Technical Principal (Secondary Design, Transmission) 1

MOTT MACDONALD; Bristol; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private medical insurance

Employer pension contributions

Annual bonus schemes

Flexible benefits

Employee ownership culture

Job summary

Mott MacDonald is seeking a Technical Principal to lead electrical design and project delivery within the Energy unit’s Transmission & Distribution division in the UK. You will oversee concept through to commissioning on 11kV–33kV networks, renewables connections, and HV/LV infrastructure, while mentoring engineers and guiding bids and client interfaces.

You'll manage multi-disciplinary design across sectors, enforce G99 compliance, and drive safe, high-quality deliverables with a focus on

Qualifications

• Essential: Bachelor's or Master's in Electrical Engineering; Chartered Engineer status; extensive electrical project engineering experience.
• Strong knowledge of 11kV–33kV network design, substation design, and HV/LV systems.
• Experience with tender specifications, calculations, designs and drawings.
• Ability to lead engineering projects from early design to commissioning.
• Proven ability to lead multi-disciplinary design interfaces and client engagements.

Responsibilities

• Front-End & Optioneering: capture stakeholder requirements and assess network configuration.
• Detailed Design: electrical network design for 11kV–33kV, cable sizing, substation layouts and protections.
• Commissioning Support: respond to queries and attend design reviews.
• Project Leadership: coordinate interfaces, conduct design reviews, lead progress meetings.
• Bid support and team development: assist bid stages, grow the electrical design team, ensure standards compliance.

Skills

Electrical engineering

Project leadership

Stakeholder engagement

HV/LV design

MS Office

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering

Chartered Engineer

Tools

MS Office

Job description

Location/s: Glasgow, Brighton, Newcastle, York, Croydon, Bristol; UK

Mott MacDonald is a global engineering, management, and development consultancy with over 20,000 employees across more than 50 countries and 140+ offices.

We work across incredible global industries, delivering exciting work that is defining our future and making an important societal impact in the communities we serve. Our people power our performance – we succeed when they do. With countless opportunities to collaborate, learn, and grow, the possibilities for excellence are as varied as every individual.

Whether you want to grow as a subject matter expert or broaden your experience with roles across our international community, you're surrounded by global specialists who want to combine their expertise and champion you to be your best. As a proudly employee-owned business, we benefit our clients, our communities, and each other, investing in creating the right space for everyone to feel empowered, included, and valued. Whatever your ambition, Mott MacDonald is where people come to be brilliant.

About thebusinessunit

The Energy unit delivers services to clients globally across several sectors including hydropower, nuclear, waste, renewable generation and transmission & distribution networks. Together we provide integrated engineering and project management services across the project lifecycle – from concept and design to construction and operations, to decommissioning or repowering and life extension. Together with our clients, we're helping to deliver the energy transition globally.

Overview of the role

The Technical principal will support a wide range of client projects from early inception and master planning through concept design, detailed design, commissioning and final completion. The role sits within the Energy Unit's Transmission & Distribution division and covers diverse sectors including renewable energy, aviation, data centres, healthcare, nuclear, defence and estate planning.

The position involves developing electrical designs for 11kV–33kV networks, renewable generation connections and associated HV/LV infrastructure. The role also includes project leadership, bid support, stakeholder engagement, and mentoring junior staff.

Key responsibilities and duties include:

• Front-End & Optioneering
  • Capture and agree stakeholder requirements
  • Assess network configuration and resilience
  • Evaluate operational scenarios and their impacts
  • Lead site surveys
  • Produce clear reports enabling client decision-making
• Detailed Design (Typically to RIBA Stage 4)
  • Electrical network design for 11kV–33kV systems
  • Power system cable sizing, routing and termination
  • Substation layout development and main equipment specifications
  • Design of control and protection schemes, including G99 compliance
  • Multicore and fibre optic cable design
  • Interpretation of client/DNO standards and regulations
  • Earthing system design
  • Substation LVAC and DC system design
  • Production and issue of high-quality design deliverables
• Commissioning Support
  • Respond to construction and commissioning queries
  • Attend workshops, design reviews, and site meetings
  • Resolve technical issues while considering commercial impacts
• Project Leadership
  • Ensure understanding of project scope and deliverables
  • Coordinate multi-disciplinary design interfaces
  • Conduct design reviews and maintain quality against contract and programme requirements
  • Act as key client interface, leading progress meetings and workshops
• Additional Skills & Duties
  • Provide significant input during bid stage (resourcing, capability statements, methodologies, programmes)
  • Help build and develop the electrical design team
  • Oversee technical management and resolve design challenges
  • Ensure compliance with all client, safety, and environmental standards
  • Use Microsoft Office applications confidently
  • Travel within the UK or internationally as required
  • Demonstrate initiative, self-motivation and sound decision-making

Candidate Specification

Essential:

• Education: Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering
• Professional registration: Chartered Engineer (or equivalent status)
• Extensive experience in electrical project engineering
• Strong knowledge of 11kV–33kV network design, substation design and HV/LV systems
• Proven understanding of control and protection schemes (including G99)
• Experience producing tender specifications, calculations, designs and drawings
• Ability to lead engineering projects from early design to commissioning
• Strong communication skills (written, verbal, stakeholder engagement)
• Ability to manage interfaces across multi disciplinary design teams
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications
• Knowledge of DNO/TSO standards and regulations at all distribution and transmission voltage levels
• Experience mentoring junior engineers or developing teams

Desirable:

• Experience across renewable power generation, net zero energy solutions and estate master planning
• Exposure to aviation, data centres, healthcare, nuclear or defence sectors
• Experience delivering commissioning support and resolving on site technical challenges
• Previous involvement in bid preparation and proposal writing
• Willingness to travel internationally when required

UK Immigration

Mott MacDonald Ltd. are not currently offering sponsorship to candidates under the Skilled Worker visa route in the UK. This decision is as a consequence of the changes made to the Skilled Worker route by the UK Government in April 2024. We continue to welcome applications from candidates who are eligible for alternative immigration routes in the UK, that do not require sponsorship as a Skilled Worker now or in future.

Agile working

At Mott MacDonald, we believe it makes business sense for you and your manager to choose how you can work most effectively to meet your client, team, and personal commitments. We offer a hybrid working policy that embraces your well-being, flexibility, and trust.

Equality, diversity, and inclusion

We put equality, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of our business, seeking to promote fair employment procedures and practices to ensure equal opportunities for all. We encourage individual expression in our workplace and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels they can contribute.

Accessibility

We want you to perform your best at every stage in the recruitment process. If you are disabled or need any support to enable you to apply or attend an interview, please contact us at [e-mail] and we will talk to you about how we can support you.

We offer some fantastic benefits including:

Financial wellbeing

• We match employee pension contributions between 4.5% and 7%.
• Life assurance equal up to 4 x your basic salary, with an option to increase the level of cover to 6 x your salary.
• Our income protection scheme provides a financial benefit, as well as absence and return to work support due to long-term illness or injury.
• Flexible benefits, including increased life assurance cover, critical illness insurance, payroll saving and will writing.
• As an independently owned business we share the financial success of the business with all our colleagues in various ways including annual bonus schemes.

Employee Ownership

• Our employee ownership model means no external investors, just us, creating a culture of shared success.
• Our employees have a stake and a voice in our business, giving them a direct connection to our success through our personal and group performance bonuses.
• As your career grows, so does your stake, recognising your long-term impact and contribution.
• Your voice matters, with the opportunity to connect directly with senior leadership through formal channels to help shape our future.
• For our senior roles you will have a direct pathway towards ownership from day one.

Health and wellbeing

• Private medical insurance for all UK colleagues.
• Health cash plan to support you with every day health costs and treatments.
• Access to Peppy, providing free support from menopause experts for all UK colleagues.
• A variety of wellbeing support is available through our comprehensive wellbeing program, including access for you and your family.
• Ability to flex your salary to opt into a wide range of health benefits, many of which can be extended to your family too.

Lifestyle

• A minimum of 33-35 days holiday each year, inclusive of public holidays and dependent on level, with the ability to buy or sell leave through our flexible benefits programme.
• Holiday entitlement increased to a minimum of 35 days after 5 years' service.
• Variety of employee saving schemes and discounts from high-street retailers.

Enhanced family and carers leave

• Enhanced family leave policies, including 26 weeks paid maternity and adoption leave, and two weeks paid paternity/partner leave.
• Our shared parental leave matches maternity leave meaning we pay up to 24 weeks at full pay.
• Up to five additional days leave are provided for those with significant caring responsibilities, two of which are paid.

Learning and development

• Primary annual professional institution subscription.
• A broad range of opportunities to enhance both technical and soft skills through mentoring, formal training, and self-development options.

Networks, communities, and social outcomes

• Join a wide range of groups including our Advanced Employee Networks which support our LGBTQ+, gender, race and ethnicity, disability, and parents/carers communities.
• Make a difference within our communities through our social outcomes.