Lead Electrical Engineer

FairPlay Engineering; Zuid-Holland; Hybrid; EUR 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Premium Relocation Package

Job summary

FairPlay Engineering in the Netherlands seeks a Lead Electrical Engineer to own the technical output for HV substation design. You will lead a design team, balance office work with sites around Rotterdam and Zwolle, and directly engage with clients and senior stakeholders.

The role demands hands-on engineering judgment and a clear, decisive approach. You will work across protection, controls, and relay platforms, using AutoCAD, SEL Accelerator, SKM, and SEL relays, while ensuring quality and

Qualifications

• Bachelor or Master in Electrical Engineering or equivalent.
• Extensive HV substation design experience with protection and controls.
• Proven ability to lead engineering teams and manage stakeholders.
• Experience with multiple voltage levels and SEL relay platforms.

Responsibilities

• Lead design teams through basic and detailed HV substation projects.
• Produce and review protection schemes, relay settings, SLDs, and cable schedules.
• Own technical outputs and ensure compliance with standards and client specs.
• Engage with clients, contractors, and senior leaders throughout projects.
• Support commissioning as projects mature.

Skills

HV substation design

Protection & controls

Relay settings

AutoCAD

SEL Accelerator

SKM

SEL relays

Stakeholder management

English proficiency

Education

Bachelor or Master in Electrical Engineering

Tools

AutoCAD

SEL Accelerator

SKM

SEL relays

Job description

Company Information

Our client is a well-established Dutch engineering company operating at the technical forefront of high-voltage substation design in the Netherlands. Their work covers both primary and secondary systems across a broad range of HV infrastructure projects, serving network operators and large commercial clients navigating the demands of the energy transition. With offices in Rotterdam and Zwolle, they deliver projects across basic and detailed design phases with a technically strong, multidisciplinary team that takes engineering quality seriously. The pipeline includes utility-scale substations, renewable energy integration, and a growing portfolio of projects with a clear pathway into commissioning.

Vacancy Information

As Lead Electrical Engineer, you will take ownership of the technical output across HV substation design projects with a strong protection and controls focus. You will guide your team through complex design decisions, engage directly with clients and senior stakeholders, and be the person who gives a straight answer when it matters. Your time will be split between the office and project sites across the Rotterdam and Zwolle areas, roughly 40 percent desk based and the rest on-site and in front of stakeholders.

This is not a role where templates do the thinking for you. The work sits at the intersection of protection systems, controls design, and real engineering judgment, and the expectation is that you lead from the front on both.

Key Responsibilities

• Leading design teams through basic and detailed design phases on HV substation projects with a protection and controls focus.


• Producing and reviewing detailed designs including protection schemes, relay settings, single line diagrams, and cable schedules.


• Taking technical ownership of all electrical deliverables and ensuring they meet client specifications, applicable standards, and project quality requirements.


• Engaging with project teams, clients, contractors, and senior leadership throughout the project lifecycle.


• Working across a range of voltage levels on utility‑scale substation infrastructure.


• Day-to-day use of AutoCAD, SEL Accelerator, SKM, and SEL relay platforms.


• Contributing to a technically progressive project pipeline with a clear pathway into commissioning as projects mature.

What You Need

• Bachelor or Master degree in Electrical Engineering or a comparable technical discipline.


• Significant experience in HV substation design with a strong protection and controls background including relay scheme development, relay settings, and SEL relay platforms.


• Proven experience leading engineering teams through complex design projects and the ability to manage multiple disciplines and stakeholders without losing the technical thread.


• Experience working across multiple voltage levels on utility-scale infrastructure.


• Proficiency in AutoCAD, SEL Accelerator, and SKM. Hands‑on experience with SEL relays is essential.


• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills with the confidence to engage at a senior level across clients, contractors, and project leadership.


• Fluent in English, both written and spoken.

Relocation

This position is based in the Netherlands and will require relocation. We understand that making an international move is a significant decision and we are here to make that process as straightforward as possible.

As part of your contract, FairPlay Engineering provides a Premium Relocation Package. This includes visa sponsorship, guidance before your move, and dedicated support from a relocation consultant throughout the process. You can find more information on the Relocating with us page on our website.