Overhead Line Design Engineer - Great Grid Upgrade in London

Arup’s purpose, shared values and collaborative approach have set us apart for over 80 years, guiding how we shape a better world. Arup delivers transmission and distribution design projects globally. In the UK, we work across the full project lifecycle, from initial concepts through to detailed design, supporting a wide range of clients including established asset owners and new market entrants such as interconnectors and private wire schemes.

As part of this, Arup has formed a joint venture with AECOM as a design and consenting partner for National Grid’s Great Grid Partnership. Over the coming decade, this programme will play a key role in modernising the UK’s electricity network, enabling the connection of renewable energy and supporting the transition to net zero. These projects form part of the Accelerated Strategic Transmission Investment (ASTI) programme, helping to strengthen the UK’s energy infrastructure and deliver a more resilient, low-carbon network for the future. Roles are available across multiple UK office locations.

The Opportunity: We are seeking Overhead Line (OHL) Design Engineers to join our growing transmission and distribution team. This opportunity is suited to early-career engineers with some experience or a strong interest in overhead line design. You will support the delivery of OHL projects across a range of voltage levels (typically 33kV–400kV+), contributing to design activities and technical outputs while developing your skills within a collaborative and supportive environment. You will work alongside experienced engineers and multidisciplinary teams, gaining exposure to project delivery, detailed design, and engineering best practice.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Supporting the preparation of feasibility studies and design reports
• Assisting with the production of drawings, models, and technical documentation
• Contributing to overhead line design tasks such as routing, profiling, and basic calculations
• Working with CAD tools and supporting digital design outputs
• Collaborating with team members to deliver work to agreed programme and quality standards
• Continuously developing your technical knowledge and understanding of industry standards

At Arup, you belong to an extraordinary collective – in which we encourage individuality to thrive. Our strength comes from how we respect, share and connect our diverse experiences, perspectives and ideas. You will have the opportunity to do socially useful work that has meaning – to Arup, to your career, to our members and to the clients and communities we serve.

Is this role right for you? We are interested in candidates who are developing skills in overhead line design and are keen to build a career in the transmission and distribution sector. You may have some experience or familiarity with:

• Overhead line design principles and components
• Tools such as PLS-CADD or other CAD software
• Basic understanding of sag & tension, line profiling, or routing
• Structural concepts relating to towers, foundations, or gantries
• Engineering design processes and technical reporting

We are looking for:

• A degree (or equivalent) in a relevant engineering discipline
• A willingness to learn and develop within the OHL field
• Strong communication and teamwork skills
• Attention to detail and a proactive approach to problem solving
• An interest in working towards professional development (e.g. chartership in future – not required for this role)
• Experience in consultancy or within transmission and distribution is beneficial but not essential

What we offer you: At Arup, we care about each member’s success, so we can grow together. Guided by our values, we provide an attractive total reward package that recognises the contribution of each of our members to our shared success. As well as competitive, fair and equitable pay, we offer a career in which all of our members can belong, grow and thrive – through benefits that support health and wellbeing, a wide range of learning opportunities and many possibilities to have an impact through the work they do.

We also provide Private medical insurance, Life assurance, Accident insurance and Income protection cover. In addition, you’ll have access to flexible benefits to help you look after all aspects of your wellbeing and give you the freedom and flexibility to find the best solutions for you, your family, and your individual needs.

Unfortunately, we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role. Applicants must have the right to work in the UK at the time of application and for the duration of employment. Any offer made will be subject to satisfactory proof of immigration status.