Project Lead Engineer

The Project Lead Engineer (Mechanical or Electrical) will lead discipline specific engineering activities across a diverse project portfolio (~1GW) of utility‑scale energy assets, including but not limited to gas peaking plants, grid‑scale solar, battery energy storage systems (BESS), and synchronous condensers. The role provides technical leadership from early‑stage project development through FEED, detailed design, construction, commissioning, and handover. Working closely with project teams, contractors, and external stakeholders, the role ensures engineering excellence, robust governance, and compliance with Centrica Power standards, specifications, and regulatory requirements.

The Project Lead Engineer plays a key role in ensuring safe, compliant, and optimised engineering design and delivery across the portfolio with a current focus on UK & Ireland. The role can be aligned to a Centrica UK & Ireland office with travel required in UK & Ireland for team meetings and site visits. Office locations include Cork, Dublin, Glasgow, Hull, Leeds, Leicester, and Reading (very soon).

• Provide technical oversight and assurance across all project phases: development, FEED, detailed design, construction, commissioning, and handover to O&M Review.
• Coordinate and assure discipline specific engineering deliverables produced by EPCs, OEMs, and consultants (include designs, specifications, studies, and calculations).
• Ensure compliance with discipline specific standards, specifications, and regulatory requirements, in line with Centrica Power governance.
• Identify, assess, and manage technical risks and deviations from standards, ensuring appropriate mitigation and governance.
• Lead the coordination of engineering technical interfaces between project stakeholders, including EPC contractors, OEMs, TSO/DNO representatives, and engineering consultancies, ensuring effective integration and issue resolution.
• Constructively challenge the technical design(s) to ensure the optimum solution has been chosen and is being effectively delivered.
• Contribute to procurement activities, including technical evaluations, tender development, and contractor/supplier selection (EPC, OEM, consultants).
• Act as a key interface between internal teams and external stakeholders to ensure alignment and delivery certainty.
• Champion engineering best practice, continuous improvement, and lessons learned, promoting consistent and high‑quality engineering outcomes across the portfolio.
• Support capability development within the engineering function, including mentoring and development of project engineers and graduates.

• Strong technical knowledge in either mechanical or electrical engineering systems associated with utility‑scale energy assets (e.g. turbo machinery, balance of plant, HV/LV systems, protection & control, grid interfaces).
• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering or a related discipline.
• Understanding of relevant mechanical or electrical codes, standards, and legislation.
• Demonstrable experience delivering utility‑scale power generation or renewable energy projects from a mechanical or electrical engineering background.
• Experience operating in a lead engineering role on complex infrastructure projects.
• Proven track record in engineering design and construction delivery within contractor or consultancy environments.
• Strong project management capability, including managing multiple concurrent work streams.
• Effective stakeholder engagement and communication skills across technical and non‑technical audiences.
• Commercial awareness with the ability to challenge designs, assumptions, and supplier proposals.
• Proactive, solutions‑focused mindset with strong risk awareness.
• Commitment to continuous improvement, innovation, and professional development.