Senior Primary Design Engineer

Department: OCU Design

Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time

Location: Ruislip

Reporting To: Gordon Learoyd

Location: Ruislip |
Contract Type: Permanent |
Working Pattern: Full-Time |
Office & Site Based

Pay / Benefits: Remuneration for this role is benchmarked competitively within our sector.

The Opportunity:

We are seeking an experienced Senior Electrical Design Engineer (Primary) to take technical ownership of safety‑critical primary plant designs for HV and EHV electricity network infrastructure projects across the UK. Working within a regulated Distribution Network Operator (DNO) environment, you will lead the development, review and assurance of compliant, safe and cost‑effective primary electrical designs.

Working closely with the Design Manager and multidisciplinary engineering teams, you will oversee primary design delivery from feasibility through to detailed design, coordinating with civil, protection and control, earthing and cable engineering disciplines. You will also act as a key technical interface with DNO design authorities, clients and construction teams, supporting technical approvals and successful project delivery.

With projects spanning 11kV to 132kV, including new substations, refurbishments and network reinforcements, this is an excellent opportunity for a technically strong engineer to lead complex designs, influence engineering standards and provide technical guidance to the wider team.

• Lead the development, review and assurance of HV and EHV primary electrical designs, ensuring compliance with DNO standards, ENA specifications, BS EN / IEC standards and industry best practice.
• Take technical ownership of primary layouts, single‑line diagrams, general arrangements, equipment schedules and interface drawings.
• Deliver safe, compliant and buildable designs, applying safety‑by‑design principles and addressing operational, maintenance and fault‑condition requirements.
• Undertake and review primary design assessments, including fault levels, equipment ratings, insulation coordination, electrical clearances and system configuration.
• Liaise with DNO design authorities, clients and project teams to secure technical approvals, respond to design comments and support design submissions and departures.
• Coordinate with civil, protection and control, earthing and cable engineering teams to ensure designs are fully integrated across all disciplines.
• Provide technical support during procurement and construction, including reviewing manufacturer information, resolving technical queries and attending site when required.
• Maintain technical governance and compliance with statutory regulations, DNO specifications and CDM requirements, while contributing to continuous improvement and mentoring less experienced engineers.

• Degree qualified in Electrical Engineering or a related discipline, with Chartered Engineer (CEng) status or actively working towards chartership.
• Significant experience delivering HV and EHV primary electrical designs for UK electricity network projects, ideally within a DNO environment.
• Strong technical knowledge of primary plant design, including GIS and AIS switch gear, power transformers, circuit breakers, disconnectors, busbar systems, equipment ratings, clearances and insulation coordination.
• Proven ability to produce and review primary layouts, single‑line diagrams, design reports and technical schedules, with a strong understanding of ENA, BS EN, IEC and DNO‑specific standards.
• Excellent technical communication and stakeholder management skills, with a safety‑first mindset and the ability to take ownership of complex designs, coordinate multidisciplinary teams and manage competing project priorities.