Technical Director - Primary (HV Plant) Design in Leeds

Let's secure the future of energy. The Power Energy Systems (PES) Practice of AtkinsRéalis is seeking a HV Primary Plant Engineering Technical Director to join our team in the UK. We are looking for an energetic and experienced HV Primary Plant Engineer who can both lead as a technical expert in substation design and drive business results.

AtkinsRéalis specialises in all aspects of Transmission and Distribution engineering within the UK and internationally. We’re committed to providing industry-leading engineering solutions across the project lifecycle, from feasibility to commissioning, adding value through client-side support as well as during construction. Our team is currently delivering work across the Transmission and Distribution sector in the UK, as well as supporting other energy and infrastructure business sectors.

By providing technical leadership across the organisation you’ll drive results, by contributing to functional strategy, influencing senior stakeholders, and leading multidisciplinary project teams, to deliver measurable outcomes. In this role, you will set strategy for complex, high-impact projects and initiatives, anticipate business and regulatory challenges or changes, and develop innovative solutions and offerings that move the business forward.

Become part of a team where every voice matters, and together we can tackle our clients’ toughest challenges. We foster a diverse and inclusive environment where world-class talent thrives without boundaries. For us, collaboration isn’t a buzzword. We value the different perspectives our people bring and recognise everyone for their contributions equally. We also know that different people have different priorities, which is why we’re here to support you with whatever you need.

Being a Technical Director with us involves UK-wide travel. We offer hybrid working, which involves travel/office-based working 3 days per week. This position can be based at any of our key locations: Epsom, London, Bristol, Leeds, Birmingham, Manchester, or Glasgow. Other locations will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

The HV Primary Plant Technical Director will be accountable for engineering design and management, leading a team to deliver high-quality solutions while ensuring compliance with project and company requirements. This is a senior appointment and the role reports to the Engineering Delivery Manager.

The successful candidate will have the following responsibilities:

• Provide technical leadership on detailed design projects across the power transmission and distribution sector.
• Influence practice-wide initiatives and recommend best practices to improve internal processes and services.
• Develop discipline strategy, and oversee technical delivery and assurance across a growing portfolio of front-end and detailed design projects for AIS/GIS HV substations (up to 400 kV), HVDC converter stations, etc.
• Serve as the recognised expert and technical authority in HV Primary Plant across the PES Practice and wider AtkinsRéalis business.
• Building strong and trusted relationships is a key part of this role. You’ll enjoy working with others, sometimes directly at client sites, sometimes from our offices.
• Collaborate with stakeholders at all levels, including internal and external clients, operational staff, project teams, and other external stakeholders.
• Recommend and drive improvements to processes, services, and technical practices while ensuring robust engineering governance is consistently upheld.
• Oversee technical input into bid proposals, defining the delivery strategy and working with cross‐functional teams to prepare high‐quality, compliant, competitive submissions.
• Proactively identify opportunities for cross-selling and business growth, using commercial insight to strengthen and expand client partnerships and articulate our value proposition.
• Grow, develop, and manage HV Primary Plant engineering capability, particularly in the context of the T&D sector, supporting talent development and succession planning.
• Anticipate emerging business, regulatory, and technology challenges, identifying risks and opportunities early and advising senior leadership.
• Provide strategic oversight across multiple complex, multidisciplinary projects, ensuring technical excellence, safe delivery, and alignment with client and practice objectives.
• Work independently in challenging situations. Act as the point of escalation for complex technical matters, using sound judgement to identify solutions.

You have a proven track record of leading others to produce complex designs and drawings in line with applicable engineering codes and standards. You are comfortable working in new and changing environments and have a desire to contribute to the success of the business. You can liaise effectively with stakeholders at all levels, both internally and externally.

Key skills and attributes include the following:

• Degree qualified. Master’s degree (MEng/MSc) qualified Electrical Engineer.
• Chartered Engineer and a Member of the IET or equivalent.
• Proven leadership delivering FEED and detailed design for EHV (33–400kV) substation projects.
• Demonstrable experience in HV plant layout, earthing design, mechanical interlocking, HV busbar calculations, and technical specification of HV plant equipment.
• Strong safety, regulatory and environmental compliance focus, including experience of discharging Principal Designer duties under CDM2015.
• Ability to chair design and hazard review meetings, and provide technical authority/CDAE review of HV plant design packages as required.
• Ensures technically compliant deliverables through effective design assurance, issue identification and problem solving.
• Excellent stakeholder communication—able to influence senior clients across multidisciplinary and international teams.
• Commercially astute: builds client relationships, supports bids, coaches others and champions continuous improvement.

Explore the rewards and benefits that help you thrive – at every stage of your life and your career. Enjoy competitive salaries, employee rewards and a brilliant range of benefits you can tailor to suit your own health, wellbeing, financial and lifestyle choices. Make the most of a myriad of opportunities for training and professional development to grow your skills and expertise. And combine our hybrid working culture and flexible holiday allowances to balance a great job and fulfilling personal life.

This role may require security clearance and offers of employment will be dependent on obtaining the relevant level of clearance. If this is necessary, it will be discussed with you at interview. The vetting process is delivered by United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) and may require candidates to provide proof of residency in the UK of 5 years or longer.

We are committed to creating a culture where everyone feels that they belong - a place where we can all be ourselves, thrive and develop to be the best we can be. So, we offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements and employee resource groups to support all employees. As an Equal Opportunities Employer, we value applications from all backgrounds, cultures and ability.