Lead Principal Civil Engineer

Lead Principal Civil Engineer – SSEN Transmission

Base location: Perth, Glasgow, Aberdeen or Inverness (Scotland).

Salary: £78,400 – £117,600 + car/car allowance + performance‑related bonus + a range of benefits.

Working pattern: Permanent, Full‑time (Part‑time options available), Flexible – First options available.

This isn’t just a job—it’s an opportunity to shape the future of civil engineering at a pivotal time for SSEN Transmission. As we deliver some of the UK’s most ambitious infrastructure projects and accelerate towards Net Zero, we’re looking for a collaborative, inspiring leader to join our Transmission Project Engineering team.

• Provide technical leadership and accountability for all civil engineering projects, ensuring solutions meet business, regulatory and safety requirements.
• Guide and nurture a team of specialist engineers, fostering a supportive and inclusive culture and encouraging career growth.
• Oversee and coordinate resolution of technical issues, applying collaborative problem‑solving and thoughtful thinking across projects and work streams.
• Promote health, safety and environmental excellence, ensuring compliance with CDM, ESQCR and SSEN standards.
• Drive innovation by encouraging creativity and continuous improvement, implementing enhancements and engaging with industry forums to shape best practice.

• A proven track record of delivering complex civil engineering projects and developing people.
• A degree in an appropriate engineering discipline with Chartered Engineer status (or equivalent) preferred.
• Deep technical knowledge of civil engineering, relevant legislation (including CDM & ESQCR) and industry standards.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build trust and simplify complex ideas.
• Strong problem‑solving ability, collaborative decision‑making skills and a passion for supporting the growth of others.

SSE has a bold ambition – to be a leading energy company in a net zero world. We’re investing around £10 million a day in home‑grown energy to help power a cleaner, more secure future.

SSEN Transmission owns and operates the electricity transmission network across the north of Scotland. We transport energy from where it is generated to where it is needed, ensuring a safe and reliable supply for the communities we serve, while upgrading the grid to deliver cleaner, home‑grown energy.

Enjoy discounts on private healthcare and gym memberships, wellbeing benefits such as a free online GP and 24/7 counselling service, interest‑free loans on tech and seasonal tickets, a Cycle‑to‑Work scheme and generous family entitlements such as maternity and adoption pay, and paternity leave.

SSE will make any reasonable adjustments you need to ensure that your application and experience with us is positive. Please contact Shirley‑Anne O’Connor at shirley‑anne.o’ or 01738 351 976 to discuss how we can support you.

We’re dedicated to fostering an open and inclusive workplace where people from all backgrounds can thrive. We create equal opportunities for everyone to succeed and especially welcome applications from those who may not be well represented in our workforce or industry.

Start your online application using the Apply Now box on this page. We only accept applications made online. We’ll be in touch after the closing date to let you know if we’ll be taking your application further. If you’re offered a role with SSE you will need to complete a criminality check and a credit check before you start work.