Senior Primary Design Engineer

N G Bailey; Perth; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Senior Primary Design Engineer to lead innovative projects in high-voltage substation design. This role is pivotal in supporting the UK's low-carbon transition, offering a unique opportunity to work on complex infrastructure projects. You will be responsible for technical leadership, ensuring design quality, and mentoring junior engineers. With a competitive salary and flexible benefits, this position promises both professional growth and a chance to make a significant impact in the engineering field. Join a forward-thinking team dedicated to excellence and sustainability.

Benefits

Company Car/ Car allowance

Pension with up to 8% employer contribution

Up to 25 days holidays plus 8 Bank Holidays

Private Medical Insurance

Flexible benefits

Personal Wellbeing and Volunteer Days

Free Employee Assistance Program

Personal development programme

Qualifications

• Proven experience in EHV/HV substation design on complex projects.
• Strong technical skills in equipment specification and layout design.

Responsibilities

• Lead detailed primary design deliverables for high-voltage substations.
• Conduct site surveys and develop designs per client specifications.

Skills

EHV/HV substation plant design

Electrical design tools

Communication skills

Report writing

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Master's degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

CAD packages

Job description

Perth, Inverness & Scottish Highlands (Hybrid)
Permanent – Full Time
Competitive Salary + Car/ Car Allowance + Flexible Benefits

Summary

Freedom’s Professional Services division is seeking a Senior Primary Design Engineer to lead the delivery of high-voltage substation plant designs up to 400kV. This role involves working across a broad range of challenging projects from concept through to detailed design and construction support.

You will take technical responsibility for detailed primary design deliverables, applying specialist expertise in equipment specification, layout design, and complex engineering calculations. This is an opportunity to play a key role in supporting the UK’s transition to a low-carbon future through the design of critical power infrastructure.

• Promote safety through design and actively participate in HAZID and hazard review meetings
• Perform site surveys and collaborate with operational and project teams
• Develop concept and preliminary designs in line with client specifications and tender requirements
• Generate and review detailed general arrangement drawings, substation layouts, and single line diagrams for substations up to 400kV
• Prepare and refine technical specifications for plant and equipment
• Undertake detailed design calculations, including:
- Switchroom blast pressure
- Busbar sizing and short circuit calculations
- Cable sizing and thermal/mechanical forces
- Heating, ventilation, small power and lighting
- CT/VT sizing
- Lightning protection and compound lightning calculations
• Ensure design outputs meet all project documentation, employer requirements and industry standards
• Maintain a right-first-time approach, meeting project KPIs for design quality and on-time delivery
• Contribute to technical assurance processes, peer reviews and continuous improvement activities
• Provide technical leadership within the design team and mentor junior engineers where required

What We’re Looking For:

• Ideally a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering (2:1 or above); a Master’s degree is advantageous
• Chartered Engineer (CEng) status with the IET or equivalent, or working towards is desired
• Strong experience in EHV/HV substation plant design with a proven track record on complex power projects
• In-depth knowledge of primary plant systems up to 400kV and associated standards
• Competent in electrical design tools and industry-standard CAD packages
• Understanding of CDM regulations and the importance of safe-by-design principles
• Excellent communication and report writing skills
• CSCS or SHEA Power card required
• NEBOSH or other relevant safety training (desirable)
• Full UK driving licence

We're always evolving our benefits to ensure we're attracting and retaining great people. Some of what you can expect includes:
• Competitive Salary
• Company Car/ Car allowance
• Salary Sacrifice car scheme (Hybrid/Electric Vehicle)
• Pension with a leading provider and up to 8% employer contribution
• Up to 25 days holidays (Buy & Sell option) plus 8 Bank Holidays
• Personal Wellbeing and Volunteer Days
• Private Medical Insurance
• Free 24/7 365 Employee Assistance Program to support mental health and well-being (including counselling sessions and legal advice)
• Flexible benefits to suit from Dental Insurance, Gym Memberships, Give As You Earn, Travel Insurance, Tax Free Bikes
• Personal development programme

Next Steps

As a business, we’re on a journey to build on our culture where everyone is included, treated fairly and with respect. This starts with recruitment and how we bring people into the organisation.

We’ll do our best to outline the recruitment process to you ahead of time with plenty of notice. If you require any accommodations to participate in the application or interview process, please let us know and we will work with you to ensure your needs are met.

About Us

Freedom are part of the NG Bailey Group, one of the leading independent engineering and services businesses in the UK. Founded in 1921, with a turnover of £500m and 3000 employees, we are proud of our history of developing great people through our investment in training.

Working across a variety of sectors within the building and infrastructure industry, our innovative, responsible and forward thinking approach allows us to work on fantastic ground-breaking projects, providing solutions using the latest tools and technologies

Progression is something we value and we will make sure that when you join us you have a clearly defined development path, supported by regular reviews, training and ongoing support to enable you to be the best you can be.