Lead System Engineer

About us

At National Grid, we keep people connected and society moving. But it’s so much more than that. National Grid provides the environment to make it happen. As we build momentum in the energy transition for all, we don’t plan on leaving any of our customers in the dark. So, join us as a Lead Systems Engineer, and find your superpower.

National Grid is hiring a Lead Systems Engineer to join our Technology team. This role can be based at our Warwick, Bristol, or Cardiff offices and operates under a hybrid working model.

You’ll play a key role in leading the design and delivery of secure, scalable systems and platforms that support critical operations across our enterprise.

About The Role

Reporting to the Head of Systems Engineering, this is an exciting opportunity for a Lead Systems Engineer to take ownership of both technical delivery and team leadership within a dynamic, evolving environment.

In this role, you’ll lead and inspire a team of Systems Engineers, driving the design, implementation, and management of secure, scalable, and high-performing infrastructure and services across both cloud and on-premise environments. You’ll play a central role in enabling the wider technology and development teams by shaping the tools, platforms, and systems (SaaS and on-prem) that underpin critical business operations.

Beyond delivery, you’ll be a key voice in shaping system architecture and engineering standards, ensuring best practice is embedded throughout. You’ll proactively identify and reduce technical debt, helping to continuously improve the quality, performance, and resilience of our systems.
You’ll also be instrumental in driving successful project delivery, ensuring timelines are met, resources are effectively coordinated, and work aligns with broader strategic objectives. As a leader, you’ll take pride in developing your team—mentoring, coaching, and fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.

As a subject matter expert, you’ll champion Agile ways of working, model best practice, and play a key role in building a positive, inclusive, and high-performing culture across the Technology function.

What You'll Do

• Design and deliver scalable, high-performing solutions that not only meet today’s needs but support the organisation’s long-term strategic goals.
• Play a key role in shaping architecture decisions, ensuring solutions are robust, resilient, and built to the highest standards of performance, reliability, and reusability.
• Build modern infrastructure using Infrastructure as Code (IaC), bringing automation and consistency to everything we deploy.
• Configure and optimise core services across compute, storage, networking, and identity, ensuring seamless integration across environments.
• Champion and embed engineering best practice, setting clear standards and ensuring they are consistently followed across the team.
• Proactively identify and reduce technical debt, continuously improving the quality and efficiency of our platforms.
• Monitor and enhance large-scale, distributed systems, driving performance, reliability, and cost efficiency at scale.
• Lead the development of automation solutions and CI/CD pipelines, streamlining delivery and reducing manual effort.
• Ensure security is built in from the ground up, implementing robust controls and compliant solutions across all systems.
• Take the lead in resolving critical incidents, driving root cause analysis and implementing long-term fixes to prevent recurrence.
• Collaborate closely with teams across Engineering, QA, IT Operations, and Product to deliver aligned, high-quality solutions.
• Own delivery timelines, coordinating resources and driving projects through to successful completion.
• Create and maintain clear documentation to support knowledge sharing and continuous improvement.
• Lead, coach, and develop a team of Systems Engineers, building a high-performing, collaborative, and motivated team culture.
• Stay ahead of the curve by exploring emerging technologies and industry trends, bringing fresh ideas and innovation into the team.
• Work closely with third-party partners to ensure solutions are delivered to design, on time, and to the highest quality standards.
• Champion Agile ways of working (Scrum/Kanban), fostering a culture of adaptability, transparency, and continuous delivery.
• Act as a trusted deputy to the Head of Systems Engineering when required.
• Take ownership of your own growth and development, while actively managing risk and contributing to a safe, secure, and high-performing business environment.

About You

• Lead, inspire, and develop a high-performing cloud engineering team, bringing out the best in people through coaching, mentoring, and hands-on leadership.
• Act as a technical authority in cloud-first environments, shaping solutions and guiding teams through complex cloud engineering challenges with confidence and clarity.
• Bring deep, hands-on expertise across cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP), designing and operating scalable, secure, and highly available cloud-native solutions.
• Drive best practice in cloud infrastructure and Infrastructure as Code (IaC), using tools such as Terraform or CloudFormation alongside source control (e.g. Git) to enable automated, repeatable deployments.
• Champion cloud DevOps principles, with strong experience building and optimising CI/CD pipelines to accelerate delivery in cloud environments.
• Use scripting and automation (Python, Bash, PowerShell) to streamline operations and remove manual effort.
• Demonstrate a strong understanding of large-scale, distributed systems, including networking, storage, and compute—ensuring platforms are resilient, scalable, and efficient.
• Take the lead in troubleshooting complex issues, performing root cause analysis and delivering effective, long-term solutions.
• Embed security into everything you deliver, with knowledge of industry frameworks and compliance standards (e.g. ISO27001, NIST, GDPR).
• Leverage tools like Splunk, Grafana, or ELK to monitor performance, gain insights, and continuously improve system reliability.
• Influence and collaborate with a wide range of stakeholders, using excellent communication skills to translate complex ideas into clear outcomes.
• Lead architecture and solution design, ensuring systems are future-proof, scalable, and aligned to business goals.
• Proactively manage technical debt, driving sustainable, long-term platform health.
• Bring strong analytical and problem-solving skills, turning insight into action in fast-paced environments.
• Offer significant experience in engineering roles, with a proven track record in senior or leadership positions.
• Confidently manage complex projects, balancing priorities and delivering results in dynamic, evolving environments.

What You'll Get

• Competitive Salary: circa £70,000 – £84,000 per annum (based on capability, and experience)
• Annual performance incentive: Earn up to 30% of eligible earnings through our performance‑related bonus scheme
   

Additional benefits:

• 28 days’ holiday plus 8 statutory bank holidays, with the option to buy additional leave and swap up to 3 bank holidays to better fit your personal needs.
• A generous pension scheme with double matching up to 6% of your salary each month. For every £1 you contribute, we’ll contribute £2 — meaning a 6% personal contribution becomes an 18% total pension contribution.
• Life insurance cover of 10x your basic salary, plus employer contributions towards the cost of your Private Medical Insurance.
• Flexible benefits such as a cycle scheme, share incentive plan, technology schemes
• Access to apps such as digital GP service for round the clock access to GP video consultations and NHS repeat prescriptions, wellbeing app to support your health and fitness
• Access to Work + Family Space, providing support and resources for work and family life, including paid emergency childcare and eldercare
   

More Information

• This role is offered on a full time basis.
• This role can be based at our Warwick, Bristol, or Cardiff offices and operates under a hybrid working model.
• This role closes on 26th June however we strongly encourage candidates to submit their application as early as possible.
  
   

** 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. **

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Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

National Grid is an equal opportunity employer that values a broad diversity of talent, knowledge, experience and expertise.  We foster a culture of inclusion that drives employee engagement to deliver superior performance to the communities we serve.  National Grid is proud to be an affirmative action employer. We encourage minorities, women, individuals with disabilities and protected veterans to join the National Grid team.