Senior Engineer in Cardiff

Successful candidates may be based in any of our office locations – Cardiff, Glasgow, or London. We especially welcome applicants from Cardiff and Glasgow.

Ofgem is Great Britain’s independent energy regulator. Our primary responsibility is to protect energy consumers, especially the most vulnerable, while at the same time working with government, industry and consumer groups to drive economic growth and deliver a clean, more affordable and secure net-zero energy system in the most economic way.

This is a unique opportunity to play a key role in shaping the future of gas infrastructure in Great Britain. As a Senior Engineer within Ofgem’s Engineering Directorate, you’ll provide expert technical input into the regulation of gas transmission and distribution networks, helping to ensure they are safe, reliable, and fit for a net-zero future.

You’ll work across a range of strategic and operational projects, supporting the development of network price controls (including RIIO3), contributing to technical code governance, and advising on innovation and decarbonisation initiatives. Your work will inform policy decisions, regulatory frameworks, and industry standards, ensuring they reflect sound engineering principles and deliver value for money to consumers.

You’ll lead engineering assessments, support compliance reviews, and engage with licensees and stakeholders to evaluate performance and drive improvements across the gas sector. You’ll also contribute to the development of future gas system capabilities, including hydrogen readiness and CO₂ transport infrastructure.

We’re looking for someone with proven experience in gas transmission or gas distribution, who can bring deep technical insight and a collaborative approach to problem-solving. You’ll be confident working in multi-disciplinary teams and comfortable translating complex engineering issues into clear, actionable advice for policy and decision-makers.

This role offers the chance to work at the heart of the energy transition, influencing how gas networks evolve to meet future consumer and environmental needs. You’ll help build a high-performing, inclusive team culture, sharing knowledge and supporting professional development across the Engineering profession at Ofgem. Your work will directly support Ofgem’s mission to protect consumers, drive innovation, and deliver a greener, more resilient energy system.

Key Responsibilities

• Responsible for high quality and timely engineering analysis of options and recommendations to policy teams.
• Lead on policy areas directly managed by the Engineer Hub, such as technical codes.
• Providing support in the delivery of the electricity price controls such as reopeners or RIIO3 and network regulation more generally.
• Engaging with the network companies to find better ways of developing our networks – e.g., the deployment of smart grid technologies.
• Providing support in the delivery of our network innovation competitions.
• Providing the technical support necessary to consider and decide on changes to or derogations from network codes.
• Assisting in the development of key areas of transmission and distribution policy.
• Lead the delivery of key work streams and potentially manage staff input into the relevant areas of work.
• Present policy and recommendations to senior management.
• Act as a representative for Ofgem at external meetings, conferences and events explaining Ofgem’s position on particular issues.
• Taking responsibility for drafting public documents or parts of documents.

Key Stakeholder Relationships

• Internal: Other members of the team, legal and policy teams, and other Ofgem colleagues as required.
• External: External industry and government counterparts, such as licensees, NESO, DESNZ, UKRI, HSE.

Person specification

Please ensure you demonstrate clearly within your personal statement, how you meet each of the Essential and Desirable Criteria below (not more than 1250 words):

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA:

• Educated to degree level in a relevant engineering discipline or equivalent industry experience.
• Chartered Engineer (or in the process of gaining registration).
• Relevant experience in one or several of the following areas: Gas or Electricity Transmission or Distribution, network or system operations, system design and planning, network codes, smart grids and network innovation, asset management, performance and quality of service issues.
• Expertise in both quantitative and qualitative analysis, with the ability to deliver key projects to challenging timescales.
• Familiarity with key concepts of economic regulation.
• Excellent communication/interpersonal skills including the ability to explain technical issues to non-technical people, with good report drafting skills.

DESIRABLE CRITERIA:

• Demonstrable grasp of one of our key areas of work: policy development, economic principles, regulatory cost assessment, either through academic qualifications or previous posts.
• Project Management experience and skills.

Behaviours

We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process: Changing and Improving, Communicating and Influencing, Working Together, Delivering at Pace.

Alongside your salary of £47,895, OFGEM contributes £13,875 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Ofgem can offer you a comprehensive and competitive benefits package which includes; up to 30 days annual leave, excellent training and development opportunities, the opportunity to join the Civil Service pension arrangements which include a valuable range of benefits, flexible working hours and family friendly policies, restaurant and subsidised gym (London only), interest free season ticket loan.

Things you need to know: Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.

This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours and Experience. Ofgem can offer you a comprehensive and competitive benefits package which includes; 30 days annual leave after 2 years, excellent training and development opportunities, the opportunity to join the generous Civil Service pension which also includes a valuable range of benefits, hybrid working (currently 1 day a week in the office but this is kept under review), flexible working hours and family friendly policies. Plus lots of other benefits including clean and bright offices based centrally, engaged networks and teams and an opportunity to contribute to our ambitious and important targets of establishing a Net Zero energy system by 2050.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.