Senior Cable/Circuit Design Engineer

83118 - Senior Cable/Circuit Designer

This Senior Cable/Circuit Designer will report to the Design Lead and will work within Capital Programme - Engineering Design based in our Crawley or Maidstone offices. You will be a permanent employee.

You will attract a salary of £84,160 plus car and a bonus of This role can also offer blended working after probationary period (6 months) - 3 days in the office and 2 remote

Close Date: 18/11/2026

We also provide the following additional benefits

• 23 Days Annual Leave plus bank holidays.
• Reservist Leave – Additional 18 days full pay and 22 unpaid
• 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, Season Ticket Loan
• Tax efficient benefits: Cycle to Work, Home & Tech, and Green Car Leasing Schemes
• Occupational Health support
• Switched On – scheme providing discount on hundreds of retailers' products
• Discounted gym membership
• Employee Assistance Programme

Job Purpose:

Produce 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, following UK Power Networks design standards.

You will collaborate with the Project Manager, Electrical and Civil designers, PDC and Alliance members, ensuring compliance to design, CDM and standards for the regulated network solutions for all APP and customer schemes.

We ask that you can satisfy the following general requirements:

• Produce Circuit Designs (below ground and in air) that can be constructed in compliance with standards and CDM requirements
• Produce designs, which conform to all relevant Codes of Practice and company and industry standards together 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.
• Support and mentor 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.
• Collaborate with the operational teams to provide 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 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: 

Essential

• Civil/Circuit Engineering degree with proven relevant Cable/OHL and substation experience.
• 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
• Extensive knowledge of Microsoft desktop applications, in particular: Word, Excel, Project and PowerPoint.
• Strong interpersonal skills and be competent in written and oral communications.
• Communicate with the CAD team and wayleaves and consents in order to determine the most feasible route and 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 route proving, to determine the most cost effective and safest route install.
• 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.
• Capable to sign off the designs.

Desirable

• Chartered engineer or working towards achieving Chartership.
• Input into innovative construction ideas and techniques, which feed into UK Power Networks Green Action Plan.
• Experience of directional drills and ability to advise/assure requirements accordingly.
• Strong knowledge of AutoCAD (also Bentley software would be beneficial).
• Experience in designing pilot/fibre cable routes, including splice chambers.
• Experience in terminations to indoor/outdoor switchgear/cable sealing ends.
• 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.

Nature and Scope:

Largely desk-based, the post also requires you 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. You will have an appropriate level of understanding of the arrangements for health, saf