Principle Design Engineer
About the role
Lead the engineering decisions that keep the UK's energy future moving.
At National Grid, we're at the heart of the energy transition, connecting millions of people and businesses to the power they rely on every day.
As a Principal Engineer, you'll provide technical leadership across major construction programmes, ensuring projects are safe, buildable, operable and successfully delivered from concept through to commissioning.
This is a high-impact role where you'll influence critical infrastructure projects, bringing your site expertise, engineering judgement and operational awareness to some of the most complex challenges in the energy sector.
The role is hybrid and can either be based from our warwick office or in Ashford, Sellindge depending on your location.
What you'll do
As the technical lead for construction delivery, you'll act as the bridge between Project Managers, engineers, Operations, planners, Design Assurance teams and external suppliers, ensuring technical decisions support successful project outcomes.
You'll:
- Provide senior technical leadership throughout the project lifecycle, from development and design through to construction, commissioning and handover.
- Challenge and influence designs to ensure they are safe, practical to construct, maintainable and operationally effective.
- Review technical specifications, standards, testing requirements and tender documentation, identifying risks and gaps before delivery begins.
- Support supplier selection by assessing technical compliance, constructability and commissioning approaches.
- Lead technical input into outage planning, commissioning activities, switching interfaces and work sequencing.
- Ensure engineering changes are effectively managed, with appropriate governance, approvals and stakeholder engagement.
- Identify programme dependencies, technical risks and opportunities, helping optimise construction activities and outages.
- Support and mentor engineers across project and development teams, sharing knowledge and reducing avoidable rework.
What you'll need
We're looking for an experienced engineering leader who can combine technical excellence with a practical understanding of construction and operational environments.
You'll have:
- Significant engineering experience within electrical transmission, power, interconnector or other major infrastructure environments.
- Strong knowledge of asset design, construction methodologies, testing, commissioning and operational interfaces.
- Experience reviewing designs, drawings, specifications and engineering standards, with the ability to identify technical risks and ambiguities.
- A deep understanding of constructability, safe systems of work, outage management and energisation requirements.
- The confidence to challenge constructively, influence senior stakeholders and drive evidence-based decision making.
- Excellent communication skills and the ability to translate complex technical issues into clear, actionable recommendations.
- A collaborative approach, with the ability to bring together multiple teams to solve technical challenges and deliver successful outcomes.
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What you'll get
A competitive salary between £64,242.00 - £76,014.50 per annum– dependent on capability.
As well as your base salary, you will receive a bonus based on personal and company performance and a competitive contributory pension scheme where we will double match your contribution to a maximum company contribution of 12%. You will also have access to a number of flexible benefits such as a share incentive plan, salary sacrifice car and technology schemes, support via employee assistance lines and matched charity giving to name a few.
More Information
This role closes on 27th October 2026 at 23:59, however we encourage candidates to submit their application as early as possible and not wait until the published closing date as this can vary.
We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace for all. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates – we make appointments purely on merit, assessed against objective selection criteria. We support flexible working and will make reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process should you have any physical or mental impairment which may affect your ability to participate in the process.
Please note that in most cases, National Grid is unable to offer sponsorship for employment under the UK points-based immigration system. As such, applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK without requiring sponsorship now or in the future under the UK points-based immigration system. However, in exceptional circumstances where there is a clear and demonstrable need for specialist skills that cannot be sourced from the local labour market, National Grid may consider offering sponsorship. All applications are welcome from candidates who meet these requirements, regardless of race, nationality, or ethnic origin.