Technical Director - Secondary (Protection & Control) Design

AtkinsRéalis; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salaries

Flexible holiday allowances

Tailored benefits for health and wellbeing

Job summary

AtkinsRéalis is seeking a HV P&C Engineering Technical Director in Birmingham. This role requires an experienced engineer to lead design projects, develop strategies, and ensure compliance with engineering standards. The successful candidate will manage a portfolio of high-impact projects while fostering client relationships and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams.

Competitive salary and a range of benefits, including hybrid working culture, are offered to promote health and well-being.

Qualifications

• Proven track record of leading complex designs and drawings compliant with engineering standards.
• Comfortable in changing environments, contributing to business success.
• Experience delivering FEED and detailed design for EHV substation projects.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership on detailed design projects.
• Develop discipline strategy and oversee technical assurance.
• Collaborate with clients and internal stakeholders.

Skills

Technical leadership

Stakeholder communication

Commercial awareness

Design compliance

Team management

Education

Master’s degree (MEng/MSc) in Electrical Engineering

Tools

Power systems design software

Job description

Let’s secure the future of energy. The Power Energy Systems (PES) Practice of AtkinsRéalis is seeking a HV P&C Engineering Technical Director to join our team in the UK. We are looking for an energetic and experienced engineer who can both lead as a technical expert in the design of substations and drive forward business results.

Overview

AtkinsRéalis specialises in all aspects of Transmission and Distribution engineering within the UK and internationally. We provide industry‑leading engineering solutions from feasibility through to commissioning, supporting client‑side and construction phases. In this role you will set strategy for complex, high‑impact projects, anticipate regulatory changes, and develop innovative solutions that move the business forward.

Your role

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership on detailed design projects across the Power and Transmission & Distribution sector.
• Influence practice‑wide initiatives and recommend best practices to improve internal processes and services.
• Develop the discipline strategy, oversee technical delivery and assurance across a growing portfolio of front‑end and detailed design projects for AIS/GIS HV substations (up to 400kV), HVDC converter stations, etc.
• Serve as the recognised expert and technical authority in P&C across the PES Practice and wider AtkinsRéalis business.
• Carry out FEED and detail design, including protection and control aspects such as SLD, KLD, schematics, wiring diagrams, functional specifications, coordination and discrimination studies, telecoms, network architecture, cable sizing, voltage drop, LVAC/LVDC load calculations and specification for P&C equipment, battery and UPS systems.
• Carry out CDAE for the P&C discipline or LCDAE role for National Grid/EPC contractor projects as required.
• Carry out P&C design assurance activities as required.
• Build strong and trusted relationships, working with clients at sites and in offices.
• Collaborate with stakeholders at all levels, including internal and external clients, operational staff, project teams, and external parties.
• Recommend and drive improvements to processes, services, and technical practices while ensuring robust engineering governance.
• Oversee technical input into bid proposals, define delivery strategy, and prepare high‑quality, compliant, competitive submissions with cross‑functional teams.
• Proactively identify opportunities for cross‑selling and business growth, using commercial insight to strengthen client relationships.
• Grow, develop, and manage the P&C engineering capability, supporting talent development and succession planning.
• Anticipate emerging business, regulatory, and technology challenges, identifying risks and opportunities early.
• Provide strategic oversight across multiple complex, multidisciplinary projects, ensuring technical excellence, safe delivery, and alignment with client and practice objectives.
• Work independently in challenging situations, acting as the point of escalation for complex technical matters and exercising personal judgment to find solutions.

About You

• Proven track record of leading others to produce complex designs and drawings compliant with engineering codes and standards.
• Comfortable working in new and changing environments, contributing to business success.
• Strong stakeholder communication skills, able to influence senior clients across multidisciplinary and international teams.
• Degree qualified; a Master’s degree (MEng/MSc) in Electrical Engineering is preferred.
• Chartered Engineer and a Member of the IET or equivalent.
• Experience delivering FEED and detailed design for EHV (33–400 kV) substation projects.
• Extensive experience in P&C design of substations in the UK (NG and/or SSE) with a strong focus on safety, regulatory and environmental compliance, including Principal Designer duties under CDM 2015.
• Ability to chair design review and hazard review meetings; provide Technical Authority / CDAE review of P&C design packages as required.
• Comprehensive design assurance skills ensuring technically compliant deliverables.
• Commercially astute: build client relationships, support bids, coach others, and champion continuous improvement.
• Desirable: HVDC design and commissioning experience.

Rewards & Benefits

Competitive salaries, employee rewards, a range of benefits you can tailor to suit your health, wellbeing, financial and lifestyle needs, and a hybrid working culture with flexible holiday allowances to balance work and personal life.

About AtkinsRéalis

We are a world‑class engineering services and nuclear organisation. We connect people, data and technology to transform the world’s infrastructure and energy systems. Our global team of consultants, designers, engineers and project managers is committed to leading clients across end markets to engineer a better future.

Security Clearance

This role may require security clearance. Offers of employment will be dependent on obtaining the relevant level of clearance. If necessary, this will be discussed during the interview. The vetting process is delivered by UK Security Vetting and may require candidates to provide proof of UK residency of 5 years or longer. If applying, please do not reference any current or previously held security clearance in your application or CV.

Equal Opportunities

We are committed to creating a culture where everyone feels they belong. We offer family‑friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements and employee resource groups. As an Equal Opportunities Employer, we value applications from all backgrounds, cultures and abilities. As a Disability Confident Leader, we are committed to offering an interview to all applicants who have a disability and meet the essential criteria.