Senior Power Systems Consultant/Power Systems Consultant

Energy Systems Catapult; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 56,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading energy research organization in Birmingham is seeking a Senior Power Systems Consultant to lead and support innovation projects focused on achieving Net Zero. The ideal candidate will have a degree in electrical engineering, strong knowledge of the GB power system, and experience with power systems tools. This role offers a permanent, full-time position with a salary range of £56k-65k per annum.

Qualifications

• Strong understanding of GB power system and related disciplines.
• Experience in analysis/research using power systems tools.
• Ability to work across multiple projects with deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Act as Technical Lead/Work package Lead on projects.
• Work with multi-disciplinary teams and external partners.
• Lead/support thought leadership initiatives on Net Zero.

Skills

Electrical engineering expertise

Understanding of GB power system

Technical writing skills

Presentation skills

Power systems analysis tools

Education

Degree in electrical engineering

Higher degree advantageous

Tools

IPSA

DIgSILENT PowerFactory

Plexos

Job description

Energy Systems Catapult – Senior Power Systems Consultant/Power Systems Consultant

Salary: Power Systems Consultant (45k-55k per annum FTE) & Senior Power Systems Consultant (56k -65k per annum FTE)

Status: Permanent /Full-time preferable (requests for part-time/flexible working arrangements are welcome)

About Energy Systems Catapult

Energy Systems Catapult is an independent research and technology organisation. Our mission is to accelerate Net Zero energy innovation. Launched in 2015 by Innovate UK, we’ve grown into a team of over 250 professionals, bringing together expertise in engineering, systems modelling, consumer insights, policy, commercial strategy, digital innovation, and business incubation.

We support innovative companies – small and large – to test, trial, and scale new energy products and services. Our strength lies in our whole systems approach. Bespoke modelling tools, sector-leading facilities, and real-world data we have, help innovators succeed. We also support government, regulators, and system stakeholders with thought leadership, providing evidence and insights to shape policy and enable change.

Based in Birmingham, we’re part of the wider Catapult Network – a group of nine world-leading technology and innovation centres, established by Innovate UK. The Catapult Network fosters collaboration between industry, government, research organisations, academia, and many others to transform great ideas into valuable products and services.

We value collaboration and believe that being together in person fosters creative thinking and stronger relationships. While we offer flexible working, we ask our team to spend around 40 days a year (roughly one day a week) in our Birmingham office.

Context

Transitioning to a low-carbon energy system to meet the UK’s 2050 Net Zero target is one of the most complex and urgent challenges we face. As the system becomes increasingly reliant on variable renewables and electrification of transport and heating gains momentum, understanding how the power system must evolve is more crucial than ever.

The Power Systems Practice at the Energy Systems Catapult is a team of engineers and researchers who’ve chosen to move beyond traditional roles in generation, networks, or academia, to work on a wide range of high-impact, future-focused projects.

Our focus areas include, but are not limited to, the role of electricity networks in achieving Net Zero, the future role of flexibility, and capacity and operability challenges of future energy systems. Our projects focus on unique innovation opportunities rather than repeatable ones, to deliver impact. We are currently seeking a Senior Power System Consultant/Power System Consultant to lead/support our innovation projects and thought leadership initiatives.

Some of our past projects can be found on our webpage: Power Systems Practice.

Responsibilities

The roles report to the Practice Manager - Power Systems within the Systems Integration Team. The key responsibilities will be to:

• Act as Technical Lead/Work package Lead on projects, providing power systems subject matter expertise, setting the scope of work and providing oversight and technical assurance for projects. The project areas include Transmission and distribution networks, Flexibility services, Operability, DSO transition and Smart Grid technologies
• Work with multi-disciplinary teams in the Catapult and external partners and stakeholders. The role within projects will vary, ranging from providing technical expertise on the power system to reviewing project deliverables and shaping innovative solutions.
• Lead/support the development of innovation priorities and bid proposals for different funding opportunities including Network Innovation Allowance (NIA) and Strategic Innovation Funding (SIF).
• Lead/support Catapult’s thought leadership on a range of challenges to meet Net Zero such as Electricity markets and network charging, future operability challenges associated with the integration of renewable technology, the role of flexibility and storage and the future role of power systems in the Net Zero journey, including transmission, distribution and cross vector.
• Lead/support the representation of power systems within Catapult modelling tools, which may involve the construction of network models, analysis of partner-provided data and/or software integration of power systems models with others.
• Preparation of written materials including technical reports, briefing materials, discussion papers and consultation responses.

Qualifications

The credentials we are ideally looking for include:

• A degree in electrical engineering or a relevant discipline. A higher degree would be advantageous.
• A strong understanding of the GB power system, with expertise in one or more areas such as system design, operation, or network planning. Proven experience gained through roles in system operation, TO/DNO planning, consultancy, or academia is highly desirable.
• Experience in performing analysis/research using power systems tools (e.g. IPSA, DIgSILENT PowerFactory or similar). Familiarity with power system economics and the ability to perform analysis and research using techno-economic tools (e.g., Plexos or similar) would be advantageous.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills – in particular, clear and unambiguous technical writing, and an ability to present an argument clearly and concisely.
• Excellent presentation skills to represent Catapult in industry forums, working groups and with external stakeholders and clients.
• Ability to work across multiple projects, work to deadlines and within multi-disciplinary teams within the Catapult and across external organisations.
• Chartered engineer or working towards this qualification is desirable.