82655 - High Voltage Control Engineer
This High Voltage Control Engineer will report to the Network Manager and work within Network Operations and Control based in the Fore Hamlet - Ipswich (Sometimes Bury) office. The position is a permanent role.
Salary: £68,144 - £84,160 per annum, plus shift allowance and a 3% bonus. The role is a shift position with a shift allowance upon authorisation.
Close Date: 23rd March 2026. All applications will be reviewed after the close date.
We also provide the following additional benefits:
- 25 days annual leave
- Reservist leave – additional 18 days full pay and 22 days unpaid
- Personal pension plan – personal contribution of 4% or 5%, with a corresponding contribution of 8% or 10%
- Tenancy Loan Deposit Scheme, Season Ticket Loan
- Tax‑efficient benefits: Cycle to Work, Home & Tech, and Green Car Leasing Schemes
- Occupational Health support
- Switched On – scheme providing discount on hundreds of retailers' products
- Discounted gym membership
- Employee Assistance Programme
UK Power Networks is the country's biggest electricity distributor, ensuring electricity for more than eight million homes and businesses across London, the South East and the East of England. It invests more than £600 million in its electricity networks every year and supports a low‑carbon future.
Job Purpose
Responsible to the Network Manager, the Control Engineer will manage a section of the distribution network, maintain network security and availability, ensure compliance with Distribution Safety Rules, and provide advice and instruction to remote operations. The role involves rapid fault response, planning and authorising high‑voltage schedules, and delivering data to support licence compliance.
Network Control operates 24 hours a day. Pattern working in both full and part‑shift roles is required; you must be prepared to work a full‑shift pattern if required.
Principal Accountabilities
- Manage a section of the distribution network using SCADA and other information systems.
- Provide rapid restoration of supply in fault situations.
- Provide technical advice to field operators and Operations Centre staff.
- Sanction the issue of safety documents.
- Comply with IIP fault reporting requirements.
- Check and authorise planned high‑voltage schedules in compliance with safety rules.
- Comply with the Grid and Distribution Codes and all relevant safety rules, instructions and codes of practice.
- Maintain awareness of customer requirements and provide relevant information.
- Communicate with other members within the Network Operations team and build relationships with other business teams.
- Help develop procedures, challenging existing processes and striving for continuous improvement.
- Mentor other members of the control team.
- Ensure Customer Minutes Lost (CMLs) and Customer Interruptions (CIs) are minimised and targets delivered.
- Provide information to help achieve a high BMoCS (Broad Measure of Customer Service) score.
Nature And Scope
High‑Voltage Control Engineers are responsible for the safe operation of a section of the distribution system during their shift. They are trained to control the high‑voltage network and may progress to EHV control. The role requires working within a team and adjusting in real‑time to shift needs. Authorization over all three license areas is expected.
Qualifications
- Minimum of an ONC or equivalent; an HNC is desirable.
- Experience working on and around the high‑voltage system as an Authorised Person or Senior Authorised Person, or as a Control Engineer on electricity distribution systems.
- Understanding of the Distribution Safety Rules.
- Familiarity with other procedures relevant to operating high‑voltage networks.
- Experience managing safe working practices and adhering to electrical safety procedures.
- Knowledge of the regulatory environment in which UK Power Networks operates.
- Knowledge of safety documents used within the industry and their significance and requirements.
Competencies
- Focus on safety.
- Focus on customer service.
- Ability to process information quickly to enable rapid fault response.
- Real‑time awareness of ongoing work and job priorities.
- Ability to switch between different faults and planned outages throughout the day.
- Competent IT skills.
- Ability to understand and convey technical and safety information to field engineers during high‑profile incidents.
Health & Safety Responsibilities
Managers and supervisors bear legal and company responsibilities for ensuring health and safety for employees and others affected by work. Employees must understand health and safety risks, apply controls, and recognise environmental impacts.
If in doubt ask!
We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender, gender identity or expression, or veteran status. We are proud to be an equal‑opportunity workplace.
