Principal Engineer- T&D HV Substations (Data Centers) ROI

AECOM; Cork; Hybrid; EUR 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible hybrid working model

Career development opportunities

Volunteering days

Access to industry-leading technology and training

Job summary

AECOM is seeking a Principal Engineer in Cork, Ireland, to lead HV substation design for hyperscale and co-location data centre clients. The role involves technical delivery, project management, and mentoring junior engineers. Candidates should have experience in the energy sector, particularly in data centre connections, HV infrastructure design, and knowledge of National Grid standards. AECOM offers a flexible hybrid working model, career development opportunities, and a wide array of benefits to support employee well-being.

Qualifications

• Experience in roles related to energy sector consultancy or as a contractor.
• Background in working with data centre clients and transmission utilities.
• Proven ability in HV infrastructure design at all stages.
• Strong understanding of electrical plant, switchgear, and civil interfaces.
• Working knowledge of National Grid standards and requirements.
• Experience in design management and site review.
• Familiarity with control systems and HVDC technology.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical discussions and define interfaces between HV infrastructure and site systems.
• Direct technical delivery of substation design for data centres.
• Apply lifecycle expertise to deliver HV substation schemes.
• Liaise with management to align resourcing forecasts with construction schedules.
• Develop trusted relationships with stakeholders regarding grid connection strategies.
• Champion safety in design principles and compliance with standards.
• Mentor junior engineers and build team capability in HV design.

Skills

Electrical AC HV plant and equipment knowledge

Experience in consultancy or contractor roles

Design management skills

Proposal and bid development experience

Understanding of grid connection strategies

Job description

Job Description

As a Principal Engineer, you will be at the heart of HV substation design for hyperscale and co‑location data centre clients across the UK, Ireland and Europe, shaping grid‑scale power infrastructure from concept through to energisation.

Responsibilities

• Lead HV substation technical discussions with data centre clients and multi‑disciplinary teams, establishing scopes, defining interfaces between HV infrastructure and site power systems (e.g. MSBs, UPS, generators), and ensuring coordinated delivery.
• Direct the technical delivery of substation design for data centre grid connections and on‑site HV networks, agreeing on approaches with engineering teams, monitoring progress, and quality‑checking deliverables prior to client issue.
• Apply lifecycle expertise— from grid connection studies and concept design through FEED and detailed design— to deliver HV substation schemes that meet the power density and availability demands of data centre campuses.
• Liaise with project management teams to develop resourcing forecasts and programmes aligned to data centre construction schedules and critical path milestones.
• Demonstrate commercial awareness through proposal development, project cost monitoring, and identifying opportunities to expand HV scope on data centre frameworks.
• Build trusted relationships with data centre developers, hyperscale operators, and utility stakeholders, understanding their grid connection strategies and availability requirements.
• Champion safety in design principles across all HV substation deliverables, ensuring compliance with relevant standards and the specific operational safety requirements of energised data centre environments.
• Mentor and develop junior engineers, building team capability in HV substation design for data centre applications over the medium and long term.

Benefits

Benefits include core and personalised benefits designed to support your future and well‑being, a flexible hybrid working model to ensure a work‑life balance, career development opportunities, technical practice networks, AECOM University, volunteering days, and access to industry‑leading technology and training. We provide a wide array of compensation, benefits and well‑being programs to meet the diverse needs of our employees and their families.

Qualifications

• Experience in consultancy, contractor, or utility roles in the energy sector, with exposure to data centre grid connections or critical power infrastructure strongly preferred.
• Background working with data centre clients, TSOs, DNOs or other UK/Ireland transmission utilities or developers—particularly on connection agreements relevant to large power users or data centres.
• Proven experience delivering HV infrastructure design at concept, FEED, and detailed design stages, with an understanding of the reliability and N+1/N+2 redundancy expectations of data centre operators.
• Strong understanding of electrical AC HV plant and equipment—both AIS and GIS—including switchgear, busbars, cabling, earthing and civil interfaces.
• Working knowledge of National Grid standards, specifications and connection requirements, including G99 and grid code compliance.
• Proposal and bid development experience, including leading multi‑discipline submissions for data centre HV infrastructure or grid connection projects.
• Experience of design management and site construction review; primary plant focus is essential, with secondary systems knowledge (protection, control, SCADA) advantageous.
• Familiarity with control systems, power transformers, HV protection and control schemes; knowledge of HVDC or high‑capacity interconnectors is a plus.

We celebrate diversity, including neurodiversity, and believe it enriches our team. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and abilities.

We are a Disability Confident Employer and will offer an interview to applicants who have a disability or long‑term condition, who meet the minimum/essential criteria for the role.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we believe in each person’s potential.