Base Location: For this role, we require successful applicants to be based from one of our Scottish locations – Perth, Glasgow, Aberdeen or Inverness and you'll be expected to spend 50% of your working week in the office.
Salary: £78,400 - £117,600 + car / car allowance + performance‑related bonus + a range of benefits to support your finances, wellbeing and family.
Working Pattern: Permanent | Full Time (Part Time options available) | Flexible First options available
The role
This is an opportunity to play a pivotal leadership role in shaping the future of HVDC Plant engineering across some of the UK’s most complex and ambitious transmission projects. As we deliver a programme valued at c.£30bn over the T3 period and accelerate towards Net Zero, we're looking for a credible, collaborative and technically authoritative leader to join our Offshore Project Engineering team.
As Lead Principal Engineer – HVDC Plant, you'll oversee the design development, coordination and implementation of our HVDC System across a multiproject offshore portfolio. You’ll provide technical leadership, mentor specialist HVDC Plant engineers, ensure engineering consistency and safety, and drive innovation and design improvement across the entire offshore programme.
You will act as a critical point of escalation for HVDC Plant related design issues, ensuring solutions meet SSEN Transmission standards, statutory requirements (including CDM and ESQCR) and operational needs.
You collaborate closely with colleagues from across our business, partner organisations and supply chain, contribute to the development of fit for purpose standards and share knowledge and experience to advance and optimise the available solutions, whilst raising the profile of SSE Offshore Delivery projects and achievements.
You Will
- Provide technical leadership and accountability for all HVDC Plant engineering initiatives, ensuring solutions meet business, regulatory, and safety requirements.
- Guide and nurture a team of specialist engineers, fostering a supportive and inclusive culture and encouraging career growth.
- Oversee and coordinate resolution of technical issues, applying collaborative problem‑solving and thoughtful thinking across projects and workstreams.
- Promote health, safety, and environmental excellence, ensuring compliance with CDM, ESQCR, and SSEN standards.
- Drive Innovation by encouraging creativity and continuous improvement, implementing enhancements and engaging with industry forums to shape best practice.
- Actively engage with technology providers to develop a thorough understanding of technical developments, new solutions and emerging providers, feeding into technology strategies for our future project pipeline.
You Have
- A proven track record of bringing out the best in people and delivering complex HVDC Converter engineering projects.
- A degree in an appropriate engineering discipline, with Chartered Engineer status (or equivalent) preferred.
- Deep technical knowledge of HVDC Plant engineering, relevant legislation (including CDM & ESQCR), and industry standards.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build trust and simplify complex ideas.
- Strong problem‑solving ability, collaborative decision‑making skills, and a passion for supporting the growth of others.
Flexible benefits to fit your life
Enjoy discounts on private healthcare and gym memberships. Wellbeing benefits like a free online GP and 24/7 counselling service. Interest‑free loans on tech and transport season tickets, or a new bike with our Cycle to Work scheme. As well as generous family entitlements such as maternity and adoption pay, and paternity leave.
Work with an equal opportunity employer
SSE will make any reasonable adjustments you need to ensure that your application and experience with us is positive. We are dedicated to fostering an open and inclusive workplace where people from all backgrounds can thrive. We create equal opportunities for everyone to succeed and especially welcome applications from those who may not be well represented in our workforce or industry.
How to prepare for a job interview at SSE
✨Know Your HVDC Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of HVDC Plant engineering and relevant legislation like CDM and ESQCR. Being able to discuss these topics confidently will show that you're not just familiar with the basics, but that you can lead complex projects effectively.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've successfully led teams in the past. Think about specific situations where you nurtured talent or resolved technical issues collaboratively. This will demonstrate your ability to guide and mentor engineers, which is crucial for this role.
✨Communicate Clearly and Confidently
Practice simplifying complex ideas into clear, concise points. During the interview, focus on building trust through effective communication. This will be key in showcasing your stakeholder management skills and your ability to engage with various teams.
✨Be Ready to Discuss Innovation
Think about how you've driven innovation in previous roles. Be prepared to share examples of how you've encouraged creativity and implemented improvements. This will highlight your commitment to continuous development and your understanding of industry best practices.
