At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead complex electrical design projects from concept to construction and commissioning.
- Company: Global leader in data centre infrastructure with a focus on innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible contract, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Collaborate with top professionals and shape the future of engineering solutions.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on mission-critical infrastructure in a high-growth environment.
- Qualifications: Bachelor's in Electrical Engineering and experience in power design and construction.
The predicted salary is between 51750 - 63250 £ per year.
Location: London
Contract Type: 6-12 month Contract role
This role will be 3 days a week on-site.
The Opportunity
Our client is a global leader in the design, development and operation of large-scale data centre infrastructure, supporting some of the world's leading hyperscalers, cloud providers and enterprise organisations. As the business continues to grow across EMEA, they are looking for an experienced Principal Electrical Engineer to join their design engineering team. This is a key technical position, giving you the opportunity to take ownership of complex electrical design projects from concept through to construction, commissioning and handover to Operations. This role would suit an experienced electrical engineer who enjoys working across the full project lifecycle, combining technical expertise with stakeholder, consultant and contractor management.
What You'll Be Doing
- Lead electrical design and engineering activities from concept and Basis of Design through to construction documentation.
- Act as a technical subject matter expert, reviewing designs, specifications, equipment submittals, RFIs and engineering studies.
- Manage and coordinate external electrical engineering consultants and design partners.
- Work closely with electrical design and design-build contractors throughout construction.
- Develop and review electrical specifications, schematic drawings, design documents and commissioning documentation.
- Develop and review Sequences of Operations for electrical systems.
- Provide engineering oversight of project plans, equipment selections and technical submissions.
- Visit project sites to carry out field investigations, coordination meetings and provide construction support.
- Ensure electrical engineering standards and specifications are maintained throughout construction.
- Support commissioning activities and help establish best-practice electrical commissioning standards.
- Work closely with Operations to troubleshoot, improve and retrofit existing electrical systems.
- Identify and develop value engineering opportunities, balancing reliability, performance, sustainability and cost.
- Support customer meetings, RFP responses and technical tours where required.
- Work collaboratively with mechanical, BMS, construction, operations and other engineering teams.
- Provide regular updates to leadership on project progress, risks, blockers and priorities.
- Mentor and support the development of junior electrical engineers.
- Contribute to the development and standardisation of future data centre designs and engineering solutions.
What We're Looking For
We're looking for an experienced electrical engineer with a strong background in electrical power design and construction, ideally within a mission-critical environment. You'll ideally have:
- A Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or an equivalent qualification.
- Experience in electrical power design and construction.
- Significant experience working within a mission-critical environment, such as data centres, semiconductor, pharmaceutical or similarly complex facilities.
- Strong knowledge of critical power infrastructure, from the external utility supply through to final distribution and IT rack connections.
- Experience with HV/MV substations, transformers, switchgear, UPS, generators and LV distribution.
- Experience working across the full project lifecycle, including design, construction and commissioning.
- Strong experience managing electrical consultants, contractors and design-build partners.
- Knowledge of EU construction markets, regulations and IEC standards.
- Experience reviewing technical designs, specifications, submittals, RFIs and commissioning documentation.
- An understanding of BIM, Revit and Navisworks environments.
- Experience with tools such as AutoCAD, Bluebeam, Excel, Word, Procore and/or Autodesk Construction Cloud.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
- A practical, solutions-focused approach with the confidence to challenge designs and make technical recommendations.
- Chartered Engineer or equivalent professional accreditation would be advantageous.
Why This Role?
This is an opportunity to join a high-growth, technically ambitious environment where you'll have a genuine influence on how complex mission-critical infrastructure is designed and delivered. You'll be working on technically challenging projects, collaborating with experienced engineering and construction professionals, while helping to shape standardisation, innovation and best practice across the wider business. The role involves approximately 10-15% travel, although this may increase as the business and project portfolio develops. If you're an experienced Electrical Engineer looking for a Principal-level position where you can combine technical leadership, design ownership and real-world project delivery, we'd be keen to hear from you.
Principal Electrical Engineer employer: Talent Works
Join a global leader in hyperscale data centre infrastructure in Newport, Wales, where you will be part of a dynamic team dedicated to delivering high-quality, sustainable projects. The company fosters a collaborative work culture that values diverse perspectives and encourages continuous improvement, providing ample opportunities for professional growth and technical leadership. With a commitment to safety and performance excellence, this role offers the chance to make a meaningful impact on critical infrastructure while working alongside some of the industry's top talent.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Electrical Engineer
✨Get Hands-On with Temporary Projects
Temporary roles are all about flexibility and quick results. Look for short-term engineering projects or gigs that local companies might need help with. You can find these on job boards like Indeed or even niche platforms like PeoplePerHour. Don't be shy to reach out directly to firms—sometimes they have needs that aren't posted yet!
✨Tap into Engineering Meetups
Networking is key in engineering, especially for temporary positions. Check out local engineering meetups or hackathons relevant to your interests. Engaging with peers can lead to leads on temporary roles. Plus, it’s a sweet way to showcase your skills and passion in person—who knows who might be hiring at one of these events?
✨Leverage Your Connections
Let your friends and family know you're on the hunt for a temporary engineering role. Often, personal recommendations can get you in the door faster than any application. Share your goals and what you’re looking for through social media or casual conversations; you’d be surprised how many people might have the right connections!
✨Stay Sharp with Online Courses
While you're searching, keep those skills fresh! Take on some online courses related to your engineering field. Platforms like Coursera or edX can help you stay current and even get some certifications under your belt. This shows potential employers at Talent Works that you’re committed to growth, making you a more appealing candidate for temporary roles.
We think you need these skills to ace Principal Electrical Engineer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Highlight Your Versatile Engineering Skills:For a temporary engineering role like this one at Talent Works, make sure to showcase a broad range of your engineering skills. Talk about different projects you’ve undertaken, focusing on your problem-solving ability and adaptability—key traits for temporary positions that depend on quick integration into teams.
Be Clear About Your Availability:Since this is a temporary role, clarity is essential. In your cover letter, be upfront about your availability and how soon you can start. Employers like Talent Works want to know that you can hit the ground running, so don’t shy away from mentioning your flexibility!
Tailor Your CV to Showcase Relevant Experience:Make sure your CV is tailored to reflect the specific engineering projects relevant to the job. For instance, if you’ve worked on temporary contracts before or have engaged in diverse engineering processes, highlight these experiences to show how well-rounded you are.
Include References from Past Employers:Temporary positions often require trust and reliability. Adding references from previous employers can significantly boost your application. It shows that you have a strong work ethic and can adapt quickly, which is exactly what Talent Works will be looking for.
How to prepare for a job interview at Talent Works
✨Get to Grips with Your Technical Skills
Engineering roles often involve assessing your technical expertise, so be prepared to delve into your core skills. Brush up on relevant software and tools you’ve used before, as well as any engineering principles that relate to the position at Talent Works. We want you to showcase your hands-on experience and problem-solving capabilities – it could be the difference between you and another candidate!
✨Prepare for Problem-Solving Scenarios
Expect to tackle some practical scenarios during the interview. Whether it's a design challenge or a troubleshooting test, Talent Works might want to see how you approach real-world engineering problems. Think of specific examples from your past work where you had to think on your feet and be ready to walk your interviewers through your thought process.
✨Show Your Adaptability in Temporary Roles
Since this is a temporary position, it’s key to demonstrate your flexibility and ability to hit the ground running. Make sure to convey your eagerness to learn and adapt quickly to the team and the specific projects at Talent Works. We all know that temporary roles can be a bit of a whirlwind, so emphasise your quick learning skills and your approach to managing change.
✨Highlight Relevant Portfolio Projects
If you've worked on engineering projects that align with the role at Talent Works, make sure to bring them up! A portfolio can be a great way to illustrate your engineering prowess. Discuss the challenges you faced, the solutions you implemented, and the results achieved – this will give the interviewers a tangible idea of what you bring to the table.
