Lead Design Protection and Control Engineer

M Group Services Limited; Bristol; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading infrastructure services provider is seeking an experienced engineer to shape the future of the UK's energy infrastructure. The role involves owning the full design process for protection and control systems, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams, and ensuring standards are met. Ideal candidates will have extensive experience in high-voltage substations and a strong leadership mindset. The position is based in Bristol and offers various benefits, including a company vehicle and private health care.

Benefits

Matched or contributory pension scheme

Online GP service

Employee assistance programme

Access to retail discounts

Life assurance

Cycle to work

Private health care

Discretionary bonus scheme

25 days annual leave plus bank holidays

Qualifications

• 8+ years in electrical design, with 4+ years on UK transmission projects.
• Deep knowledge of HV substations (132kV–400kV) and UK standards.
• Hands-on experience with protection relays, CT/VT sizing.

Responsibilities

• Own the full P&C design process from concept to construction-ready.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams for project delivery.
• Build strong relationships with clients and internal teams.

Skills

High-voltage protection and control systems

Stakeholder management

Leadership

Attention to detail

Team collaboration

Education

Degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

ETAP

DIgSILENT

Job description

Right across infrastructure, there’s a requirement to not only maintain, but also renew and reimagine. Whatever stage you’re at in your career, with us you’ll have an opportunity to grow and develop. Delivering essential infrastructure services for life, while being safety first, and client and customer centric in a friendly, fun and respectful environment where you are encouraged to thrive.

Where will you be working?

At M Group Energy, we’re enabling the energy essential to support our lives. We provide an end-to-end service, delivering solutions in electricity transmission, distribution, renewable energy, EV, metering and home decarbonisation. We design, build and commission substations at voltages up to and including 400kV. Our teams construct and maintain transmission lines and substations, ensuring the efficient and reliable delivery of electricity.

We’re looking for an experienced engineer to help shape the future of the UK’s energy infrastructure. If you have a strong background in high-voltage protection and control systems, and enjoy working on complex, multidisciplinary projects, this could be your next big move!

What You’ll Be Doing

• Own the full P&C design process - from concept to construction-ready.
• Collaborate with HV plant, cables, civils, and project managers to streamline delivery.
• Build strong relationships with clients and internal teams.
• Plan resources and mentor junior engineers.
• Ensure designs meet quality standards and client expectations.
• Create and review tender specs, AC/DC schematics, and protection diagrams.
• Approve detailed drawings and third-party designs.
• Specify relays, CTs, VTs, and other key equipment.
• Run protection grading studies and generate relay settings.
• Support commissioning plans and attend panel meetings.

What You’ll Bring

• Degree in Electrical Engineering (or similar).
• 8+ years in electrical design, with 4+ years on UK transmission projects (NGET, SSEN).
• Deep knowledge of HV substations (132kV–400kV) and UK standards.
• Hands-on experience with protection relays, CT/VT sizing, and AC/DC drawings.
• Skilled in ETAP, DIgSILENT, and familiar with IEC 61850, DNP3, Modbus.
• Strong leadership, safety mindset, and attention to detail.
• Able to juggle multiple projects and thrive in a team environment.

Want to work on impactful projects and grow your expertise in a fast-moving sector? If so, we’d love to hear from you!

What’s in it for you?

We offer a range of benefits designed to support your life in and out of work, some of which include;

• Matched or contributory pension scheme
• Online GP service, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
• Employee assistance programme
• My Rewards portal, access to 1000’s of retail discounts
• Life assurance
• Cycle to work
• Salary finance and give as you earn schemes
• Enhanced maternity, paternity leave and adoption leave
• Reward and recognition scheme

In addition, this role offers;

• Company car and fuel card with a range of EV and hybrid vehicles to choose from
• My Car Choice our salary sacrifice EV/ Hybrid car scheme Company van/vehicle and fuel card for business use
• Private health care and health care cash plan
• Discretionary bonus scheme
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Recommend a friend – get rewarded for introducing people to us!

About us We want to be an employer of choice and a great place to work, attracting diverse and talented people, who join us and make a difference.

We’re one of the Top 100 UK companies actively supporting and recruiting army veterans. Our ENABLE inclusion networks bring together people who have a shared passion, to help create an environment where everyone belongs. Our values help to shape our culture and how we work with one another.

We recruit with these values in mind, to ensure your aspirations, and ways of working, align with ours. We’re responsible and go further for our people, clients, communities and the planet.

We’re open and seek new and better ways of exceeding expectations We’re together and as one team; the whole is greater than the sum of the parts We’re ambitious and embrace opportunity, to lead essential infrastructure services for life.

Whether you’re a trainee, apprentice or graduate, or progressing through your career, our people benefit from industry recognised programmes, training and development. It’s an exceptional time to be a part of M Group.

Please note: Occasionally, job adverts might be closed before the stated closing date. Do apply as soon as possible to ensure your application is considered.

For certain roles, successful candidates will be subject to 3rd party background checks as part of the hiring process.

Some roles require drug and alcohol testing as part of induction and onboarding.