Primary / HV Plant Design Engineer

Overview

As a Primary / HV Plant Design Engineer, you deliver HV substation plant designs up to 400 kV for transmission and distribution projects, aligned with National Grid SR188 standards. You will work within cross-functional teams to produce compliant layouts, drawings, and configurations for AIS and GIS substations. The role focuses on safe, reliable, and cost-efficient plant designs across new-build, refurbishment, and extensions. You’ll engage in technical reviews and lead design deliverables that support project milestones and regulatory compliance. This is an opportunity to shape high-voltage infrastructure within a major grid environment.

Responsibilities

• Produce HV substation designs for up to 400 kV and develop layouts per SR188 requirements
• Prepare and review general arrangement drawings, substation layouts, and equipment installation drawings
• Create electrical clearance studies, earthing layouts, busbar arrangements, and cable routing drawings
• Design layouts for AIS and GIS substations while ensuring compliance with NG standards and regulations
• Provide technical leadership, review vendor data, and participate in design reviews and risk assessments
• Support FEED, detailed design, construction, and commissioning; coordinate interfaces across civil, protection & control, mechanical, and primary design
• Liaise with National Grid, DNOs, consultants, and manufacturers; participate in design submissions and technical meetings

Key requirements

• Significant experience in HV substation primary plant design
• Proven experience on National Grid transmission projects
• Strong knowledge of SR188 Substation Layout Design Guidance
• Experience with 132kV, 275kV, and 400kV transmission networks and AIS/GIS substations
• Familiarity with National Grid design standards and supplier/contractor design reviews
• Degree in Electrical Engineering or equivalent; professional institution membership (IET preferred); working towards/holding CEng

• strong analytical and problem-solving abilities
• excellent communication and stakeholder management
• ability to work independently and lead technical work packages
• National Grid SR188 Substation Layout Design
• Engineering Technical Specifications (ETS)
• Electrical safety clearances and insulation coordination

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