Associate Director - HV Substation Design - UK&I

AECOM · Leeds, , United Kingdom

  • Junior
  • Full-time
  • Posted 2026-10-07
  • Confirmed live on 14 October 2026

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Job description

Job Description
Are you ready to shape the future of energy infrastructure and be at the heart of a varied portfolio of groundbreaking projects? After an exciting period of growth, we are looking to hire an experienced and ambitious Associate Director who can be based in either the UK or Ireland.
As Associate Director, you will be leading end-to-end HV substation design, shaping grid-scale power infrastructure from concept through to energisation on projects that few engineers get the opportunity to be involved in. Your work will be varied, and you’ll be using your expertise to contribute to the success of major projects such as;

• National Grid’s ‘Great Grid Upgrade’ Great Grid Partnership: Enabling the UK’s energy transition

• Working with the world’s leading Hyperscalers and Data Centre Operators on forward-thinking, revolutionary projects.

• EirGrid AECOM appointed to EirGrid engineering design, planning and project management services framework
Start here. Grow here.
Here’s what you’ll do:

• Lead HV substation technical discussions with clients and multi-disciplinary teams - establishing scopes, defining interfaces between HV infrastructure and ensuring coordinated delivery.

• Direct the technical delivery of substation design major projects, agreeing approach with engineering teams, monitoring progress, and quality-checking deliverables prior to client issue.

• Apply lifecycle expertise - from grid connection studies and concept design through FEED and detailed design in order to deliver HV substation schemes that meet the power density and availability.

• Liaise with project management teams to develop resourcing forecasts and programmes aligned to construction schedules and critical path milestones

• Demonstrate commercial awareness through proposal development, project cost monitoring, and identifying opportunities to expand HV scope on frameworks.

• Build trusted relationships with cleints, understanding their grid connection strategies and availability requirements.

• Champion safety in design principles across all HV substation deliverables, ensuring compliance with relevant standards and the specific operational safety requirements.

• Mentor and develop junior engineers, building team capability in HV substation design over the medium and long term.
Driving excellence.
At AECOM, we are dedicated to fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration within our Transmission and Distribution team. We believe that technology should empower you so that you can focus on creative problem-solving, successfully manage complexity and deliver exceptional results. By embracing advanced automation tools, we seek imaginative thinkers who are excited about leveraging these tools to drive efficiency and enhance our projects. Join us in shaping the future of infrastructure, where your unique insights and creativity will play a vital role in our success!
Enjoy the Perks.
At AECOM, you'll enjoy a range of core and personalised benefits designed to support your future and well-being, customised to fit your lifestyle. Take advantage of career development opportunities, our flexible hybrid working model to ensure a work-life balance that suits your lifestyle, technical practice networks, AECOM University, and volunteering days.

Qualifications
Ready to push the limits of what’s possible?
Here’s what we’re looking for:

• Previous experience with consultancy, contractor, or utility in the energy sector. Client experience with National Grid, SHET, SSE, SPT or any other transmission utility or developer in UK or Ireland

• Proven experience delivering HV infrastructure design at concept, FEED, and detailed design stages.

• Strong understanding of electrical AC HV plant and equipment — both AIS and GIS — including switchgear, busbars, cabling, earthing, and civil interfaces

• Working knowledge of National Grid standards and specifications

• Proposal and bid development experience, including leading multi-discipline submissions for Data Centre, HV infrastructure or grid connection projects

• Experience of design management and site construction review; primary plant focus is essential, with secondary systems knowledge (protection, control, SCADA) advantageous.

• Familiarity with Control systems, transformers, HVDC systems, interconnectors, HV Protection & Control knowledge and experience would be advantageous

• Ideally CDAE / LCDAE approval
We celebrate diversity, including neurodiversity, and believe it enriches our team. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and abilities. If you are an applicant with a disability that requires reasonable accommodation to complete the application process, please contact us at [email protected]. At AECOM, we value everyone's unique contributions and perspectives.
If you meet some of the requirements above or have transferable skills you believe would benefit us, we would be delighted to hear from you!

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