Principal Engineer / Associate Director - High Voltage Cable Design and Engineering, Transmission and Distribution

Job Description

Overview

Let's secure the future of energy.

The Power Energy Systems (PES) Practice of AtkinsRéalis is seeking a Principal Engineer or Associate Director specialising in high-voltage cable design and engineering to join our UK team. We are looking for an experienced technical leader with deep expertise in HVAC and/or HVDC cable systems who can provide robust design assurance, lead complex multidisciplinary delivery, support strategic growth, and build trusted relationships with clients and industry partners.

AtkinsRéalis specialises in all aspects of Transmission and Distribution engineering within the UK and internationally. We provide industry-leading engineering solutions across the project lifecycle, from feasibility, optioneering and front-end design through to detailed design, procurement and construction, installation, testing and commissioning support. Our teams deliver work across the Transmission and Distribution sector, including substations, overhead lines, underground and subsea cable systems, offshore wind, solar, BESS and HVDC interconnectors.

By providing technical leadership across the organisation, you will help shape the direction of our HV cable capability, contribute to practice strategy, influence senior stakeholders, and lead multidisciplinary teams to deliver safe, compliant and commercially successful outcomes. In this role, you will provide strategic oversight for complex, high-impact projects and initiatives, anticipate business, regulatory and technology changes, and develop innovative solutions and services that strengthen our market position.

Become part of a team where every voice matters, and together we can tackle our clients’ toughest challenges. We foster a diverse and inclusive environment where world-class talent thrives without boundaries.  For us, collaboration isn’t a buzzword.  We value the different perspectives our people bring and recognise everyone for their contributions equally. We also know that different people have different priorities, which is why we’re here to support you with whatever you need.

We offer hybrid working, which involves travel/office-based working 3 days per week. This position can be based at any of our key locations: Epsom, London, Bristol, Leeds, Birmingham, Manchester, or Glasgow.  Other locations will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Your role

You will provide senior technical leadership for HV cable design and engineering, leading or assuring multidisciplinary teams to deliver high-quality, safe and technically compliant solutions. The successful candidate will have the following responsibilities:

• Provide technical leadership and design assurance for HV cable systems across transmission, distribution, offshore wind, interconnector and major infrastructure projects.
• Lead and review cable system studies, calculations and design deliverables including route assessment, cable rating, thermal modelling, pulling and installation assessments, land fall assessment, cable laying vessel assessment (CLVA), earthing and bonding, sheath voltage analysis, losses, interfaces and constructability considerations.
• Lead and review construability assessments and associated risk assessment such as Cable Burial Risk Assessment (CBRA).
• Serve as a recognised HV cable subject matter expert across the PES Practice and wider AtkinsRéalis business, providing advice, challenge and assurance on complex technical matters.
• Set the technical delivery strategy for complex HV cable assignments, ensuring alignment with client requirements, applicable standards, safety legislation, environmental constraints and project governance.
• Chair or contribute to design reviews, technical risk reviews, hazard reviews and interdisciplinary coordination meetings, ensuring decisions are clearly recorded and risks are actively managed.
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders including clients, contractors, manufacturers, installers, statutory bodies, operations teams and multidisciplinary project teams.
• Provide technical input to bids, proposals and framework opportunities, defining delivery approaches, resource requirements, assumptions, risks and differentiators for HV cable services.
• Identify opportunities for service growth, innovation, standardisation and continuous improvement, helping to strengthen AtkinsRéalis’ HV cable capability and market offering.
• Develop, mentor and support HV cable engineers, building capability, improving technical consistency and supporting succession planning within the practice.
• Anticipate emerging business, regulatory, supply chain and technology challenges, identifying risks and opportunities early and advising project and practice leadership.
• Act as a point of escalation for complex HV cable matters, applying sound engineering judgement to resolve issues and support safe, practical and commercially balanced outcomes.

