Innovation Engineer

At National Grid, we light up the world by harnessing the unique strengths of our people. Join us as a Innovation Engineer to be part of a team that's driving forward the energy transition, creating a brighter, more sustainable future for all. Unleash your superpower and bring energy to life.

National Grid is hiring a Innovation Engineer - This position is based from our Deeside North Wales office however we offer flexible hybrid working options.

The Innovation Engineer plays a key role in supporting the development, delivery and deployment of innovation across National Grid Electricity Transmission. This role is responsible for developing and managing high profile innovation projects that will be proven for deployment onto the network at the Deeside Centre for Innovation.

The role manages innovation activity within high profile projects at the ‘first of its kind’ in Europe HV testing facility, working with internal stakeholders, suppliers, academics, innovators and industry partners to develop solutions through trials, demonstrations and adoption into business-as-usual operations. This includes supporting innovation strategies, undertaking technical research, managing projects, and ensuring outputs are aligned to operational, commercial, customer and regulatory priorities.

The Innovation Engineer acts as an important interface between the innovation function and the wider business, helping to translate technical challenges into well-defined innovation opportunities and ensuring that projects are delivered with clear objectives, robust governance, and practical routes to implementation.

• Manage strategic innovation projects to be tested at the Deeside Centre for Innovation demonstrating capabilities to the industry ahead of deployment.
• Support the delivery of innovation strategies across relevant technical and business areas, ensuring activity is aligned to NGET’s strategic priorities and future network needs.
• Track project progress, risks, issues, benefits and deliverables, escalating where appropriate and ensuring delivery remains aligned to scope, budget and timing expectations.

Technical Research, Development and Demonstration

• Analyse technology trends, network challenges, supplier capability and industry developments to identify opportunities for new innovation projects.
• Contribute to innovation activity across relevant disciplines, which may include overhead lines, underground and offshore cable technologies, substations and their assets, protection & control systems, power systems and power electronics, civils and construction methods, customer connections and related transmission technologies.
• Ensure learning from innovation projects is captured, shared and translated into practical recommendations for the business.

Stakeholder, Supplier and Partner Management

• Engage with suppliers, innovators, universities, industry bodies and external partners to develop and deliver innovation projects.
• Support the sourcing, assessment and development of external innovation opportunities, ensuring alignment with business needs and strategic priorities.
• Manage supplier and partner contributions to innovation projects, ensuring outputs are delivered to the required quality, scope and timescales.

Business Adoption and Value Delivery

• Support the development of benefits cases and value assessments for innovation projects, including technical, commercial, customer, environmental and operational benefits. Support business case and data requirements for innovation incentives.
• Identify barriers to adoption and work with stakeholders to develop practical implementation plans.
• Demonstrate the value of innovation through clear reporting, evidence gathering and communication of project outcomes.

Governance, Commercial and Financial Management

• Deliver projects in line with innovation governance requirements, internal processes and relevant funding requirements.
• Support effective project and portfolio reporting, including updates on progress, risks, milestones, benefits, budgets and outcomes.
• Manage project budgets and forecasts for assigned innovation activity, ensuring appropriate financial control and alignment with approved funding.
• Maintain accurate project records, documentation and evidence to support reporting, assurance and audit requirements.

Innovation Culture and Capability Development

• Champion innovation across NGET by promoting curiosity, creativity and continuous improvement.
• Support the development of an innovation culture by engaging with business teams, sharing learning and encouraging colleagues to identify new opportunities.
• Contribute to internal communications, briefings, showcases and engagement activity that promotes innovation outcomes and future opportunities.
• Support colleagues and junior team members by sharing technical knowl

Interpersonal and Leadership

• Strong stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to work effectively across technical, commercial, operational and external partner…