Senior Associate Director Protection & Control (P&C) Design Engineer - UK Grid Network

Jacobs; Belfast; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free single medical cover

Enhanced parental leave pay

Reimbursement for professional development

Flexible working hours

Job summary

A leading engineering firm in Belfast is seeking a Senior Associate Director Protection & Control Engineer. This role involves providing strategic leadership and overseeing design for high-profile energy projects. Candidates must have a degree in Electrical Engineering, Chartered Engineer status, and extensive experience with high-voltage installations. The position also emphasizes leadership capabilities and excellent communication skills. The company values flexibility in work arrangements and offers competitive benefits in an inclusive work environment.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in P&C FEED and detailed design for high‑voltage installations.
• Strong knowledge of National Grid and SSE design processes.
• Proven leadership in managing multidisciplinary engineering teams.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership on FEED and detailed design workstreams.
• Lead interface design, protection schemes, control philosophies.
• Oversee technical assurance, quality control, and delivery of design packages.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Stakeholder engagement

Strategic thinking

Commercial awareness

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering

Chartered Engineer through the IET

TP141 Authorisation (Protection & Control)

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 Senior Associate Director Protection & Control Engineer to support a range of high‑profile projects across our Power & Energy portfolio. This includes high voltage AIS and GIS Substations, transmission system assets, HVDC interconnectors, and energy storage systems.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership on FEED and detailed design workstreams for Protection & Control systems across transmission and renewable energy projects
• Lead interface design, protection schemes, control philosophies, and settings coordination
• Oversee technical assurance, quality control, and timely delivery of design packages and bids
• Support recruitment, onboarding, and development of engineering talent within the P&C discipline
• Monitor and improve team billability, utilisation, and performance metrics
• Lead major bids and proposals, contributing to technical strategy, resource planning, and client engagement
• Undertake site visits and non‑intrusive surveys as required for design or site support
• Chair design reviews, hazard reviews, and technical governance meetings
• Identify and manage technical risks, ensuring compliance with CDM and safety standards
• Represent Jacobs in client meetings and industry forums, influencing standards and best practices
• Support succession planning and capability growth across the P&C team

Here’s what you’ll need

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering
• Chartered Engineer through the IET
• TP141 Authorisation (Protection & Control)
• Extensive experience in P&C FEED and detailed design for high‑voltage installations (132kV–400kV)
• Strong knowledge of National Grid and SSE design processes and standards
• Experience across the full project lifecycle from feasibility to detailed design
• Familiarity with protection and control systems for DNOs, BESS, windfarms, and HVDC
• Proven leadership in managing multidisciplinary engineering teams and complex programmes
• Excellent communication, stakeholder engagement, and strategic thinking skills
• Commercial awareness and ability to contribute to business growth and client retention

Why Jacobs?

People are Jacobs’ greatest asset, and we offer a competitive package to retain and attract the best talent. In addition to the benefits you’d expect, UK employees also receive free single medical cover and digital GP service, family‑friendly benefits such as enhanced parental leave pay and free membership of employee assistance and parental programmes, plus reimbursement towards relevant professional development and memberships. We also give back to our communities through our Collectively program which incorporates matched‑funding, paid volunteering time and charitable donations.

Work‑life balance and flexibility is a key focus area for Jacobs. We’re happy to discuss hybrid, part‑time and flexible working hours, patterns and locations to suit you and our business.

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. Find out more about life at Jacobs.

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. Find out more about ourJacobs Employee Networks here.

Jacobs partners with VERCIDA to help us attract and retain talent from a wide range of backgrounds. For greater online accessibility please visit https//www.vercida.com/uk/employers/jacobs to view and access our roles.

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.

Your application experience is important to us, and we’re keen to adapt to make every interaction even better. If you require further support or reasonable adjustments with regards to the recruitment process (for example, you require the application form in a different format), please contact the team via Careers Support.