Principal HV Design Engineer United Kingdom Derby, London Application Deadline 12 December 2025

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 and Irish 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 Ireland, 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:

• 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 Irish & 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 Irish & 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 high voltage 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

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. We support our customers’ transition towards increased sustainability. We strive to lead by example by embedding environmental management, social responsibility and good governance into our business practices and the options we provide to our customers. We value differences and development and cultivate an environment of belonging and having fun.

With offices primarily located in Scandinavia, the UK, North America, and India, we are currently 7,300 people who bring their expertise in engineering, architecture, energy, and environment into play.

What we also offer:

• 28 days' holiday (plus 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

If you have any unanswered questions about the role or what we have to offer, please reach out to Laura Dobson at ladn@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.