Underground Cable Engineer

United Infrastructure is a dynamic and rapidly expanding business, focused on delivering critical infrastructure projects, across the utility and social infrastructure sectors.

Our team of highly skilled and hardworking specialists deliver innovative solutions to the complex challenges our clients face.

Our company is split into two business areas:

Utility Infrastructure –

Our team of Utility Infrastructure specialists design, build and maintain critical water, energy (gas), power and telecoms infrastructure, for the UK’s largest network owners and operators. 

Social Infrastructure -

Our team of Social Infrastructure specialists revitalise homes and communities by carrying out a wide range of work, from retrofit to refurbishment, and maintenance.  

Equal Opportunities Statement - At United Infrastructure, we are committed to making every interaction a positive and inclusive experience. If there is anything we can do to support you, remove barriers, or make the process more accessible, please let us know — we want this to be the best possible experience for you.

Underground Cable Designer

Location
UK Wide

Permanent, Full Time

Experience Level
Intermediate Designer, 3–5 years’ experience

Voltage Range
66kV–400kV

Reporting To
Senior / Lead Cable Designer

Business

United Infrastructure Power T&D Limited

Role Overview

United Infrastructure Power T&D is looking for an Underground Cable Designer to join our growing cable engineering team, supporting the design and delivery of 66kV–400kV underground cable projects from feasibility through to detailed design and construction support.

You will work as part of a multidisciplinary team delivering projects for major UK transmission and distribution network operators, including SSE, SPEN, NGED and National Grid.

This role would suit a designer with a few years of HV/EHV cable experience who is looking to develop further within a major EPC environment.

Key Responsibilities

Cable System Design

• Prepare and check cable route drawings, installation details, joint bay arrangements and sealing end compound layouts
• Carry out cable rating and thermal analysis using software such as CYMCAP, ETAP or equivalent
• Support cable system calculations including short-circuit ratings, sheath voltage limiter sizing and cross-bonding design
• Assist with impressed voltage and interference studies for third-party assets
• Produce and check cable schedules, drum schedules and jointing schedules
• Support feasibility studies and option assessments for new-build, replacement and refurbishment schemes

Civil & Installation Design

• Support the preparation of trench cross-sections, duct arrangement drawings, joint bay details and reinstatement drawings
• Assist with the review of ground investigation and geotechnical information
• Prepare route survey information for incorporation into design drawings
• Support HDD and other trenchless crossing design packages for roads and watercourses

Project Delivery

• Work within multidisciplinary teams to deliver designs to programme and budget
• Attend and contribute to client design reviews
• Maintain design deliverables within relevant document control systems
• Support construction teams during installation and commissioning, including site visits and RFI responses
• Assist with method statements, Inspection and Test Plans and construction risk assessments

Quality & Safety

• Work in accordance with the company Quality Management System and project-specific Design Quality Plans
• Apply safe-by-design principles in line with CDM 2015
• Support the preparation and maintenance of Designers Risk Assessments
• Ensure design outputs comply with relevant ENA specifications and client standards

What We’re Looking For

Essential

• Degree in Electrical, Electronic, Civil or Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent
• Around 3+ years’ underground cable design experience
• Exposure to HV/EHV cable systems at 33kV and above
• Working knowledge of cable rating, thermal analysis and sheath bonding arrangements
• Familiarity with relevant standards including ENA TS 09-09, ENA TS 41-24, BS EN 50443 and IEC 60287
• Ability to produce and check engineering drawings and calculations
• Good communication skills and the ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary team
• Full UK driving licence

Desirable

• Experience working on underground cable projects for UK DNOs or National Grid
• Exposure to 132kV or 400kV cable schemes
• Experience using CYMCAP or equivalent cable rating software
• Familiarity with HDD and trenchless technology design
• Experience with impressed voltage or electromagnetic interference studies
• Familiarity with Oracle or ProjectWise document management systems
• Working towards IEng or CEng registration with a relevant professional body such as the IET or ICE

What We Offer

• Competitive salary based on experience
• Hybrid working
• Structured career development towards Senior Cable Designer level
• Professional membership and chartership support
• Company pension scheme
• 25 days’ annual leave plus Bank Holidays

Join us at United Infrastructure and be part of our mission to deliver innovative and sustainable solutions to the complex infrastructure needs of the UK.