Senior HV Engineer in Abingdon

Location: On site / Windrush Court, Blacklands Way

Job type: Permanent / Full-time

Sector and subsector: Energy | Renewable Energy

Salary: Competitive salary

Conrad Energy are currently recruiting for an experienced Senior HV Electrical Engineer to join a growing team within the Technical Services Department. Reporting to the Head of Technical Services, this role is responsible for the management of Operation and Maintenance activities for all electrical plant and apparatus across the portfolio. The portfolio is split into 5 areas, each managed by an Operations Manager, with a number of sites and a team of field engineers looking after the day-to-day running of the sites. Our UK asset base of embedded power generation equipment is a mixture of reciprocating gas engines, wind farms, battery storage plants and utility scale PV Solar plant. The size of our fleet ranges between 2 - 10MW connected at 11kV with larger plants between 20 - 50 MW connected at 33kV, 66kV and 132kV.

To optimise plant uptime, this role requires working with our regional HV Contractors, Specialist High Voltage Electrical Engineers and EC&I Engineers across construction, commissioning and operations phases of the business; working alongside the Area Operations Managers to provide high levels of support and service, including the development and implementation of computerised maintenance management systems of our assets.

What you’ll be doing:

• To carry out all your duties with health and safety as number one priority.
• Responsibilities for your own Health and Safety, for the Health and Safety of your work colleagues and any others who may be affected by the operations under your responsibility or control.
• Taking day-to-day ownership for the performance, reliability, and integrity of all embedded private networks across Conrad Energy’s portfolio.
• Leading investigations into network incidents, faults, and performance issues, ensuring timely root cause analysis and implementation of corrective and preventive measures.
• Act as the technical authority for day-to-day decision-making.
• Managing the functional day-to-day reporting of the HV Engineers, ensuring support to the wider Operations team is prioritised based on the nature of breakdowns and timelines for restoration.
• Co‑ordinating both Planned and Reactive HV & LV Works with the wider team, ensuring consultation with Area Managers and the Operations Team where required.
• Continuous focus on the KPIs of the sites’ electrical balance of plant, to identify and provide recommendations to maintenance practices using sound engineering judgement and cost‑benefit analysis.
• Maintain inter‑personal relations with seniors, colleagues and peers to be able to maximise delivery of your objectives.
• Help develop and deliver training programs to enhance internal technical competency across electrical and HV disciplines.
• Continually assessing team capabilities to identify any skill gaps, and drive continuous improvement initiatives to ensure a high level of engineering excellence and compliance.
• To assist in developing and implementing annual budgets for electrical spare parts and inventory for the operational sites across the group.
• Bring forward for consideration any improvement initiatives and implement action plans as required.
• Active involvement in the handover of newly built sites from the Construction Team or new acquisitions into Operations, including producing reports and snagging items.
• Adherence to all Company Policies & Procedures (including but not limited to) those specified in the Employment Handbook, H&S Policy, Environmental Management Systems, Integrated Management Systems and any financial/accounting systems.

Apart from the duties summarised in your Role Profile, the company reserves the right to include other reasonable duties which are part of, and incidental to, this type of work.

Principal Skills:

• Demonstrate in‑depth technical knowledge of high voltage systems up to 132kV, including operation, protection schemes, earthing, and fault management.
• Diagnosis and troubleshooting in conjunction with external contractors where required, and design assurance activities across all generation and network assets.
• Demonstrable comprehensive knowledge and experience of the full lifecycle of power generation assets from design and connection through to operation, maintenance, and decommissioning.
• Proven people management skills that create a sense of both urgency and ownership within the team, whilst continuing to develop the in‑house capability of the HV Engineers.
• An understanding of ISO 9,001 Quality Management Systems and how this is used in the workplace.
• Comfortable with the use of data, IT systems and processes to drive continuous improvement and efficiency.
• Fully conversant with the use of Distribution Safety Rules, safety documentation and their implementation within private networks.
• Fully comfortable in communicating electrical engineering matters to both senior management and engineering disciplines – recognising the use of language and the impact it can have.
• Provide technical support across multi‑disciplinary teams to optimise performance, reliability, and efficiency.
• Diagnostic and on‑site testing knowledge of alternators both at Low and High Voltage.
• Work closely with and support other departments in the business: Operations Team, Development, Construction, Finance, Procurement, Human Resources and HSQE.
• Proven track record of having dealt with DNO’s and other contacts within the power generation and distribution industry.

The Benefits:

• Competitive salary dependent on experience
• Discretionary 15% performance‑based bonus
• 25 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays
• Contributory Pension Scheme
• Life Insurance
• SimplyHealth health cashback plan
• 24/7 Private GP access
• Training and Development
• Salary sacrifice EV scheme
• Dog‑friendly office

This job description is intended as a basic guide to the responsibilities of the post and is not exhaustive. The post holder may be asked to undertake duties that are in line with the level of the role. The job description will be subject to regular review and amendment as necessary in consultation with the post holder.

Person Specification:

• Educated to at least HNC level or equivalent, in Electrical Engineering augmented by experience in Electric Power Engineering or equivalent environment.
• Previous appointment as Senior Authorised Person Electricity Generation or Heavy Electrical / Process Plant Training IET membership or equivalent professional recognition.
• Good involvement in the design, installation, operation and maintenance of electricity generation and balance of plant equipment up to 132kV.
• Control and Instrumentation experience.
• Exposure to higher voltages up to 400kV, experience of operating battery energy storage systems.
• A good feel for data and analytics in an engineering maintenance backdrop.
• Sound knowledge of Electrical Theory.
• Application and Technologies for the Electricity Generation and Distribution industry.
• Good knowledge of Legal, Safety and Environmental obligations and an appreciation of their impact upon reliable operations.
• Working knowledge of developing and managing maintenance through CMMS systems.
• Good written and numerical skills.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet constantly changing deadlines and priorities.
• A valid full driving licence for countrywide travel.
• A good understanding of Digital communications Control and Instrumentation techniques and technologies.
• Exposure to MWM, Jenbacher, Siemens, MTU, Cummins or CATERPILLAR reciprocating gas engines for generating electricity.
• Managing change in engineering maintenance environments, managing customer facing maintenance contracts.
• Ability to drive Root Cause Analysis processes.