with our Cycle to Work scheme. As well as generous family entitlements such as maternity and adoption pay, and paternity leave.

Work with an equal opportunity employer

SSE will make any reasonable adjustments you need to ensure that your application and experience with us is positive. Please contact [e-mail] / 01738 340954 to discuss how we can support you.

We're dedicated to fostering an open and inclusive workplace where people from all backgrounds can thrive. We create equal opportunities for everyone to succeed and especially welcome applications from those who may not be well represented in our workforce or industry.