DSO Engineer - System Planning in Bristol

An opportunity is available for an Engineer based in the System Planning team within the Distribution System Operator based at Bristol, Tipton, Castle Donington or Cardiff. You will report directly to the Head of System Planning in a team focused on forecasting and process development. This is a temporary 18 month contract, subject to review.

The DSO System Planning team is responsible for forecasting future load requirements of the network and analysis of both primary and secondary networks to identify the long term strategic development of the electricity distribution network. National Grid DSO (Distribution System Operator) is essential in this transformation, planning the distribution network of the future to enable the energy transformation together with developing and operating flexibility markets to ensure a safe, secure network which is value for money for consumers.

The GB energy system is rapidly transforming as we target Clean Power by 2030 and NetZero by 2050. The distribution network is vital in this transformation as we look to accommodate thousands of electric vehicles and heat pumps in people’s homes and connect large volumes of solar and wind. This will require us building out our network at a rate we have not seen this century. In addition, we need to operate the network in a dynamic, ‘smarter’ way, actively managing these distributed assets flexibly to support safer, secure, and economic operation of the system.

As part of our hybrid working approach and in line with our policy, this role allows you to apply for a mix of office and home working. Hybrid working can only be considered once your initial training is complete and subject to business need.

• Support existing DSO System Planning activities to develop load projections that can be used for planning the future development of both primary and secondary networks.
• Analysis of customer behaviour from a variety of data sources to determine expected forecasts for energy and peak power demand.
• Develop capability within National Grid to visualise information on existing and future capacity with internal and external stakeholders in a coordinated and clear manner.
• Support National Grid Electricity Distribution to develop the data exchanges and technical implementation of Regional Energy Strategic Plans.
• Represent the Company by liaising with external stakeholders, including the National Energy System Operator and local government, presenting information and collating feedback from non-technical audiences.
• Identify opportunities for improvement in performance and implement or recommend change.
• Identify own development needs and request development opportunities.
• Assist colleagues in various NGED teams with development, trialling, dissemination and adoption of how to use load forecasts.

• You should be self-motivated and demonstrate a clear understanding of the energy industry and the role of distribution networks in the context of local and national decarbonisation targets.
• You should have excellent computer skills and be comfortable with working with large amounts of data.
• Experience of working with SQL and relational databases is highly desirable.
• Experience of using Geographical Information Systems is beneficial.
• The ability to present information in a clear and reasoned way, together with an open yet analytical approach to problem solving is essential to the role.
• Experience in producing technical reports and working with diverse groups of stakeholders.
• The ability to self-organise, plan and prioritise work while working under pressure to ensure every task is delivered on time is crucial.
• A relevant engineering degree or equivalent qualification is desirable and consideration will be given to candidates with other demonstrable relevant experience.
• A flexible attitude is essential as you may be asked to undertake other duties to assist the team in meeting its objectives.

Depending on experience, you may initially be appointed at a lower salary until all relevant courses and training are complete.

We’re National Grid Electricity Distribution (NGED), the owner and operator behind the electricity distribution systems for the Midlands, the Southwest of England and South Wales. Serving communities of more than 8 million people, our expert teams deliver heat, light and power for homes and businesses. National Grid employs over 29,000 people worldwide. We are building an inclusive workplace, a place to actively celebrate the cultures, personalities and preferences of our colleagues – who in turn help to build the success of our business and reflect the diversity of the communities we serve. Our vision is to be at the heart of a clean, fair and affordable energy future and we are doing this in a fast-moving industry with an increasing focus on tackling climate change, exploring new energy sources that are renewable, low carbon, and improve efficiency to meet demand.