Extra High Voltage (EHV) Senior Design Manager
Added 7 Oct · still live
Likely
Sponsorship likelihood
This employer has issued visas recently
Not disclosed
Salary
Not disclosed by employer
£58,700
Going rate
Skilled Worker going rate
This role likely qualifies for a Skilled Worker visa
SOC 2123 (64% match) is an eligible occupation, with a going rate of £58,700, and Laing O'Rourke is a licensed sponsor. That is our reading of the rules. Whether they issue a Certificate of Sponsorship is still their call.
This could also be SOC 2127 (Engineering project managers and project engineers). We read the code off the advert, so it is our best guess, not the employer's.
Your salary route
New graduate or PhD holder? Pick one of the lower rates.
What each route needs for this job
| Occupation code | New entrant 70% of going rate | STEM PhD 80% of going rate | Relevant PhD 90% of going rate | Standard rate 100% of going rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
2123 Electrical engineers Most likely code | £41,100 | £47,000 | £52,900 | £58,700 |
2127 Engineering project managers and project engineers Also possible | £36,300 | £41,500 | £46,700 | £51,900 |
We use the lowest threshold across the plausible codes. Likelihood is Possible at most when the pay clears only a lower rate, or only under a less likely code. How the Home Office picks the code
About the role
Senior Design Manager / Design Manager (Extra High Voltage EHV) Grimsby West 400kV Substation | Great Grid Upgrade Programme
Location: Birmingham (with travel to Grimsby, designers and suppliers as required)
Help deliver one of the UK's most significant power infrastructure programmes
Laing O'Rourke is seeking an experienced Senior Design Manager or Design Manager to play a key role in the delivery of the Grimsby West 400kV AIS Substation, a critical element of National Grid's Great Grid Upgrade Programme and the wider Grimsby to Walpole Network Connection (GWNC) project.
This is an opportunity to influence the design and delivery of nationally significant electrical infrastructure from the earliest stages of development through to construction. You'll join the project during pricing before moving into an extensive Early Contractor Involvement phase, collaborating closely with National Grid, WSP and key supply chain partners to shape efficient, buildable and innovative solutions.
What You'll Be Doing
Location: Birmingham (with travel to Grimsby, designers and suppliers as required)
Help deliver one of the UK's most significant power infrastructure programmes
Laing O'Rourke is seeking an experienced Senior Design Manager or Design Manager to play a key role in the delivery of the Grimsby West 400kV AIS Substation, a critical element of National Grid's Great Grid Upgrade Programme and the wider Grimsby to Walpole Network Connection (GWNC) project.
This is an opportunity to influence the design and delivery of nationally significant electrical infrastructure from the earliest stages of development through to construction. You'll join the project during pricing before moving into an extensive Early Contractor Involvement phase, collaborating closely with National Grid, WSP and key supply chain partners to shape efficient, buildable and innovative solutions.
What You'll Be Doing
- Leading and influencing the design development of a major EHV substation project from a contractor's perspective
- Working collaboratively with National Grid, WSP, specialist designers, suppliers and internal stakeholders
- Managing technical interfaces and design risks across a complex multidisciplinary environment
- Providing leadership and technical guidance throughout pricing, ECI and construction phases
- Acting as the key link between the project team and Laing O'Rourke's central EHV technical specialists
- Driving design decisions that enhance buildability, safety, quality and programme performance
- Supporting procurement activities and technical engagement with major equipment manufacturers and suppliers
Advertisement
We're interested in experienced electrical engineers with expertise in one or more of the following areas:
The project is currently in the pricing stage and is expected to move into an approximately 18-month Early Contractor Involvement phase with National Grid and WSP before progressing into construction.
Initially, the role will be based primarily from our Birmingham Great Grid Upgrade office, with occasional travel to design offices, suppliers and the Grimsby site. As construction progresses, you'll typically spend 1-2 days per week on site, with Birmingham remaining your home office location.
Why join Laing O'Rourke?
At Laing O'Rourke, you'll be part of a team delivering the infrastructure that underpins the UK's transition to a more resilient, low-carbon energy network. You'll have the opportunity to shape critical engineering solutions, work alongside some of the industry's leading specialists and make a tangible impact on projects of national importance.
Diversity & Inclusion
At Laing O'Rourke, we're committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive. We actively welcome applications from people with different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives because we believe diverse teams deliver better outcomes. If you're excited by this opportunity but don't meet every requirement, we'd still encourage you to apply. Your potential could be exactly what we're looking for.
Don't match all the criteria? We are open and always happy to hear from people with transferable skill sets and a commitment to learning.
About Us
- EHV Primary Engineering
- EHV Secondary Engineering
- EHV Cable Systems
- Experience delivering large-scale electrical transmission or substation projects
- Strong design management capability within complex multidisciplinary teams
- The ability to challenge, influence and guide design outcomes from a contractor's viewpoint
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
- Experience working collaboratively with clients, designers and supply chain partners
- A proactive and solutions-focused approach, comfortable working across multiple technical interfaces
The project is currently in the pricing stage and is expected to move into an approximately 18-month Early Contractor Involvement phase with National Grid and WSP before progressing into construction.
Initially, the role will be based primarily from our Birmingham Great Grid Upgrade office, with occasional travel to design offices, suppliers and the Grimsby site. As construction progresses, you'll typically spend 1-2 days per week on site, with Birmingham remaining your home office location.
Why join Laing O'Rourke?
At Laing O'Rourke, you'll be part of a team delivering the infrastructure that underpins the UK's transition to a more resilient, low-carbon energy network. You'll have the opportunity to shape critical engineering solutions, work alongside some of the industry's leading specialists and make a tangible impact on projects of national importance.
Diversity & Inclusion
At Laing O'Rourke, we're committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive. We actively welcome applications from people with different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives because we believe diverse teams deliver better outcomes. If you're excited by this opportunity but don't meet every requirement, we'd still encourage you to apply. Your potential could be exactly what we're looking for.
Don't match all the criteria? We are open and always happy to hear from people with transferable skill sets and a commitment to learning.
About Us
We 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 health 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 prior to interview what adjustments are required as well as discussing how we can support you in the workplace.
We want to ensure our recruitment process is accessible to all. If you need the application form in an alternative format or you would like to know more about our recruitment process, please email [email protected]
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 health 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 prior to interview what adjustments are required as well as discussing how we can support you in the workplace.
We want to ensure our recruitment process is accessible to all. If you need the application form in an alternative format or you would like to know more about our recruitment process, please email [email protected]
This description is the source posting as it read when we added it. We are not affiliated with Laing O'Rourke, so check their own site for the current details.
Where this offer sits in the market
Electrical engineers (SOC 2123) · UK · ONS ASHE 2025 · basic pay · ~36k in sampleSOC 2123
- Middle half £41,392–68,380
- Median £55,432
- Going rate £58,700
- Threshold £41,700
- New entrant £41,100–52,900
Similar sponsored roles
See all UK visa jobsNo close matches live right now.
Browse more sponsored jobs at Laing O'RourkeAbout sponsorship for this role
Does this job guarantee visa sponsorship?
Not necessarily. Laing O'Rourke holds a sponsor licence, but sponsorship for a specific hire is always the employer's decision. Be upfront in your application that you'll require it.
What salary is needed for this role to be eligible?
The offer must clear both the general threshold and the SOC 2123 going rate of £58,700. New-entrant and shortage discounts can lower it.