Senior Substation Primary (HV Plant) Design Engineer – Contract (Inside IR35)
UK (Epsom | Birmingham | Leeds | Glasgow – Hybrid / Flexible Site Travel)
Up to £65/hr (Umbrella) | 12-month minimum contract
We’re looking for an experienced Senior Substation Primary (HV Plant) Design Engineer to join a leading engineering team delivering major UK transmission & distribution substation projects.
This is a senior technical role working across the full lifecycle — from FEED and concept design through to detailed design, construction support, and commissioning — with real responsibility for technical delivery and design quality.
What you’ll be doing:
- Leading HV substation primary plant design for transmission projects
- Producing and reviewing HV layouts, elevations, and general arrangements
- Developing earthing designs, reports, and calculations
- Preparing HV plant technical specifications and equipment requirements
- Carrying out HV busbar calculations and design assessments
- Developing mechanical interlocking and maintenance access arrangements
- Supporting FEED, detailed design, and tender stages
- Reviewing technical bids and supplier submissions
- Participating in design reviews, hazard studies, and technical workshops
- Working closely with multidisciplinary teams, suppliers, and contractors
- Supporting construction and commissioning activities
- Mentoring junior engineers and supporting capability development
- Attending client meetings and occasional site visits
What we’re looking for:
- Degree in Electrical Engineering (or equivalent)
- Strong experience in HV substation primary plant design
- Background in transmission & distribution projects (up to 400kV desirable)
- Familiarity with utility standards (e.g. National Grid, SPEN, SSEN or equivalent)
- Experience delivering FEED and detailed design packages
- Strong understanding of HV electrical systems and substation design principles
- Experience working in multidisciplinary engineering environments
- Strong technical review and quality assurance capability
What’s on offer:
- Work on major UK transmission and substation infrastructure projects
- Full lifecycle engineering exposure (FEED → detailed design → commissioning support)
- Senior technical role with genuine design ownership
- Hybrid working with flexibility across UK office locations
- Collaborative multidisciplinary engineering environment
If you’re a Senior HV Substation Primary Engineer looking for a technically challenging contract with real influence on major infrastructure projects, feel free to apply or message me directly.