Graduate Distribution System Operator (DSO) Engineer

Reference Number - 78434

This Graduate Distribution System Operator (DSO) Engineer will report to the Network Insights Manager • DSO and will work within the DSO directorate based in our London office. You will be a fixed term contract employee (24 months)

You will attract a salary of £39,732.00 and a bonus of 3%. This role can also offer blended working after probationary period (6 months) - 3 days in the office and 2 remote

Close Date: Friday 10th May

We also provide the following additional benefits

• Annual Leave
• Personal Pension Plan – Personal contribution rates of 4% or 5% (UK Power Networks will make a corresponding contribution of 8% or 10%)
• Tenancy Loan Deposit scheme
• Tax efficient benefits: cycle to work scheme
• Season ticket loan
• Occupational Health support
• Switched On – scheme providing discount on hundreds of retailers products.
• Discounted access to sports and social clubs
• Employee Assistance Programme.

Be part of something powerful.

UK Power Networks' Distribution System Operator is at the heart of enabling low carbon technology like electric vehicles (EVs), heat pumps and renewables generation. You'll work with some of the country's most accomplished low carbon engineers and specialists at the heart of this once in a generation transition to help create the flexible, low carbon energy system of the future.

This is a time of unprecedented change for the electricity industry as we move from the old world of large, carbon intensive coal and gas-fired power plants to a much more complex, interconnected world of renewable energy, battery storage and electric vehicles. Energy is one of the most important issues in the country right now, and you will receive an incredible insight into the work that goes in to ensuring a safe, reliable, affordable and green energy supply at in a workplace voted one of the UK's best big companies to work for.

Your team will ensure sufficient electricity capacity exists across London, the East and South East to support the anticipated uptake of low carbon technologies like electric vehicles, battery storage, renewable energy and low carbon heating. Come and play your part in enabling the Net Zero energy system of the future.

Network Strategy

The Network Strategy team manages the DSO, be that by providing insights and reporting on system needs now and in the future, or by creating smart solutions to facilitate access to flexible connections, part of which involves a whole-systems approach, collaborating with the National Grid ESO. Network Strategy has four main areas: Network Insights; Network Access; Network Options and Regional Development. Network Strategy liaises with the other DSO teams such as Local Net Zero, Flexibility, Operations, Data and Technology.

The Job

We are offering an amazing opportunity for learning and development across multiple areas of our business to help you acquire the skills needed to excel in our industry.

As an engineering graduate you will work on a variety of projects and support the development of engineering solutions to industry-leading innovation projects such as decarbonising the electricity network.

You'll embark on a 2-year programme, where you'll experience different areas of the business across several assignments. You'll learn from our experts, gain valuable experience, and have the support of your line manager, mentor and buddy throughout the programme.

We're passionate about your development and we offer graduates a tailored training plan based on your discipline to help develop your skills, knowledge and behaviours.

The Programme

The 2-year structured graduate programme will offer you the opportunity of 9 months rotational placements, relevant to your role, helping you better understand the role of UK Power Networks and its directorates. The second year will see you placed in your first supported role. Working towards the roles and responsibilities outline below, you will start contributing to your team's success and achieving objectives. Throughout the programme you will develop the knowledge, competencies and leadership skills through embedded training sessions to help you excel at UK Power Networks, along with mentorship from a senior leader.

Responsibilities:

• Participate in the annual review of measurement data to identify the baseline for all load reporting per network asset against normal network conditions
• Support the annual update of the Strategic Forecasting System and Distribution Future Energy Scenarios, delivering outputs and improvement projects
• Contribute to delivery of internal outputs such as the Planning Load Estimates and LV utilisation metrics, with continuous improvement
• Contribute to delivery of external outputs for Licence and Grid Code compliance, including required external publications on our website, to Ofgem and to National Grid ESO including Low Frequency Demand Disconnection analysis and the Long Term Development Statement. Develop approaches to meet evolving new licence and Grid Code requirements, initiatives for connections reform and to stay ahead of customer/ industry expectations for data sharing.
• Develop products for more flexible access to the distribution network, and associated data and tools such as for curtailment assessment
• Deliver annual updates to the Distribution Network Options Assessment (methodology and reports) to identify the most cost-effective approach to capacity delivery, steering needs for flexibility procurement or traditional reinforcement, and supporting inputs to the DSO Supervisory Board.
• Liaise with the transmission companies on regional development, including contract changes at the transmission-distribution interface and developing engineering solutions to address connection challenges.
• Engage across the DSO and with other important UK Power Networks departments (such as Asset Management, Connections, IS and Regulation) to help deliver assigned innovation projects;

What you'll need

• You will have achieved or be on target to achieve a minimum of an Honours degree in Electrical Engineering

• You'll have some knowledge of Power Systems Engineering

We're also looking for:

• Adaptable to changes and challenges
• The ability to apply initiative and take personal responsibility.
• The ability to collaborate with a creative and thoughtful approach.
• Analytical and data minded individuals with some experience in data tools.
• We're looking for driven individuals who are eager to learn, good at forming relationships, can communicate effectively, and are not afraid to ask questions when needed.

Key areas of interest:

• Electrical engineering and distribution networks
• Data and digitisation
• Net Zero and whole system thinking
• Customer connections to the distribution and transmission networks

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 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 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.