Electrical/Cyber Design Assurance Trainee

Ready for a career change that really matters?

Join Our 18‑Month Design Assurance Training Programme

If you’re looking to change direction, apply your existing skills in a new way, or move into a purpose‑driven engineering role, this programme is built with you in mind.

National Grid’s Design Assurance Training Programme is an 18‑month, fully supported route into a permanent Design Assurance Engineer role—designed for people who may not have followed a traditional graduate pathway, but bring valuable experience, curiosity, and a desire to learn. A cover letter is required with your application. This is your opportunity to tell us why you’re changing career and what you bring from your previous experience. There is a lot of information in this advert please read it all or save it for later.

Why Design Assurance? A career with purpose and Stability

Almost every unit of electricity used in England and Wales passes through National Grid’s high‑voltage transmission network. Our role is to ensure that network is safe, resilient, and future‑ready.

Design Assurance Engineers act as independent technical experts—reviewing and assuring engineering designs so that assets are built right first time. It’s a role that blends engineering judgement, problem‑solving, risk awareness, and stakeholder engagement.

This makes it a strong fit for people transitioning from backgrounds such as:

• Engineering, manufacturing, construction, utilities, rail, or defence
• Technical operations, maintenance, or field‑based roles
• Project, programme, or contract management
• Military or MOD environments
• Experienced technicians moving into professional engineering

What you’ll be working On

As a Design Assurance Trainee, you’ll contribute to nationally significant infrastructure projects, including:

• Keeping asset risk stable while the network expands
• Upgrading around 10% of National Grid substations
• Delivering approximately 1,100 km of new circuits
• Upgrading around 3,500 km of overhead lines
• Ensuring all sites are resilient by design
• Supporting a network that delivers 99.9999% reliability
• Helping to nearly double the power that can flow across the UK

You won’t be expected to know everything from day one—this programme exists to teach you.

A Training Programme designed for career changers

Structured, Supported Learning

The programme follows the proven 70/20/10 learning model, combining:

• Hands‑on, on‑the‑job experience
• Structured mentoring from experienced engineers
• Formal classroom and eLearning modules

Over 18 months, you will:

• Build core knowledge of electricity transmission and asset assurance
• Learn how to review and challenge designs safely and confidently
• Develop professional engineering judgement
• Compile a portfolio of evidence supporting Chartered Engineer progression
• Work towards BP141 Authorised Engineer status

This is not a sink‑or‑swim scheme. You’ll be supported to succeed.

Real Impact, Not Just Theory

Design Assurance Engineers are the “eyes and ears” of major infrastructure projects. You’ll learn how to:

• Assure that designs are safe, compliant, and fit for purpose.
• Support delivery teams and engineering projects.
• Investigate incidents, faults, or emerging risks.
• Ask the right technical questions and challenge constructively.

Your decisions will directly protect the resilience of the UK’s electricity system.

Where This Can Take You

On successful completion, you’ll be well placed to move into a permanent Design Assurance Engineer role at National Grid.

This is a long‑term career with:

• Clear progression routes.
• Recognised professional authorisations.
• Strong demand as the UK transitions to Net Zero.
• Stability in a critical national infrastructure organisation.

Training Pathways – Choose a Direction That Fits You

We have 12 roles across specialist disciplines full details of each discipline are available on the Design Assurance Engineering Programme webpage. Design Assurance Engineering Programme | National Grid Careers. You’ll be asked to select a pathway that best matches your experience to date and future aspirations.

Pathway 1

• High Voltage Plant
• Low Voltage Alternating Current (LVAC)
• High Voltage Cables
• Overhead Lines

Pathway 2

• High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC)
• Protection
• Flexible AC Transmission Systems (FACTS)
• Substation Control Systems
• Cyber

You don’t need prior experience in all of these—just a solid foundation and willingness to learn.

Locations

You should ideally live within one hour’s travel of our Asset Management hubs:

• Leeds, West Yorkshire
• Warwick, Warwickshire
• Addlestone, Surrey
• Bristol, Avon

Who this Programme is for

We welcome applications from career changers and experienced professionals.

You may be suitable if you have either:

• Degree in engineering, electrical /electronics (Telecommunications, Instrumentation, Automation for a cyber role), appropriate to the discipline chosen and relevant work experience, examples of which could include, but are not limited to;
• providing detailed engineering support for project design and delivery,
• authoring, developing, advising on, implementing and maintaining procedures,
• managing external contracts, contractor and stakeholder relationships,
• programme/project management, technical investigations,
• delivery of capital infrastructure projects/programmes.

Or;

• Qualified by experience – e.g. HND/HNC, as per relevant Engineering institution (Engineering Council - Home Page) indicative timescales/qualifications. E.g. significant experience in successfully delivering Feasibility Assessments, Engineering Design, Optioneering, Design Review, managing contractors, managing processes, managing Technical Deviations, Electricity Transmission Experience.

And

• A full driving licence (can drive unaccompanied).
• Flexibility to travel and stay overnight when required.
• Availability to start on 28 September 2026.
• Right to work in the UK (no visa sponsorship available).
• Can commit to an 18 Months Fixed Term Contract.

Pay and Benefits – Supporting Your Transition

• £39,000 starting salary (Subject to ongoing negotiations)
• Up to £47,442 on successful completion
• £2,000 welcome payment to support your move into the role
• £2,400 completion payment at the end of the scheme
• Company car (mandatory due to travel requirements)
• Pension contributions up to 6%, Company up to 12%, totalling up to 18%
• 26 days’ annual leave + 8 bank holidays, with buy/sell options
• Professionally recognised qualifications (e.g. IOSH, NEBOSH)

Advert closes: 01/05/2026
Assessment Centres: Week commencing 08/06/2026
Location: National Grid Training Centre, Eakring, Nottinghamshire

Why Apply?

This is not just a training programme—it’s a supported, credible route into a long‑term engineering career that genuinely makes a difference. If you’re ready to change direction, apply your experience in a new way, and help power the future of the UK, we’d love to hear from you.

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