Technical Director / Associate Director for HV Substations

Advance TRS; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading engineering consultancy seeks a Technical Director or Associate Director specializing in HV Substation Design in Birmingham. You will lead major projects, ensuring design excellence and client satisfaction. The ideal candidate has extensive experience in delivering HV infrastructure projects and strong leadership skills. Join a dynamic team focused on the UK's energy transition and make a significant impact on sustainable projects.

Qualifications

• Experience with consultancy, contractor, or utility in the energy sector.
• Proven delivery of HV infrastructure projects from concept to design.
• Strong understanding of AIS and GIS substation systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead substation design discussions with clients and teams.
• Define scope and ensure delivery of high-quality outputs.
• Oversee design delivery and perform quality assurance reviews.

Skills

Strong leadership

Client management

Technical integrity

Safety in design

Job description

Overview

My client is seeking a Technical Director or Associate Director (HV Substation Design) to join their expanding Transmission & Distribution team. You'll lead major grid connection and infrastructure projects, delivering innovative and resilient substation designs that enable the UK's transition to net zero.

The Opportunity

My client's Transmission & Distribution Engineering team provides complete design and consultancy services across power systems analysis, cabling, substations, protection and control, communications, converter stations, HVDC systems, and interconnectors.

As part of this high-performing team, you'll focus on primary plant design for large-scale infrastructure, grid connections, and private networks, typically ranging from 132kV to 400kV. Projects span feasibility, optioneering, FEED, detailed design, and design assurance - across both new builds and existing substations.

What YouYou'll Do

As a senior technical leader, you'll be responsible for ensuring design excellence, technical integrity, and strong client engagement across multiple projects.

• Lead substation design discussions with clients and multidisciplinary internal teams.
• Define scope, establish interfaces, and ensure delivery of high-quality technical outputs.
• Oversee design delivery - agreeing design approaches, supporting scope development, monitoring progress, and performing quality assurance reviews.
• Apply your deep knowledge of substation asset life cycles to deliver effective, efficient designs.
• Work closely with project management teams to forecast resourcing and programme requirements.
• Drive proposal and bid development, ensuring commercial awareness and cost control.
• Develop and maintain strong client relationships, understanding their needs and delivering trusted solutions.
• Champion a safety-in-design ethos across all projects.
• Mentor and support junior engineers, building capability and technical excellence across the team.

About You

You'll be an experienced engineer with a track record of delivering HV substation projects at transmission and distribution voltage levels. You'll combine deep technical expertise with strong leadership and client management skills.

Essential experience:

• Experience with a consultancy, contractor, or utility in the energy sector.
• Proven delivery of HV infrastructure projects from concept and FEED through to detailed design.
• Strong understanding of AIS and GIS substation systems.
• Working knowledge of National Grid standards and specifications.
• Experience leading bids and proposals for complex, multidisciplinary projects.
• Knowledge of design and site construction review processes.
• Client experience with National Grid, SHET, SSE, SPT, or other UK/Ireland transmission operators or developers.

Desirable:

• Knowledge of HVDC systems, transformers, interconnectors, and protection & control systems.
• CDAE / LCDAE approval.

Why Join My Client?

This is an exciting opportunity to work at the forefront of the UK's power sector transformation. My client is known for delivering technically challenging, high-impact projects that connect renewable energy to the grid and drive the clean energy transition.

You'll join a collaborative, forward-thinking environment that values innovation, integrity, and continuous growth - giving you the platform to make a genuine difference in the UK's net zero journey.

Apply now and help power the grid of the future.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity in our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.