About you 

You have a proven track record of leading, assuring and delivering complex HV cable design and engineering work across major transmission, distribution or renewable energy projects. You combine strong technical judgement with the ability to influence clients, guide multidisciplinary teams, develop others and contribute to business growth. You are comfortable working in complex and changing environments and can communicate confidently with stakeholders at all levels, internally and externally.

Key skills and attributes include the following: 

• Degree qualified in electrical engineering or a relevant discipline; Master’s degree qualification is desirable.
• Chartered Engineer status, or demonstrable progress towards chartership for Principal Engineer level, with membership of the IET or an equivalent professional institution.
• Significant experience in the design, specification, manufacture, testing, installation or assurance of HV cable systems for HVAC and/or HVDC projects, including onshore and offshore applications.
• Experience using or assuring outputs from industry-standard cable engineering software such as CYMCAP, Pull Planner, ELEK or equivalent tools.
• Strong working knowledge of relevant IEC, CIGRE, ENA, National Grid and wider industry standards, guidance and technical specifications applicable to HV cable systems.
• Experience witnessing, reviewing or assuring third-party cable activities such as factory acceptance testing, type testing, installation, jointing, commissioning, transport and site works.
• Extensive experience on large, technically complex HV cable projects, ideally including interfaces with substations, overhead lines, offshore platforms, landfalls, civils, consenting, construction and operations.
• Strong safety, regulatory and environmental compliance focus, with practical understanding of CDM 2015 duties and the role of design risk management in HV cable projects.
• Ability to chair design reviews and hazard reviews, and to provide Technical Authority, CDAE or equivalent assurance review of HV cable design packages where required.
• Ability to ensure technically compliant deliverables through effective design assurance, interdisciplinary coordination, issue identification, risk-based decision-making and problem solving.
• Excellent stakeholder communication—able to influence senior clients across multidisciplinary and international teams. 
• Commercially astute, with the ability to build client relationships, support bids, develop propositions, coach others and champion continuous improvement in HV cable design and engineering.

Rewards & benefits

Explore the rewards and benefits that help you thrive – at every stage of your life and your career. Enjoy competitive salaries, employee rewards and a brilliant range of benefits you can tailor to suit your own health, wellbeing, financial and lifestyle choices. Make the most of a myriad of opportunities for training and professional development to grow your skills and expertise. And combine our hybrid working culture and flexible holiday allowances to balance a great job and fulfilling personal life.

Rewards and benefits – Careers at AtkinsRéalis

About AtkinsRéalis

We're AtkinsRéalis, a world-class engineering services and nuclear organization. We connect people, data and technology to transform the world's infrastructure and energy systems. Together, with our industry partners and clients, and our global team of consultants, designers, engineers and project managers, we can change the world. We're committed to leading our clients across our various end markets to engineer a better future for our planet and its people.

Find out more.

Additional information

Security clearance

This role may require security clearance and offers of employment will be dependent on obtaining the relevant level of clearance. If this is necessary, it will be discussed with you at interview. The vetting process is delivered by United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) and may require candidates to provide proof of residency in the UK of 5 years or longer. If applying to this role please do not make reference to (in conversation) or include in your application or CV, details of any current or previously held security clearance.

We are committed to creating a culture where everyone feels that they belong - a place where we can all be ourselves, thrive and develop to be the best we can be. So, we offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements and employee resource groups to support all employees. As an Equal Opportunities Employer, we value applications from all backgrounds, cultures and ability. As a Disability Confident Leader, we are committed to offering an interview to all applicants who have a disability and meet the essential criteria. If you would like to be considered under this commitment, please let us know at the application stage.

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Worker Type

Job Type

At AtkinsRéalis, we seek to hire individuals with diverse characteristics, backgrounds and perspectives. We strongly believe that world-class talent makes no distinctions based on gender, ethnic or national origin, sexual identity and orientation, age, religion or disability, but enriches itself through these differences.