Arcadis
Principal Primary Substation Design Engineer

How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
Arcadis
Arcadis is the world’s leading company delivering sustainable design, engineering, and consultancy solutions for natural and built assets.
We are more than 34,000 people, in over 30 countries, dedicated to improving quality of life. Everyone has an important role to play. With the power of many curious minds, together we can solve the world’s most complex challenges and deliver more impact together.
Role description:
The energy landscape as we know it is rapidly transforming. Join us as a Principal Substation Engineer and you’ll have the opportunity to accelerate your career, too. You’ll be part of our industry-leading team Transmissions and Distributions teams, acting as partners to our clients, building a deep understanding of their challenges and applying your expertise to solve them.
As a Principal Substation Engineer you will be working on engineering and construction projects primarily in industrial, transmission/distribution and renewable sectors. You must be able to appreciate complex, practical, regulatory, technical and commercial issues and to work constructively with a broad range of senior stakeholders.
Role accountabilities:
- Client liaison from initial contact through project delivery
- Delivering small to medium sized new projects with minimal support, retrofit or network reinforcement projects throughout project lifecycle
- Producing electrical engineering deliverables where appropriate
- Liaise with CAD technicians and Engineers to determine safe, cost-effective substation design solutions
- Understanding and interpretation of National Grid specifications and DNO regulations and British/IEC standards
- Identification and mitigation of relevant health, safety risks and hazards
- Understanding and application of CDM designer regulations for HV and EHV projects
- Coordination between interdisciplinary teams like civils, Protection & controls, earthing and studies team
- Preparing specifications of HV and EHV plant equipment including evaluation of supplier documents and reports.
- Working and supporting bid development and related documentation
Reasons to use Rodeo
I’m in my final year doing Economics and I don’t know whether to apply for grad schemes now or do a masters first. What do you think?
Honest answer — it depends on where you want to end up. A lot of top grad schemes (Big 4, civil service, banking) don’t need a masters. Let’s look at the ones you’d be competitive for now, and we can decide if a masters actually adds anything.
Also worth knowing: most autumn 2026 applications are open now. Timing matters more than you think.
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
Graduate Consultant — 2026 Scheme
Why you're a good match
StrongYour economics background and your summer at a regional bank line up with what PwC looks for on the consulting scheme. Applications close in four weeks.
See breakdownIt searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Why you're a good match
You’ve got the grades and the economics background, and your bank internship is exactly the experience this scheme looks for. Apply soon — deadlines close within the month.
Experience fit
Your summer at the bank plus your econometrics coursework map directly to the day-one responsibilities on this scheme — client modelling, market briefings, and deal support.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
In addition, you will assist in the delivery of project-related tasks to meet budget, timeframe, and quality targets, promoting all facets of Arcadis services during interfaces with. Contributing towards the achievement of the divisional business plan your role will be key to maintain and exceed our client’s expectations and to build networks within the industry.
In a sector that is changing so dramatically you’ll own your journey, expanding your knowledge in areas you’re passionate about and building the right career for you. The role requires a level of flexibility to visit site locations/client offices across the UK as soon as we are able to do so.
Qualifications & Experience:
- Degree or relevant qualification in Electrical Engineering
- CDAE/LCDAE authorisation preferable.
- Experience working as a substation/plant engineer to regulated industry standards
- Preparation of HV Substation primary Plant design deliverables, feasibility studies, reports, programmes and cost estimating
- Broad knowledge of transmission technologies and a good understanding of how these technologies influence the operation and performance of the transmission system
- Proven experience in HV & EHV Substation design (both AIS & GIS), from 11kV up to including 400kV.
- Experience in LV and power distribution of Substations
- Hands on experience on Amtech software for LVAC fuse/MCCB selectivity study is desirable,
- Experience in working on National Grid, SSEN, SPEN, SPR projects
- Knowledge of HVDC Primary plant will be an added advantage.
- Can demonstrate success in delivering engineering and or projects safely to budget, time and quality that meets customer expectations
- Ability of working with internal and external parties and working within a strong team-working culture.
- Experience in writing clear and concise documentation.


Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
Why Arcadis?
We can only achieve our goals when everyone is empowered to be their best. We believe everyone's contribution matters. It’s why we are pioneering a skills-based approach, where you can harness your unique experience and expertise to carve your career path and maximize the impact we can make together.
You’ll do meaningful work, and no matter what role, you’ll be helping to deliver sustainable solutions for a more prosperous planet. Make your mark, on your career, your colleagues, your clients, your life and the world around you.
Together, we can create a lasting legacy.
Join Arcadis. Create a Legacy.
Our Commitment to Equality, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging
We want you to be able to bring your best self to work every day which is why we take equality and inclusion seriously and hold ourselves to account for our actions. Our ambition is to be an employer of choice and provide a great place to work for all our people. We believe that by working together diverse people with different experiences develop the most innovative ideas. Equality, diversity and inclusion is at the heart of how we improve quality of life and we work closely with our people across six ED&I Workstreams: Age, Disability, Faith, Gender, LGBT+ and Race. A diverse and skilled workforce is essential to our success.
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Skills