Principal Cable System Design Engineer (Transmission & Distribution)

Overview

As a Principal Cable System Design Engineer, you will lead the planning, design, and delivery of HV/EHV cable systems across UK and global projects. You will drive technical excellence, mentor teams, and engage senior stakeholders to shape high-profile infrastructure schemes like the Great Grid Upgrade. You will work with cross-disciplinary teams to ensure safe, compliant, and innovative solutions across diverse environments. This role offers impact at scale within a global firm focused on energy transition and resilient infrastructure. You’ll contribute to standards, digital delivery, and strategic client partnerships that advance foundational energy networks.

Pay / Benefits

• hybrid working model
• career development opportunities
• AECOM University
• volunteering days

Responsibilities

• Lead delivery of large HV/EHV cable system projects from concept to completion
• Develop HV cable system designs including routing, burial risk, and performance modelling
• Provide expert input on ratings, installation, jointing, cleating, and system integration
• Validate calculations for ampacity, short circuit forces, EMC, induced voltages, and thermomechanical forces per standards
• Engage clients and stakeholders with technical assurance and strategic direction
• Coordinate multidisciplinary inputs (civil, structural, OHL, substation, marine) for integrated designs
• Drive project execution, manage technical risk, interfaces, and quality reviews; support procurement and commissioning
• Perform 3rd-party inspections, FAT/SAT witnessing, and vendor oversight
• Mentor and develop capability within the cable systems team
• Support business development through proposals, bid reviews, and client presentations

Key requirements

• Demonstrated technical leadership in HV/EHV cable system design
• Experience with design, specification, and installation of complex cable systems in tunnel, urban, and constrained environments
• Strong knowledge of National Grid TPs, IEC, and CIGRÉ standards
• Experience in regulated, quality-assured environments; ideally with National Grid, SSE, EirGrid, or equivalent TSOs/DSOs
• Ability to coordinate multidisciplinary teams and engage with senior stakeholders
• Excellent communication, client-facing, and leadership/mentorship skills
• Commitment to innovation, digital delivery, and sustainability in design

• leadership
• communication
• stakeholder engagement
• HV/EHV cable design
• routing and burial risk analysis
• thermomechanical and EMC modelling

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