Principal HV Design Engineer United Kingdom Bristol, Derby, Glasgow, London, York Application D[...] (Bristol)

Do you want to be a part of a growing team delivering sustainable electricity supplies? Can you collaborate across diverse international project teams? Are you experienced in high voltage electrical design for UK substations and cabling? Then, join us to shape a sustainable and liveable world.

Your primary task will be to supervise engineering work related to the design of electrical transmission systems including substations and high voltage cabling. Your role will be focused on the design environment, which, while based in the UK, will involve interacting day-to-day with colleagues across our global hubs. There may also be opportunities to broaden your contribution to other areas within the electrical discipline in a variety of major infrastructure and energy sector settings.

Your key responsibilities will be:

• System Design & Calculations: Lead and perform detailed electrical design calculations for Medium and High Voltage substations and power distribution systems. This includes, but is not limited to, cable sizing, voltage drop, power factor correction, thermal analysis, earthing/grounding, and insulation coordination.
• Short Circuit & Load Flow Studies: Conduct short circuit, load flow, and arc flash studies using industry-standard software tools such as ETAP, Power Factory, SKM Power Tools, or equivalent.
• Protection Coordination: Develop protection philosophies and perform relay coordination studies for MV/HV networks. Specify and select protective relays, current and voltage transformers, and design protection schemes for substations, feeders, transformers, and other critical assets.
• Documentation & Reporting: Prepare technical reports, calculation summaries, protection and control single line diagrams, and relay settings documentation in accordance with relevant codes and standards (e.g., IEEE, IEC, NEC, NESC).
• Compliance & Standards: Ensure all designs and studies align with applicable industry standards, utility requirements, and client specifications. Actively monitor developments in codes and best practices related to MV and HV electrical systems.
• Collaboration: Interface effectively with project managers, clients, vendors, and multidisciplinary engineering teams to ensure that all technical aspects are thoroughly addressed throughout the project life cycle.
• Quality Assurance: Support peer reviews, design verifications, and the technical training and mentoring of junior engineers in protection and design principles.
• Contributing towards the design of projects for a wide range of clients.
• Planning design work and deliverables together with the wider project team, including civil and MEP professionals.
• Development and technical assurance of design including use of relevant software.
• Ensuring compliance with standards relevant to the UK power transmission industry, including District Network Operators (DNOs) and National Grid.
• Coordination of multi-disciplinary aspects of projects.
• Mentoring junior team members in design.
• Contributing to the building of relationships with clients and other stakeholders.

Your skills. Our team. Together we can design the future.

The first step to success in this role is that you are eager to collaborate with the people around you, whether they are colleagues, partners, or customers. Developing ties with others is something you do by acting respectfully and delivering on your promises. And you never get set in your ways but keep exploring new insights and ways to improve.

On top of that, you will have:

• A relevant degree in electrical engineering, power systems engineering or similar.
• Chartered Engineer status or similar.
• Experience working to UK District Network Operator standards. National Grid experience and authorisations such as Senior Authorised Person would be an advantage.
• Hands-on experience in designing high voltage systems 33-132 kV, including Gas Insulated Switchgear (GIS), Air Insulated Switchgear (AIS), Power transformers in the range up to 500 MVA, Protection & Control systems, Aux. Systems, CT/VT sizing, Earthing, bonding and lightning protection and High voltage cable systems.
• Experience with systems above 132kV including Extra High Voltage (EHV) installations for offshore substations would be an advantage.
• Experience coordinating designs with other disciplines to create successful project outcomes.
• The ability to provide technically sound solutions alone and acting as a discipline lead.
• Experience of applying CDM2015 regulations to design tasks.

A place to work and so much more.

At COWI, we work together with our customers to shape a sustainable and liveable world. We do it by applying our knowledge and curiosity – and sometimes even our courage – to create the solutions the world needs today to enable a better tomorrow. That is why we say no to fossil-based projects and aspire to have 100% of our revenue come from activities that move our customers towards sustainability.

We value differences and development and cultivate an environment of belonging and having fun. Because that is what brings out the best in you, at work and at home.

With offices primarily located in the Nordic region, the UK, North America and India, we are currently more than 8,000 people who bring their expertise in engineering, architecture, energy and environment into play.

What we also offer:

• 28 days' holiday plus all UK bank and public holidays.
• Formalised development plans and yearly promotion opportunities.
• Private health care, for you and your immediate dependents.
• Flexible and hybrid working conditions.
• Annual subscription fees paid for your membership of two Professional Institutions.
• Group personal pension scheme – salary exchange.
• Life assurance.

As part of our commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion, we partner with the wisecampaign.org.uk to recruit for a better gender balance in our teams.

If you have any unanswered questions about the role or what we have to offer, please reach out to our Talent Acquisition Specialist Ciaran Gilfedder at CIGI@COWI.COM.

Get to know us even better at our website, www.cowi.com, where you can learn more about our projects, our strategy, what we want to achieve and what life is like at COWI.

COWI provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to ethnicity, colour, religion, gender, national origin, age or disability. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.