Principal Engineer

Principal Engineer - Substations
Blantyre
Salary starting from £70,800 to £88,500

Plus up to 20% annual bonus, Family Cover Healthcare and Car Allowance

Permanent/Hybrid

Closing Date: 01/11/2026

Help us create a better future, quicker!

At SP Energy Networks, we’re building the electricity network of the future. Through technology, innovation and major investment in our transmission network, we’re helping enable the transition to a cleaner, more sustainable energy system.

Our Strategic Projects team is at the heart of this transformation, delivering the critical infrastructure needed to support Scotland and the UK’s future energy ambitions.

What you’ll be doing

SP Energy Networks is recruiting a Principal Engineer to join the SP Transmission Strategic Projects team, leading the engineering design of transmission substations across our Strategic Projects portfolio.

You’ll provide technical leadership and oversight of substation design and engineering outputs, working closely with EPC contractors, OEMs and internal engineering teams to ensure designs are safe, innovative, compliant and deliverable.

• Lead the engineering design delivery of 33kV to 400kV transmission substations, establishing a consistent design strategy and approach across Strategic Projects.
• Lead pre-contract technical design, including main plant, auxiliary systems, switchgear, transformers, reactive power equipment, specifications and feasibility layouts.
• Act as the key technical interface with EPC contractors and OEM partners, ensuring high-quality and standardised design deliverables.
• Provide technical leadership and support to Project Development and Project Delivery teams throughout the design, construction and operation of transmission substations.
• Lead and support engineers undertaking technical assurance of EPC design submissions, ensuring alignment with SPT standards, policies and operational requirements.
• Lead engineering reviews, governance, assurance and approval of design calculations, models, reports and regulatory submissions.
• Engage with EPC contractors early in the design process to improve constructability and reduce delivery risk.
• Manage engineering interfaces with Asset Management, Engineering Standards, Network Planning and other technical teams.
• Collaborate with Principal Engineers, Section Heads and industry specialists to share expertise and resolve complex engineering challenges.
• Lead technical innovation across Strategic Projects, including BIM, new engineering tools, systems and contractor-led solutions.
• Represent SPT Strategic Projects on technical matters with senior industry, regulatory and external stakeholders.
• Develop and champion advanced engineering solutions that support the accelerated delivery of Strategic Projects.

What you’ll bring

• Expert knowledge and proven experience in the design of 33kV to 400kV substations and associated plant.
• Strong understanding of transmission network health, safety, technical and compliance requirements.
• Proven experience delivering engineering outputs within a complex, fast-paced project environment.
• Strong technical leadership skills, with experience managing or supporting engineering teams.
• Experience working across internal teams, EPC contractors, OEMs and other external stakeholders.
• Ability to make sound engineering decisions where information may be incomplete or requirements are evolving.
• Strong communication, influencing and presentation skills, with the ability to use engineering analysis to support senior-level decisions.
• A collaborative approach with the ability to drive technical improvement and transformational change.

As a minimum, you will demonstrate:

• Degree-level engineering qualification (BSc/BEng) and/or relevant postgraduate qualification (MEng/MSc) or equivalent relevant experience. Chartered Engineer status is preferred.
• Experience working within an engineering/EPC environment, supporting multiple large-scale strategic projects.
• Minimum 10 years’ experience in electrical transmission substation design, including at least 5 years in a leadership role.
• Demonstrable experience of transmission substation and plant engineering.
• Excellent leadership, communication and stakeholder-management skills.

What’s in it for you

As well as a competitive salary which is reviewed annually, you can also enjoy a number of other benefits. With our pension scheme, we’ll double match your contribution up to a company contribution of 10%. 

At ScottishPower, we believe it’s the little things we do in life that make a big difference. From helping you look after your family’s wellbeing, save for your future and take personal steps for climate action – our benefits are designed to help you do just that -  so that you have everything you need to take care of your world – today and tomorrow. That’s why our benefits include:

• 36 days annual leave
• Holiday purchase – perfect your work/life balance with extra annual leave
• Share Incentive Plan and Sharesave Scheme
• Payroll giving and charity matched funding
• Technology Vouchers – save more and spread the cost of your technology purposes
• Count us in – pledge to reduce carbon emissions and help fight climate change
• Electric Vehicle Schemes – to help you transition to green/clean driving
• Cycle to Work scheme and public transport season ticket loans
• Options to purchase dental insurance, private medical insurance, health cash plan and annual health assessments
• Life Assurance (4x salary)
• Access to Savesmart financial wellbeing support
• Plus shopping, leisure, restaurant and gym discounts, and unique employee deals on travel insurance and more

Why SP Energy Networks

SP Energy Networks is part of the Iberdrola Group, one of the world’s largest integrated utility companies and a world leader in wind energy. We keep electricity flowing to homes and businesses through Central and Southern Scotland, North Wales and in the North West of England. We operate over 4000km of cables and lines that make-up the transmission network – connecting infrastructure like wind farms into the electricity system. It’s a role that puts us right at the heart of Scotland’s ambition to be Net Zero by 2044. And we’re taking it very seriously. We’re investing >£5.5 billion into our transmission network, directly supporting the rapid growth needed in renewable energy. With diverse opportunities across our businesses and a commitment to invest in our own internal talent, ScottishPower can offer people real career opportunities that meet personal and professional goals, in a global organisation.

Inclusion, diversity, and a social purpose are at the heart of everything we do. Together with our values, they bring us together into a stronger, more sustainable business with direct links to the communities we serve. It takes all kinds of people to build a large-scale business like ours, so whatever your background, you’ll fit right in.

We are committed to providing reasonable support or adjustments in our recruiting processes for candidates with disabilities, long term conditions, mental health conditions, or who are neurodivergent or require pregnancy-related support. If you need support, please reach out to [email protected].

Mobility

Please note that any applicant who is not a citizen of the country of the vacancy will be subject to compliance with the applicable immigration requirements to legally work in that country. If/when required, the Company will support the employee with the necessary Immigration requirements.

IMPORTANT 

Advert will close at 23:59 GMT the day before Job Posting End Date below