Principal Substation (Primary Design) Engineer - UK Grid Network

Jacobs Technology Inc.; Glasgow; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading engineering company is seeking a Principal Substation (Primary Design) Engineer to support high-profile projects in energy transition. The role involves leading design workstreams, ensuring quality, and mentoring junior engineers in the UK. The ideal candidate will have a degree in Electrical Engineering and substantial experience with HV substation design. The company provides competitive benefits and emphasizes work-life balance with flexible working options.

Benefits

Free single medical cover

Enhanced parental leave pay

Membership of employee assistance programs

Qualifications

• Proven experience in HV substation design (132kV–400kV) within UK environments.
• Familiarity with National Grid and DNO standards.
• Demonstrated ability to lead technical workstreams.

Responsibilities

• Lead FEED and detailed design workstreams for clients.
• Ensure quality and timely delivery of design packages.
• Review layouts, earthing, and specifications.
• Provide technical leadership to junior engineers.

Skills

High voltage substation design

Communication skills

Stakeholder engagement

Technical leadership

Education

Degree in Electrical Engineering or equivalent

Job description

Overview

Principal Substation (Primary Design) Engineer - UK Grid Network. Join to apply for the Principal Substation (Primary Design) Engineer - UK Grid Network role at Jacobs.

Jacobs is playing a leading role in the global energy transition. As our UK and Continental Europe team continues to expand, we are seeking a Principal Primary Substation Engineer to support a range of high-profile projects across our Power & Energy portfolio. This includes high voltage AIS and GIS Substations, transmission system assets, HVDC interconnectors, and energy storage systems.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead FEED and detailed design workstreams for National Grid and DNO clients
• Ensure quality assurance and timely delivery of design packages and bids
• Review HV plant aspects including layouts, earthing, interlocking, busbar calculations, and specifications
• Coordinate with back-office engineers, suppliers, and subcontractors
• Attend and contribute to design reviews, hazard reviews, FAT and SAT
• Provide technical leadership and mentoring to junior engineers
• Support tendering activities and contribute to technical offers
• Maintain strong client relationships and support business development

Qualifications

• Degree in Electrical Engineering or equivalent
• Proven experience in HV substation design (132kV–400kV), ideally within UK transmission and distribution environments
• Familiarity with National Grid and DNO standards and processes
• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills
• Demonstrated ability to lead technical workstreams and contribute to strategic project delivery

Why Jacobs?

People are Jacobs’ greatest asset, and we offer a competitive package to retain and attract the best talent. In addition to the benefits you’d expect, UK employees also receive free single medical cover and digital GP service, family-friendly benefits such as enhanced parental leave pay and free membership of employee assistance and parental programmes, plus reimbursement towards relevant professional development and memberships. We also give back to our communities through our Collectively program which incorporates matched-funding, paid volunteering time and charitable donations.

Work-life balance and flexibility is a key focus area for Jacobs. We’re happy to discuss hybrid, part-time and flexible working hours, patterns and locations to suit you and our business.

We aim to embed inclusion and belonging in everything we do. We know that if we are inclusive, we’re more connected and creative. We are committed to building vibrant communities within Jacobs, including through our Jacobs Employee Networks, Communities of Practice and Find Your Community initiatives, allowing every employee to find connection, purpose, and belonging. We partner with external accessibility and diversity initiatives to attract and retain talent from a wide range of backgrounds. We welcome applications from candidates seeking flexible working and from those who may not meet all listed requirements for a role.

We value collaboration and believe that in-person interactions are crucial for both our culture and client delivery. We empower employees with our hybrid working policy, allowing them to split their work week between Jacobs offices/projects and remote locations to deliver their best work. If you require further support or reasonable adjustments with regards to the recruitment process, please contact Careers Support.