Senior Engineering Manager - Digital Substations; IEC

Senior Engineering Manager - Digital Substations (IEC 6185)

Vacancy title Senior Engineering Manager - Digital Substations (IEC 6185) Function(s) Engineering Contract type Full time permanent Region North West England Location(s) Warrington, England Description

Senior Engineering Manager (Digital Substations)

Warrington

Talented people are the key to our success.

We are seeking an experienced and driven Senior Engineering Manager (Digital Substations) to join our team on the PTC1–PTNO Framework, supporting the delivery of a portfolio of complex, high‑profile schemes for a major regulated client within the UK utilities and energy sector.

This is a pivotal leadership role within the business, offering the opportunity to operate at senior project level and make a meaningful contribution to the delivery of nationally significant infrastructure. Reporting to the Project Director, you will play a key role in shaping successful project outcomes within a large‑scale, multi‑disciplinary delivery environment.

The role supports a major infrastructure programme delivered through a complex supply chain, requiring strong leadership, long‑term continuity, and consistency of delivery. It offers an excellent opportunity for an experienced professional looking to further develop their career within a leading infrastructure organisation.

• Lead the engineering delivery of Digital and Hybrid Substation projects (132kV–400kV), managing multidisciplinary teams across primary plant, protection and control, telecommunications, and SCADA.
• Ensure engineering solutions are not only technically robust but practical, safe, and deliverable on site, aligning design intent with construction and commissioning requirements.
• Define, develop, and manage IEC 61850‑based system architectures, including station bus (GOOSE, MMS) and process bus (Sampled Values, merging units), supporting informed decisions between digital, hybrid, and conventional substation solutions.
• Take a lead role in system integration, coordinating protection and control systems, SCADA, HMI, and communications networks across complex multi‑vendor environments.
• Manage interfaces between OEMs (including Siemens and GE), system integrators, and design consultancies, ensuring interoperability and reliable end‑to‑end system performance.
• Own the testing and commissioning strategy, covering Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT), System Integration Testing (SIT), and Site Acceptance Testing (SAT).
• Ensure the correct validation of IEC 61850 configurations, including GOOSE messaging, Sampled Values, and SCD/CID files, managing risks associated with system‑level testing in digital substation environments.
• Ensure compliance with IEC 61850 (Edition 2 or later), IEC 62351 cyber security requirements, and relevant UK standards including National Grid TS 3.24.025 and TS 3.24.101, supporting Type Registration and client approval processes.
• Proactively manage engineering and delivery risks, including system integration complexity, multi‑vendor interoperability challenges, and commissioning constraints.
• Provide clear and authoritative technical input into programme planning, cost management, and overall delivery strategy.
• Function as the senior technical interface with clients and key stakeholders, communicating complex technical concepts clearly and supporting bid development, technical submissions, and early‑stage solution definition.

• Practical experience or strong working knowledge of testing and integration tools used in digital substations, including OMICRON systems (CMC, Station Scout, Test Universe).
• Experience using IEC 61850 engineering and configuration tools, such as HELINKS or equivalent platforms.
• A solid understanding of IEC 61850 communication and validation, including monitoring and testing of GOOSE messaging and Sampled Values.
• Familiarity with substation communication protocols, including IEC 60870‑5‑104 and DNP
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• Good working knowledge of substation network architectures, including Ethernet‑based systems, VLANs, PRP, and HSR for resilient communications.
• Strong appreciation of the challenges associated with system integration,…