Project Technical Lead

About The Role

Our work matters to millions. It’ll matter to you too. Join our Power Transmission and Distribution team as a Project Technical Lead on the Operational Team
based in Aberdeenshire and you’ll be a big part of fascinating, complex, varied and meaningful work. This project-based role provides overall leadership and accountability for the technical and engineering delivery of the Longside 400 kV & 132 kV Substation Project, ensuring compliance with SSEN standards, NEC3 requirements, and the project’s engineering, constructability, and delivery obligations. Responsible for ensuring that all technical interfaces are effectively managed in line with target programme and project priorities.

• Competitive salary, site allowances, company car, bonus and subsistence (subject to role T&Cs).
• The opportunity to play a defining technical leadership role on a nationally significant ASTI project.
• Career development within an award‑winning project management and engineering organisation.
• A clear pathway to lead increasingly complex and high‑profile infrastructure projects.
• A supportive, inclusive environment where your expertise is valued and your impact is visible.

You’ll be employed as a Senior Project Manager on the Accelerated Strategic Transmission Infrastructure (ASTI) appointed to a flagship 400 kV substation project, leading a team of dedicated professionals through design and into construction.

• Lead and manage the entire engineering and design function for the project, ensuring all deliverables are right‑first‑time, coordinated and programme‑driven.
• Act as Design Authority at project level, providing clear technical direction and governance across all disciplines.
• Ensure all designs are constructable, sequenced and fully aligned with construction methodology, logistics, access constraints and site conditions.
• Drive early identification and resolution of technical risks, constraints and interdependencies.
• Ensure all engineering and design deliverables are produced ahead of construction need dates, fully supporting the critical path.
• Integrate design with procurement strategies, ensuring long‑lead equipment, subcontract packages and supplier information requirements are embedded in the programme.
• Work closely with construction, planning and commercial teams to ensure design supports efficient delivery, cost certainty and programme optimisation.
• Maintain clear line‑of‑sight between design progress, procurement commitments and construction readiness.
• Ensure engineering outputs meet or exceed SSEN, statutory, safety and quality requirements.
• Lead internal and external design reviews, technical assurance and acceptance processes.
• Ensure all work is delivered with a clear focus on handover, certification and asset adoption.
• Provide authoritative technical leadership to a multi‑disciplinary team including designers, engineers, planners and supply chain partners.
• Build strong, trusted relationships with SSEN, designers, subcontractors and internal stakeholders.
• Prepare and present clear, decision‑ready technical and programme updates to senior stakeholders.
• Champion Zero Harm, engineering excellence, and a high‑performance culture across the project team.

• Proven experience leading engineering and design delivery on major power or utilities infrastructure projects.
• Strong understanding of substation design, construction sequencing and technical interfaces.
• Demonstrable experience integrating design, programme, procurement and construction.
• Credibility and confidence operating at client, director and supply‑chain leadership level.
• Commercial awareness and understanding of how design decisions impact cost, risk and programme.
• Strong working knowledge of NEC contracts and technical governance processes.
• Recognised Project Management qualification.
• Recognised and relevant Engineering qualification.

• Company DC pension scheme up to 5% EEs & 7% ERs
• Wellbeing sessions – non‑work‑related activities such as walking, doing house duties, etc.
• Opportunity to join into the company SIP…