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- Tasks: Develop and implement protection solutions for transmission and distribution networks.
- Company: Join an international engineering firm with projects across the UK and Europe.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary and the flexibility of remote work options.
- Why this job: Work on high-profile projects with cutting-edge technology in a supportive team environment.
- Qualifications: HNC/HND in Electrical Engineering and extensive experience in protection settings required.
- Other info: Opportunity to mentor junior engineers and contribute to team development.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
Overview
Salary: up to £95,000 (based on experience)
Position: Permanent
Turner Lovell are working with a leading UK utility infrastructure contractor to find a Principal Protection & Control Design Engineer who will take a lead role in delivering and overseeing P&C designs for National Grid and other transmission and distribution substation projects across the UK (33kV-400kV).
This is a great opportunity to enjoy flexible working, take ownership of your work, and make a direct impact on high-profile energy and renewables projects. You’ll be joining long-term frameworks involving new substations, network upgrades, and grid connection projects, an exciting time to contribute technical leadership and be part of a growing delivery team.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead end-to-end Protection & Control design packages (concept through to construction delivery), including AC/DC schematics, wiring diagrams, logic, and settings.
- Provide technical governance by reviewing, approving, and signing off internal and third-party designs for accuracy, compliance, and constructability.
- Act as the discipline lead for P&C, mentoring engineers and coordinating with HV plant, civil, cables, and project delivery teams.
- Interface with clients and stakeholders, representing the contractor as the subject matter expert for P&C.
- Ensure alignment with UK standards and specifications (ENA, BS, IEC) and Transmission/TO requirements (e.g., NGET/SSEN).
- Direct protection coordination/grading studies and oversee relay setting files and configurations (e.g., ETAP, DIgSILENT).
- Drive quality assurance, documentation completeness, and timely design handovers; contribute to continuous improvement of design processes and templates.
Required Qualifications & Experience
- Degree in Electrical Engineering (or equivalent).
- Significant UK experience delivering P&C designs for substations, including transmission levels (132kV – 400kV).
- Strong working knowledge of UK National Grid standards and practices.
- Proficiency with protection coordination and modelling tools (e.g., ETAP, DIgSILENT PowerFactory)
- Confident with AutoCAD or equivalent for drawing production/markup.
- Proven ability to lead multi-disciplinary coordination, mentor engineers, and manage multiple design workstreams to deadlines.
- Excellent communication skills with a track record of successful client and stakeholder engagement.
If this sounds like your next step, please apply or contact Anusha Gopalan (anusha.gopalan@turnerlovell.com / 020 4602 7660) for more information.
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Contact Detail:
Turner Lovell Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Electrical Engineer
✨Tip Number 1
Network with professionals in the electrical engineering field, especially those who specialise in protection settings. Attend industry events or webinars to connect with potential colleagues and learn about the latest trends and technologies.
✨Tip Number 2
Familiarise yourself with the specific software mentioned in the job description, such as ETAP. Consider taking online courses or tutorials to enhance your skills and demonstrate your proficiency during interviews.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your previous experience with protection setting calculations and coordination studies in detail. Be ready to provide examples of how you've successfully implemented protection solutions in past projects.
✨Tip Number 4
Research the company’s recent projects and framework wins. Understanding their work will allow you to tailor your discussions and show genuine interest in contributing to their ongoing success.
We think you need these skills to ace Principal Electrical Engineer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your experience in protection setting calculations and your proficiency with relevant software like ETAP. Emphasise any projects where you've developed innovative protection schemes.
Craft a Strong Cover Letter: In your cover letter, explain why you're interested in the Principal Electrical Engineer position and how your background aligns with the key responsibilities outlined in the job description. Mention specific experiences that demonstrate your expertise in power system protection.
Showcase Relevant Projects: Include details of specific projects you've worked on that relate to transmission and distribution networks. Highlight your role in developing protection settings and any technical specifications you created.
Highlight Mentorship Experience: If you have experience mentoring junior engineers, be sure to mention this in your application. This aligns with the company's focus on team development and will show your leadership capabilities.
How to prepare for a job interview at Turner Lovell
✨Showcase Your Technical Expertise
As a Principal Electrical Engineer, it's crucial to demonstrate your deep understanding of protection settings and schemes. Be prepared to discuss specific projects where you've developed and implemented protection solutions, and highlight your proficiency with industry-standard software like ETAP.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving skills in real-world scenarios. Think about challenges you've faced in protection coordination studies or fault level calculations, and be ready to explain how you approached these issues and the outcomes.
✨Emphasise Your Mentoring Experience
Since the role involves mentoring junior engineers, share examples of how you've supported team development in the past. Discuss any training sessions you've led or how you've helped colleagues improve their skills in protection settings.
✨Familiarise Yourself with Industry Standards
Make sure you're up to date with the latest National Grid technical specifications and standards. Being able to discuss how you ensure compliance in your work will show your commitment to quality and safety in electrical engineering.
