SmartTek Global
Protection and controls engineer
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Protection and controls engineer
Protection & Control Engineer – HV Substations & BESS (EPC Projects)
Employment Type: Full-time, Permanent Reports to: Lead Electrical Engineer / Engineering Manager Sector: EPC | Power Systems | Energy Storage | Grid Connections
About the Role
We are seeking an experienced Protection & Control Engineer to play a key role in the design and delivery of protection, control, and SCADA systems for high-voltage substations and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) projects across the UK.
Working within a multidisciplinary EPC delivery team, you will develop and integrate protection and control solutions from concept through to commissioning, ensuring the safe, reliable, and compliant operation of grid-connected assets.
This position requires a strong background in electrical protection design, a solid understanding of the construction and commissioning environment, and the ability to collaborate effectively with engineering, construction, procurement, and commissioning teams.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead or support the design and development of protection and control systems for:
- HV substations (11–400kV)
- Grid-scale BESS projects
- Produce, review, and approve:
- Protection schematics
- Single-line diagrams (SLDs)
- Interlocking diagrams
- Wiring diagrams
- Relay setting calculations
- SCADA I/O schedules
- Carry out:
- Protection coordination studies
- Grading studies
- Relay settings calculations
- Compliance with
- DNO, TO, and NGESO requirements
- Specify and integrate protection relays, control panels, RTUs, and SCADA systems into overall substation and BESS control architectures
- Support:
- Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT)
- Site Acceptance Testing (SAT)
- Relay configuration and testing activities
- Work closely with internal engineering, procurement, and construction teams to ensure designs are:
- Practical
- Cost-effective
- Compliant with:
- Client specifications
- Industry standards
- Liaise with:
- DNOs
- Transmission Owners (TOs)
- NGESO
- Achieve:
- Design approvals
- Demonstrate Grid Code compliance
- Coordinate protection submissions
- Provide technical support throughout:
- Construction
- Commissioning
- Resolve design issues
- Ensure correct implementation of protection and control schemes
- Manage engineering documentation and deliverables using:
- Procore or equivalent EPC project management platforms
- Contribute to the continual improvement of:
- Engineering standards
- Design processes
- Project delivery methodologies
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Desirable Skills & Qualifications
- Experience with BESS control systems, including:
- EMS/PCS integration
- Interface design
- Grid Code compliance testing
- Knowledge of:
- Functional safety
- Interlocking logic
- Control philosophy documentation
- Experience using:
- Procore
- Similar digital project collaboration platforms:
- BIM 360
- Acexcon
- Chartered Engineer (CEng) status, or actively working towards:
- Professional registration through the IET
- Equivalent institution
What We Offer
- Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package
- The opportunity to work on:
- Cutting-edge renewable energy
- HV infrastructure
- Grid-scale BESS projects
- Supporting the UK’s transition to Net Zero
- Ongoing investment in:
- Professional development
- Technical training
- Chartership support
- A collaborative, forward-thinking environment within a rapidly growing EPC organisation delivering critical energy infrastructure projects.
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