Principal Electrical Engineer

Working here isn’t just a job. You can advance your career at Avove, and we’ll reward you with a range of benefits that recognise great work. We provide full training and continuous development to help you reach your potential. We strive to create an inclusive working environment where everyone can be themselves. Join us and take the next step towards a fulfilling career.

About the role

Avove is seeking a Principal Electrical Engineer to join our growing design team. You will lead the delivery of EICA design on water and wastewater projects, coordinating multi‑disciplinary teams across the full design lifecycle.

Works include infrastructure and non‑infrastructure projects such as pumping stations, treatment works, chemical dosing and sludge handling systems, from feasibility through to detailed design for construction.

Location: Warrington (Avove offers flexible hybrid working, with a combination of office and remote working)

Key Responsibilities

• Develop effective, innovative concept and detailed design solutions aligned with the project brief.
• Deliver high‑quality, value‑for‑money designs that meet technical, commercial and client requirements.
• Manage projects through feasibility, preliminary and detailed design stages, with a strong focus on innovation and client outcomes.
• Liaise closely with clients to understand, manage and communicate requirements effectively.
• Review, check and approve engineering designs, calculations, drawings, technical reports and contract documentation.
• Prepare and approve cost estimates, fees, tenders and bid submissions.
• Ensure compliance with health, safety and environmental legislation, including CDM regulations.
• Lead, manage and develop multi‑disciplinary teams, including performance reviews and professional development.
• Coordinate with site construction teams and respond to technical queries during delivery.

Skills & Experience Required

• Proven ability to produce, check and approve detailed electrical design outputs for complex process plant.
• Excellent working knowledge of clean water and wastewater treatment processes.
• Strong capability to develop practical, buildable engineering solutions that deliver value.
• Creative and forward‑thinking approach to engineering, contributing innovative solutions that give Avove a competitive edge.
• Good working knowledge of civil and mechanical engineering interfaces (desirable).
• Experience preparing robust bottom‑up cost estimates.
• Ability to lead and manage multiple projects concurrently.
• Full UK driving licence.
• Strong knowledge of BS 7671 (18th Edition Wiring Regulations).
• Ability to produce high‑quality electrical and instrumentation drawings and technical specifications.
• Candidates with prior experience supporting United Utilities frameworks or projects will be at an advantage.

Please note that candidates with qualifications that do not fully match the above criteria but have relevant equivalent experience are invited to apply.

What’s in it for you…

We offer a rewarding salary that is tailored to your skills and experience. But that’s not all! We celebrate hard work and give recognition to our colleagues. In addition to this, we understand that one size doesn’t fit all so everyone has access to a variety of flexible benefits that work for you.

• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays
• Company car or car allowance
• Company pension scheme
• Life assurance
• Family friendly policies
• A selection of lifestyle benefit options
• Financial wellbeing programme
• Employee assistance program for health and wellbeing and onsite mental health first aiders to support our colleagues
• We love to give back so we offer you volunteering days in your community and charity matched giving where we will boost your fundraising.

About us:

We design, build and maintain the UK’s utilities infrastructure to help transform local communities for the better. We provide cutting-edge and sustainable engineering solutions and play a critical role in helping to keep the water running, the lights on and people connected.

We are an expert, responsible and agile partner, providing vital services to water and power sectors. We work closely with our clients to help protect and improve their assets, enhance customer experience and protect the natural environment. Everything we do is designed to drive continual improvement and move life forward.

We are proud to work in partnership with leading utility providers, including Severn Trent, United Utilities, Yorkshire Water, Northern PowerGrid, Northumbrian Water Group, and Scottish Power Energy Networks.

We are an equal opportunities employer:

We welcome applications from candidates of all races, genders, disabilities, religions, ages and sexual orientations. We know that having a diverse workforce encourages new perspectives, inspires creativity and creates an engaging workplace and we are committed to creating an inclusive environment where all colleagues can thrive. When it comes to inclusion, we’re making sure we keep up the progress with our Communities of Practice, who help us do just that.

What next:

We encourage you to apply for this role as soon as you can. We recognise talent waits for no one, so we progress candidates individually through all stages of recruitment process.