Senior Cable/Circuit Design Engineer

Job Purpose:

Production of circuit designs from a scope provided by Project Managers, Customers or the Design Lead and will include project costings to customer requirements for time, quality and budget. These schemes could be for APP and/or Connections (non-contestable and contestable) works, adhering to UK Power Networks design standards.

The Senior Circuit designer will liaise with the Project Manager, Electrical and Civil designers, PDC and Alliance members, ensuring compliance to design, CDM and relevant standards for the regulated network solutions for all APP and customer schemes.

The successful applicant shall be capable of satisfying the following general requirements:

• Producing Circuit Designs (below ground and in air) that can be constructed in compliance with standards and CDM requirements
• Produce effective designs, which conform to all relevant Codes of Practice and company and industry standards in conjunction with Electrical engineering works
• Oversee and contribute to the production of technical, commercial and contractual documents for procurement of engineering products
• Ensure compliance with all relevant legislation, regulations and company procedures.
• Compliance with design assurance and audit processes, both internally and for contestable designs.
• Supporting and mentoring Trainee/Graduate/Engineers to enhance their technical knowledge and experience.
• Comply with the requirements of the designer as determined by the CDM Regulations  
• Fulfil the role of Principal Designer for allocated schemes.

Principal Accountabilities:

• Provide an excellent service to the customer.
• Work as a Team Player in a dedicated team of Designers, Estimators and Planners.
• Liaise with the operational teams to ensure a smooth process from initial enquiry through to final connection and business closure.
• Comply with the requirements of the designer as determined by the CDM Regulations  
• Ensure design eliminates/reduces any hazards which may give rise to risks; and reduce risks from any remaining hazards (in conjunction with CDM)
• Ensure solutions provide sufficient information about aspects of the design of the network, its construction and maintenance as will adequately assist clients, the CDM team, other designers and contractors.
• Collaborate with UKPN designers.

Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications and Experience: 

• Civil/Circuit Engineering degree with proven relevant Cable/OHL and substation experience.
• Chartered engineer or working towards achieving Chartership.
• Circuit engineering background and extensive experience in EHV circuit design and construction works, ideally within Utility sector.
• Competence in resolving circuit network issues and ability to provide a sound understanding of company standards and policies and their application to this role. Awareness of current and technological developments in circuit / civil engineering.
• Ability to work with external engineering organisations and customers/stakeholders representing UKPN to best effect.
• A good safety culture and sound understanding of Construction Design and Management (CDM) Regulations and their application in this role including IOSH trained.
• Ability to work unsupervised, set and comply with own targets, identify and implement innovative cost saving solutions.
• Good team working skills
• A good level of business, environmental, safety, financial, and regulatory awareness.
• A general appreciation of financial reporting systems.
• Knowledge of the ISO 9001:2000 and ISO 14001 procedures relevant to the team’s activities.
• Extensive knowledge of Microsoft desktop applications, in particular: Word, Excel, Project and PowerPoint.
• Strong interpersonal skills and be competent in written and oral communications.
• Manage (not line manage) and communicate with the CAD team in order to produce design drawings suitable for construction.
• Experience of undertaking cable sizing/rating calculations for 11kV up to 132kV networks, for both solidly and cross bonded circuits (including de-rating aspects and short circuit loadings).
• Experience of undertaking cable pulling calculations for 11kV up to 132kV networks, in line with company standards.
• Experience in designing joint/pulling bays from 11kV up to 132kV.
• Experience in designing pilot/fibre cable routes, including splice chambers.
• Experience in terminations to indoor/outdoor switchgear/cable sealing ends.
• Experience in route proving, to determine the most cost effective and safest route install.
• Strong knowledge of AutoCAD (also Bentley software would be beneficial).
• Experience of directional drills and ability to advise/assure requirements accordingly.
• Excellent communication and organizational skills required, especially in relation to dealing with survey companies to obtain utility search information.
• Basic knowledge of power engineering plant and equipment i.e. Transformers, Switchgear, cables, protection schemes.
• Experience with producing Bills of Materials, particularly cable drum lengths, in coordination with pulling calculations.
• Liaise with Wayleaves and Consents to determine most feasible route.
• Input into innovative construction ideas and techniques, which feed into UK Power Networks Green Action Plan.
• Capable to sign off the designs.

Nature and Scope: 

Largely desk based, the post also requires to be able to visit operational sites, construction sites, site meetings, manufactures meetings (at their premisses) and internal review meetings.

UK Power Networks is committed to a policy of equality in its employment practices and values a workforce that is representative of the customers we serve and the communities in which we work. We consider our people to be crucial to achieving success. We believe that it is important for our employees to strike a sensible balance between work and life outside work and will consider requests for working arrangements under the Work-Life Solutions process. 

UK Power Networks is committed to securing the highest standards of health and safety at work and of care for the environment. Applicants will be expected to have an appropriate level of understanding of the arrangements for health, safety and the environment that apply to this business and are required for this vacancy.

Health & Safety:  

• Ensure all Health, Safety, Quality and Environmental requirements are considered
• Ensure safe working methods and systems are followed in the design
• Accept personal responsibility to meet and fulfil all UKPNS Health and Safety requirements.
• Mentor Engineer/Graduate/Trainee staff in all matters relating to Health and Safety aligned with their role. 
• Safety management qualification such as IOSH certificate or equivalent. 

Health & Safety Responsibilities

Managers and supervisors carry both legal and company responsibilities for ensuring the health and safety of their employees, those under their control and those who might be affected by the work undertaken, i.e. public, visitors and employees of other organisations. This includes briefing individuals working for them and ensuring there is the necessary understanding, competence and application of requirements to work safely and without harming the environment.

Employees will ensure they fully understand the health and safety risks involved in their work activities and their responsibility to apply the controls needed to manage those risks to acceptable levels. Similarly where work activities can have an adverse impact upon the environment, and particularly where there are legal requirements, employees will understand those impacts and the controls they must ensure are applied.

If in doubt ask!

We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, colour, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender, gender identity or expression, or veteran status. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace.

If you have any queries in connection to this vacancy or your application, please contact us at careers@ukpowernetworks.co.uk quoting the vacancy reference number and a member of the team will get in touch with you as soon as possible.