Technical Principal (Secondary Design, Transmission) 1

Location/s: Glasgow, Brighton, Newcastle, York, Croydon, Bristol; UK
Recruiter contact: Abhijeet Barpanda

Mott MacDonald is a global engineering, management, and development consultancy with over 20,000 employees across more than 50 countries and 140+ offices. 

We work across incredible global industries, delivering exciting work that is defining our future and making an important societal impact in the communities we serve. Our people power our performance – we succeed when they do. With countless opportunities to collaborate, learn, and grow, the possibilities for excellence are as varied as every individual. 

Whether you want to grow as a subject matter expert or broaden your experience with roles across our international community, you’re surrounded by global specialists who want to combine their expertise and champion you to be your best. As a proudly employee-owned business, we benefit our clients, our communities, and each other, investing in creating the right space for everyone to feel empowered, included, and valued. Whatever your ambition, Mott MacDonald is where people come to be brilliant.

About the business unit  
The Energy unit delivers services to clients globally across several sectors including hydropower, nuclear, waste, renewable generation and transmission & distribution networks. Together we provide integrated engineering and project management services across the project lifecycle – from concept and design to construction and operations, to decommissioning or repowering and life extension. Together with our clients, we’re helping to deliver the energy transition globally.

 Overview of the role

The Technical principal will support a wide range of client projects from early inception and master planning through concept design, detailed design, commissioning and final completion. The role sits within the Energy Unit’s Transmission & Distribution division and covers diverse sectors including renewable energy, aviation, data centres, healthcare, nuclear, defence and estate planning. 

The position involves developing electrical designs for 11kV–33kV networks, renewable generation connections and associated HV/LV infrastructure. The role also includes project leadership, bid support, stakeholder engagement, and mentoring junior staff.

Key responsibilities and duties include:

• Front-End & Optioneering
  • Capture and agree stakeholder requirements
  • Assess network configuration and resilience
  • Evaluate operational scenarios and their impacts
  • Lead site surveys
  • Produce clear reports enabling client decision-making
• Detailed Design (Typically to RIBA Stage 4)
  • Electrical network design for 11kV–33kV systems
  • Power system cable sizing, routing and termination
  • Substation layout development and main equipment specifications
  • Design of control and protection schemes, including G99 compliance
  • Multicore and fibre optic cable design
  • Interpretation of client/DNO standards and regulations
  • Earthing system design
  • Substation LVAC and DC system design
  • Production and issue of high-quality design deliverables
• Commissioning Support
  • Respond to construction and commissioning queries
  • Attend workshops, design reviews, and site meetings
  • Resolve technical issues while considering commercial impacts
• Project Leadership
  • Ensure understanding of project scope and deliverables
  • Coordinate multi-disciplinary design interfaces
  • Conduct design reviews and maintain quality against contract and programme requirements
  • Act as key client interface, leading progress meetings and workshops
• Additional Skills & Duties
  • Provide significant input during bid stage (resourcing, capability statements, methodologies, programmes)
  • Help build and develop the electrical design team
  • Oversee technical management and resolve design challenges

Candidate Specification

Essential:

• Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering
• Professional registration: Chartered Engineer (or equivalent status)
• Extensive experience in electrical project engineering
• Strong knowledge of 11kV–33kV network design, substation design and HV/LV systems
• Proven understanding of control and protection schemes (including G99)
• Experience producing tender specifications, calculations, designs and drawings
• Ability to lead engineering projects from early design to commissioning
• Strong communication skills (written, verbal, stakeholder engagement)
• Ability to manage interfaces across multi disciplinary design teams
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications
• Knowledge of DNO/TSO standards and regulations at all distribution and transmission voltage levels
• Experience mentoring junior engineers or developing teams

Desirable:

• Experience across renewable power generation, net zero energy solutions and estate master planning
• Exposure to aviation, data centres, healthcare, nuclear or defence sectors
• Experience delivering commissioning support and resolving on site technical challenges
• Previous involvement in bid preparation and proposal writing
• Willingness to travel internationally when required

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Agile working  

At Mott MacDonald, we believe it makes business sense for you and your manager to choose how you can work most effectively to meet your client, team, and personal commitments. We offer a hybrid working policy that embraces your well-being, flexibility, and trust.

Equality, diversity, and inclusion 

We put equality, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of our business, seeking to promote fair employment procedures and practices to ensure equal opportunities for all. We encourage individual expression in our workplace and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels they can contribute.

Accessibility

We want you to perform your best at every stage in the recruitment process. If you are disabled or need any support to enable you to apply or attend an interview, please contact us at [email protected] and we will talk to you about how we can support you.

We offer some fantastic benefits including:

Financial wellbeing

• We match employee pension contributions between 4.5% and 7%.
• Life assurance equal up to 4 x your basic salary, with an option to increase the level of cover to 6 x your salary.
• Our income protection scheme provides a financial benefit, as well as absence and return to work support due to long-term illness or injury.
• Flexible benefits, including increased life assurance cover, critical illness insurance, payroll saving and will writing.
• As an independently owned business we share the financial success of the business with all our colleagues in various ways including annual bonus schemes.

Employee Ownership

• Our employee ownership model means no external investors, just us, creating a culture of shared success.
• Our employees have a stake and a voice in our business, giving them a direct connection to our success through our personal and group performance bonuses.
• As your career grows, so does your stake, recognising your long-term impact and contribution.
• Your voice matters, with the opportunity to connect directly with senior leadership through formal channels to help shape our future.

Health and wellbeing

• Private medical insurance for all UK colleagues.
• Health cash plan to support you with every day health costs and treatments.
• Access to Peppy, providing free support from menopause experts for all UK colleagues.
• A variety of wellbeing support is available through our comprehensive wellbeing program, including access for you and your family.
• Ability to flex your salary to opt into a wide range of health benefits, many of which can be extended to your family too.

Lifestyle

• A minimum of 33-35 days holiday each year, inclusive of public holidays and dependent on level, with the ability to buy or sell leave through our flexible benefits programme.
• Holiday entitlement increased to a minimum of 35 days after 5 years’ service.
• Variety of employee saving schemes and discounts from high-street retailers.

 Enhanced family and carers leave

• Enhanced family leave policies, including 26 weeks paid maternity and adoption leave, and two weeks paid paternity/partner leave.
• Our shared parental leave matches maternity leave meaning we pay up to 24 weeks at full pay.
• Up to five additional days leave are provided for those with significant caring responsibilities, two of which are paid.

Learning and development

• Primary annual professional institution subscription.
• A broad range of opportunities to enhance both technical and soft skills through mentoring, formal training, and self-development options.

Networks, communities, and social outcomes

• Join a wide range of groups including our Advanced Employee Networks which support our LGBTQ+, gender, race and ethnicity, disability, and parents/carers communities.

Apply now, or for more information about our application process, click here.