Market
Energy
Principal Substation (Primary Design) Engineer - UK Grid Network
Jacobs
Design
London, UK
Posted on Oct 23, 2025
At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting-edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good.
Your impact
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
Here's what you'll need
- 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.
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Joining Jacobs not only connects you locally but globally. Our values stand on a foundation of safety, integrity, inclusion and belonging. We put people at the heart of our business, and we truly believe that by supporting one another through our culture of caring, we all succeed. We value positive mental health and a sense of belonging for all employees.
With safety and flexibility always top of mind, we’ve gone beyond traditional ways of working so you have the support, means and space to maximize your potential. You’ll uncover flexible working arrangements, benefits, and opportunities, from well-being benefits to our global giving and volunteering program, to exploring new and inventive ways to help our clients make the world a better place. No matter what drives you, you’ll discover how you can cultivate, nurture, and achieve your goals – all at a single global company. Find out more about life at Jacobs.
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 accept people for who they are, and we champion the richness of different perspectives, lived experiences and backgrounds in the workplace, as a source of learning and innovation. We are committed to building vibrant communities within Jacobs, including through our Jacobs Employee Networks, Communities of Practice and our Find Your Community initiatives, allowing every employee to find connection, purpose, and belonging. Find out more about our Jacobs Employee Networks here.
Jacobs partners with VERCIDA to help us attract and retain talent from a wide range of backgrounds. For greater online accessibility please visit www.vercida.com to view and access our roles.
As a disability confident employer, we will interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for a vacancy. We welcome applications from candidates who are seeking flexible working and from those who may not meet all the 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 enabling them to deliver their best work.
Your application experience is important to us, and we’re keen to adapt to make every interaction even better. If you require further support or reasonable adjustments with regards to the recruitment process (for example, you require the application form in a different format), please contact the team via Careers Support.
Locations
| City | State | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | West Midlands | United Kingdom |
| Bristol | Bristol City | United Kingdom |
| Glasgow | Lanarkshire | United Kingdom |
| Newcastle Upon Tyne | Tyne and Wear | United Kingdom |
| Belfast | Antrim | United Kingdom |
| Exeter | Devon | United Kingdom |
| Manchester | Greater Manchester | United Kingdom |
| Leeds | West Yorkshire | United Kingdom |
| Leeds | West Yorkshire | United Kingdom |
