Play a major role in delivering the UK's Great Grid Upgrade
Location: Birmingham (initially) → High Marnham, Newark (site-based)
The Opportunity
Join Laing O'Rourke at a pivotal moment for the UK's energy future. As part of the Great Grid Upgrade, we are delivering critical infrastructure that will connect cleaner, greener energy to millions of homes—strengthening the national transmission network for generations to come.
We are looking for a highly skilled electrically biased Senior Design Manager with deep expertise in National Grid substations, transmission systems, and high-voltage infrastructure to lead the electrical design strategy on one of the UK's most significant power projects.
This is a senior role where your leadership, technical capability, and design management expertise will directly shape project outcomes. You'll begin with our design and technical teams in Birmingham, before transitioning to site at High Marnham as the project moves into delivery.
What You'll Be Doing
As Senior Design Manager (Electrical), You Will
Lead complex electrical design delivery
Oversee electrical engineering design for National Grid substation works (400kV / 275kV).
Ensure alignment with NG standards, technical requirements, and statutory obligations.
Manage multi-disciplinary design interfaces across civil, structural, MEICA and digital engineering teams.
Shape and drive design strategy
Establish the design roadmap from early engagement through detailed design and construction.
Mentor and lead design managers and engineers across the project.
Apply Laing O'Rourke's Strategy for Design to maximise efficiency, innovation, and risk reduction.
Collaborate with National Grid & key partners
Act as the primary electrical design liaison with National Grid engineers, assurance teams, and external designers.
Ensure designs meet EIRs, TO standards, and project-specific technical governance.
Champion design assurance, safety and compliance
Lead risk & opportunity management for electrical design packages.
Ensure designs satisfy CDM, regulatory, and assurance requirements.
Drive collaborative design reviews, quality assessments, and change control.
Support construction, commissioning & handover
Provide expert technical support during build and energisation phases.
Ensure design outputs transition smoothly into construction and commissioning documentation.
What We're Looking For Essential Experience
Degree in Electrical Engineering or equivalent.
Significant experience (10+ years) in high-voltage electrical design management.
Proven leadership in delivering National Grid substation projects (AIS/GIS).
Strong understanding of National Grid standards, processes, and assurance pathways.
Experience across multiple project stages—from early design to commissioning.
Ability to lead complex, multi-disciplinary design teams.
Desirable
Chartered Engineer (CEng) or progressing toward chartership.
Background in major energy, utilities, power systems, or complex infrastructure.
Experience working with digital tools (BIM, digital engineering platforms) to optimise design outcomes.
Why Laing O'Rourke?
This is your chance to join an organisation that is designing and delivering the infrastructure shaping the UK's future. At Laing O'Rourke, you'll work with industry-leading experts, supported by our digital engineering capability, innovation culture, and commitment to technical excellence.
You'll be part of a team that values creative thinking, embraces new technology, and invests in people to help them grow.
Ready to help power the UK's future?
Apply today and play a leading role in one of the UK's most important infrastructure programmes.
About Us
Laing O'Rourke are an international engineering and construction company delivering state-of-the-art infrastructure and buildings projects for clients in the UK, Middle East and Australia.
Certainty, reliability, quality – this is what our clients want. And at Laing O'Rourke, we have more than 150 years of experience delivering it. Laing O'Rourke's story is one of energy, passion, ambition, people and teamwork. We harness the power of our experience, stretching back over a century and a half to deliver certainty for our clients.
As part of the Disability Confident scheme, we would like to enable access to candidates with long term conditions and disabilities through the 'Offer an interview scheme'. This supports applicants that meet the essential criteria by offering an interview for the advertised position. Please let us know if you would like to opt in to this scheme and let us know if you require any adjustments for the interview process.
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