Lead Protection and Control Design Engineer
Location: England, West Midlands
Sector: Energy Infrastructure, High Voltage Transmission
Employment Type: Full-Time, Permanent
Salary: £70,000 to £90,000 per annum, dependent on experience
About the Company
Our client is a leading UK infrastructure services provider delivering critical energy solutions across electricity transmission and distribution, renewables, EV infrastructure, metering, and decarbonisation. The business designs, builds, and commissions high-voltage substations and transmission infrastructure up to and including 400kV, operating within complex, safety-critical environments and supporting the reliable delivery of electricity nationwide.
Role Overview
The Lead Protection and Control Design Engineer will play a key role in shaping and delivering protection and control solutions on UK transmission projects. This position has full ownership of the protection and control design lifecycle, from initial concept through to construction-ready deliverables. Working closely with multidisciplinary teams, the role combines hands-on technical leadership with design assurance, mentoring, and client engagement on complex HV schemes.
Key Responsibilities
* Take ownership of the full protection and control design process from concept to construction-ready stage, ensuring designs meet quality standards and client expectations
* Collaborate closely with HV plant, cables, civils, and project management teams to support efficient and coordinated project delivery
* Produce, review, and approve tender specifications, AC and DC schematics, protection diagrams, detailed drawings, and third-party designs
* Specify protection relays, CTs, VTs, and associated equipment, carry out protection grading studies, and generate relay settings
* Support commissioning activities, including the development of commissioning plans and attendance at panel and technical review meetings
* Build strong working relationships with clients and internal stakeholders while planning resources and mentoring junior engineers
Requirements
* Degree in Electrical Engineering or a closely related discipline
* A minimum of 8 years’ experience in electrical design, including at least 4 years delivering UK transmission projects such as NGET or SSEN
* Strong technical knowledge of high-voltage substations from 132kV to 400kV and applicable UK standards
* Practical experience with protection relays, CT and VT sizing, and AC and DC schematic design
* Proficiency in ETAP and DIgSILENT, with working familiarity of IEC 61850, DNP3, and Modbus
* Proven leadership capability, strong attention to detail, a safety-first mindset, and the ability to manage multiple projects within a collaborative team environment
What’s on Offer
* Salary between £70,000 and £90,000 per annum, depending on experience
* Matched or contributory pension scheme
* Company car and fuel card, with a choice of EV and hybrid vehicles, plus salary sacrifice EV and hybrid car scheme
* Private healthcare and healthcare cash plan, life assurance, and access to an online GP service 24/7
* Employee assistance programme, retail discount platform, cycle to work scheme, salary finance, and give-as-you-earn schemes
* Enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption leave, discretionary bonus scheme, reward and recognition programme, and refer-a-friend incentive
* 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays