Senior Electrical Engineer - Airfield Ground Lighting

This is an exciting opportunity for a skilled and motivated electrical engineer to join Tetra Tech’s Aviation team in a senior technical role. As a Senior Electrical Engineer specialising in Airfield Ground Lighting (AGL), you will lead the design and delivery of critical airfield electrical systems, supporting safe, efficient, and future‑ready airport operations. You will play a key role in delivering high‑quality engineering solutions across complex aviation projects while working closely with clients, multidisciplinary teams, and industry stakeholders. If you are passionate about aviation infrastructure, technical excellence, and collaborative project delivery, this role offers the opportunity to make a meaningful impact.

Purpose & Scope of the Role

We are seeking an experienced electrical engineer with a strong background in airfield systems and AGL design. You will be responsible for leading the delivery of electrical design packages across standalone AGL schemes and integrated multidisciplinary infrastructure projects. Reporting to the Technical Director, you will take ownership of design outputs from concept through to construction support, ensuring compliance with ICAO, EASA, and UK regulatory standards. You will act as a key technical point of contact for clients and stakeholders, managing design coordination across disciplines and ensuring alignment with operational and safety requirements.

You will be joining a growing and collaborative aviation team delivering projects across regional, commercial, and defence airports. With an increasing pipeline of work and a strong reputation in the aviation sector, this role offers the opportunity to take on technical leadership responsibility and contribute to the continued growth of the team.

Technical Expertise & Knowledge

You will bring strong technical expertise in the design and specification of Airfield Ground Lighting systems, including runway and taxiway lighting layouts, approach lighting systems, and PAPI and APAPI installations. You will be confident in undertaking AGL compliance assessments and design reviews, ensuring alignment with relevant aviation standards and operational requirements. Your experience will extend to AGL control systems, including ALCMS design, as well as the wider electrical infrastructure required to support airfield operations. This will include primary and secondary cabling design, series circuits and interleaving, Constant Current Regulators, and HV and LV substation design, as well as standby generation systems. You will also have experience designing apron and ancillary systems such as High Mast Lighting, airfield signage, Fixed Electrical Ground Power, and Visual Docking Guidance Systems, ensuring full integration with airside operations. A working understanding of building services systems, including lighting, small power, and fire alarms, will support coordination across wider airport infrastructure. Your ability to coordinate electrical systems with civil engineering constraints and airfield geometry will be key, alongside the production of clear and technically robust calculations, specifications, and reports.

Stakeholder Management & Engagement

You will work directly with airport operators, contractors, and regulatory bodies, acting as a trusted technical advisor throughout the project lifecycle. You will lead technical discussions, present design solutions, and translate complex engineering concepts into clear and actionable information for clients and stakeholders. You will collaborate closely with multidisciplinary teams, including civil engineers, geomatics specialists, and survey teams, ensuring that all elements of the design are coordinated and deliverable. You will contribute to maintaining strong client relationships and support the identification of future opportunities within the aviation sector.

As a senior member of the team, you will play an important role in supporting and developing junior engineers and technicians. You will provide day‑to‑day technical guidance, share best‑practice, and help build confidence across the team through hands‑on mentoring and collaborative working. You will contribute to the professional development of others, supporting technical progression, strengthening problem‑solving capability, and, where relevant, guiding colleagues through chartership pathways. By fostering an open and supportive environment, you will encourage knowledge sharing and continuous learning across the aviation team. You will also support the consistent application of design tools such as AutoCAD, Trimble ProDesign, and lighting design software, helping to build capability across the team and ensuring high‑quality, coordinated outputs on all projects.

You will contribute to the successful delivery of projects by understanding scope, programme, and budget requirements. This will include supporting the preparation of fee proposals, defining deliverables, and identifying opportunities for additional services where appropriate. During project delivery, you will maintain awareness of scope changes, support change control processes, and ensure that projects are delivered efficiently while maintaining technical quality. You will also contribute to business development activities and support the growth of the aviation electrical capability.

Project Delivery & Report Writing

You will manage and deliver electrical design packages across all stages of the project lifecycle, from feasibility and concept design through to detailed design and construction support. You will ensure that designs are aligned with operational constraints, safety requirements, and airport phasing considerations. Technical reporting will form an important part of your role, with responsibility for producing clear, structured documentation that supports design decisions and project approvals. This will include design reports, calculations, compliance documentation, and technical narratives that enable effective client decision‑making and project progression.

Training, Qualifications & Experience

You will hold a degree in Electrical Engineering or a related discipline and have experience in electrical design within the aviation sector, with a particular focus on Airfield Ground Lighting and associated infrastructure. You will ideally be a Chartered Engineer or working towards Chartership, with membership of a relevant professional institution such as the IET. You will demonstrate strong technical competence, effective communication skills, and the ability to manage design responsibilities within a multidisciplinary environment. Proficiency in AutoCAD and Trimble ProDesign (Amtech) is essential, while experience with Dialux or Lighting Reality may be advantageous. Your understanding of applicable aviation and electrical standards, including ICAO Annex 14, EASA CS-ADR-DSN, CAA CAP 168 or UK139, and BS 7671, is expected.

Why Join Tetra Tech?

Tetra Tech is a leading provider of consulting and engineering services working across the full project lifecycle worldwide. We combine global expertise with a collaborative and client‑focused approach, enabling us to deliver high‑quality, sustainable solutions across complex infrastructure projects. With more than 6,000 employees across the UK, Ireland, and the Netherlands, we are Leading with Science® to solve our clients’ most complex challenges. We provide an environment that supports individual performance, innovation, and professional development, alongside opportunities to work on high‑profile aviation projects across the UK and beyond. In alignment with the Equality Act 2010, we will make reasonable adjustments to support candidates and employees requiring additional arrangements. This could include adaptations to work schedules, training approaches, or the physical workspace. Please inform us if you need any accommodations during the recruitment process or in your day‑to‑day role.