At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and deliver innovative telecoms circuits for electricity substations.
- Company: Join a leading telecoms company focused on cutting-edge technology.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working options, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with excellent career advancement opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the telecoms industry while working with advanced technologies.
- Qualifications: Experience in EAD circuit design and strong problem-solving skills required.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 65000 £ per year.
We are looking for an experienced EAD Circuit Designer to support telecoms circuit delivery into electricity substation and utility environments. This is not a standard network design role. The person must have strong experience in BT/Openreach EAD / Ethernet access circuit delivery, with the ability to assess site feasibility, interpret survey outputs, understand access constraints, and produce practical design packs for implementation. The role is specifically focused on sites where telecoms delivery may be affected by electromagnetic interference, EMC requirements, Earth Potential Rise, fibre/copper suitability, cabinet specification, cable entry, ventilation, earthing, and substation access constraints.
The designer will work with Vodafone engineering, SPEN stakeholders, BT/Openreach, field engineers, commissioning teams and cabinet suppliers to ensure each circuit design is technically feasible, safe, installable and supportable.
Responsibilities
- EAD circuit design: Design Ethernet Access Direct / leased-line / carrier Ethernet access circuits for SPEN substation locations.
- Access feasibility: Review whether proposed circuits are technically feasible based on site type, BT/Openreach survey outputs, routing, access node/cabinet location and local constraints.
- BT/Openreach coordination: Interpret BT/Openreach survey notes, site classifications, delivery assumptions and circuit provisioning constraints.
- EMI / EMC assessment: Identify design implications arising from electromagnetic interference and EMC requirements in substation environments.
- EPR risk awareness: Consider Earth Potential Rise implications and ensure high-risk sites are appropriately flagged for specialist assessment or design treatment.
- Fibre / copper assessment: Assess whether copper-based access is suitable or whether fibre-only / alternative access should be considered due to site conditions.
- Cabinet integration: Review cabinet and rack requirements, including 45U EMC cabinets, ventilation, extractor fans, air filters, EMC inlet filters, gland plates, cable entry and site-specific colour/specification requirements.
- Design documentation: Produce practical HLD / LLD / implementation design packs suitable for engineering, installation, commissioning and operational handover.
- PT task mapping: Review SPEN PT task sheets and translate task-level requirements into circuit, cabinet, material and implementation design requirements.
- Supplier support: Engage with cabinet suppliers and telecoms suppliers to confirm that manufactured solutions meet SPEN/Vodafone technical requirements.
- Delivery risk management: Identify design gaps, site-readiness issues, ordering risks and installation blockers early.
- AILS / handover readiness: Ensure designs include the information required for Acceptance Into Live Support, including as-built details, circuit references, inventory records and support notes.
- Stakeholder engagement: Work closely with Vodafone design authority, delivery managers, SPEN stakeholders, field engineers, commissioning engineers and suppliers.
Qualifications
- Hands-on experience designing BT/Openreach EAD, Ethernet access, leased line or carrier Ethernet circuits - Mandatory.
Required Skills
- Strong understanding of BT/Openreach delivery lifecycle, including survey, order validation, civils, provisioning, wayleaves and site readiness - Mandatory.
- Experience producing telecoms access design packs, HLDs, LLDs, implementation diagrams or as-built documentation - Mandatory.
- Ability to interpret site surveys, task sheets, supplier notes and technical constraints - Mandatory.
- Experience working with fibre access design and circuit routing - Mandatory.
- Understanding of copper access limitations in electrically sensitive or high-voltage environments - Highly desirable.
- Awareness of electromagnetic interference, EMC requirements and their impact on telecoms design - Highly desirable / near mandatory for this role.
- Awareness of Earth Potential Rise and why it affects telecoms delivery into substations - Highly desirable / near mandatory for this role.
- Experience supporting telecoms delivery into substations, utilities, rail, power, industrial or other controlled environments - Highly desirable.
- Knowledge of telecoms cabinet / rack requirements, including EMC cabinets, gland plates, filters, ventilation and cable entry - Highly desirable.
- Experience coordinating with BT/Openreach, field engineers, commissioning teams and equipment suppliers - Mandatory.
- Strong documentation discipline and ability to produce clear implementation-ready design outputs.
Technical Knowledge Required
- EAD / Ethernet access: EAD circuit topology, NTE, access handoff, demarcation, access routing and carrier Ethernet delivery.
- BT/Openreach process: Survey outputs, order validation, route feasibility, access constraints, civils dependencies and delivery risk points.
- Substation environments: Access restrictions, safety constraints, electrical interference, cabinet requirements and site-specific engineering controls.
- EMI / EMC: How electromagnetic interference affects cable routing, copper usage, shielding, filtering and cabinet specification.
- EPR: Why Earth Potential Rise creates risk and when specialist assessment or design escalation is required.
- Fibre vs copper: Practical design implications of copper-based versus fibre-based delivery in high-voltage / EMI-sensitive locations.
- Cabinet design: EMC rack/cabinet standards, 45U cabinet considerations, fan/extractor requirements, air filters, EMC inlet filters, gland plates and cable entry.
- Design documentation: HLD, LLD, implementation pack, as-built pack, BoM, circuit inventory and AILS handover information.
Preferred Skills
- BT/Openreach EAD / Ethernet delivery.
- Vodafone enterprise access delivery.
- Utility telecoms / power sector telecoms.
- Substation communications design.
- Rail telecoms / trackside telecoms.
- Industrial site telecoms.
- Fibre access planning / design.
Circuit Designer employer: X4 Technology
Contact Detail:
X4 Technology Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Circuit Designer
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the telecoms industry. Attend events, join online forums, and don’t be shy to reach out to professionals on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio showcasing your previous circuit designs and projects. This will give potential employers a clear idea of what you can bring to the table. Make sure to highlight any experience with BT/Openreach EAD or Ethernet access circuits.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your technical knowledge. Be ready to discuss electromagnetic interference, Earth Potential Rise, and how they impact circuit design. We want to see that you’re not just a designer, but someone who understands the nitty-gritty of the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to apply directly. Don’t forget to tailor your application to highlight your relevant experience in telecoms delivery into substations.
We think you need these skills to ace Circuit Designer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Circuit Designer role. Highlight your experience with BT/Openreach EAD and any relevant projects you've worked on that showcase your skills in telecoms circuit delivery.
Showcase Technical Knowledge: Don’t forget to emphasise your understanding of electromagnetic interference, Earth Potential Rise, and other technical aspects mentioned in the job description. We want to see how you can apply this knowledge in real-world scenarios!
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it straightforward and to the point. Use bullet points where possible to make your experience and skills stand out. We appreciate clarity and organisation in your documentation!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to submit your application through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it’s super easy to do!
How to prepare for a job interview at X4 Technology
✨Know Your Circuit Design Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of EAD circuit design, especially in relation to BT/Openreach delivery. Be prepared to discuss specific projects you've worked on and how you tackled challenges like electromagnetic interference and Earth Potential Rise.
✨Familiarise Yourself with Site Feasibility
Understand the importance of site feasibility assessments. Be ready to explain how you interpret survey outputs and assess access constraints. This will show that you can think critically about the practicalities of circuit delivery.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Demonstrate your ability to work collaboratively with various stakeholders, including field engineers and commissioning teams. Share examples of how you've successfully coordinated with others to ensure designs are technically feasible and safe.
✨Prepare Your Documentation Skills
Since producing clear design documentation is crucial, be ready to discuss your experience with HLDs, LLDs, and implementation packs. Highlight your attention to detail and how you ensure all necessary information is included for a smooth handover.