Principal Electrical Engineer - Building Services Energy

Location/s: Glasgow, Newcastle, Brighton, Altrincham, York, Croydon; UK

Mott MacDonald is a global engineering, management, and development consultancy with over 20,000 employees across more than 50 countries and 140+ offices.

We work across incredible global industries, delivering exciting work that is defining our future and making an important societal impact in the communities we serve. Our people power our performance – we succeed when they do. With countless opportunities to collaborate, learn, and grow, the possibilities for excellence are as varied as every individual.

Whether you want to grow as a subject matter expert or broaden your experience with roles across our international community, you’re surrounded by global specialists who want to combine their expertise and champion you to be your best. As a proudly employee‑owned business, we benefit our clients, our communities, and each other, investing in creating the right space for everyone to feel empowered, included, and valued. Whatever your ambition, Mott MacDonald is where people come to be brilliant.

About The Business Unit

The Energy unit delivers services to clients globally across a number of sectors including hydropower, nuclear, waste, renewable generation, and transmission & distribution networks. Together we provide integrated engineering and project management services across the project lifecycle, from concept and design, through construction and operation, to decommissioning, repowering and life extension. Together with our clients, we're helping to deliver the energy transition globally.

Within Energy, the Energy Networks (ETO) team provides multidisciplinary engineering services for electricity transmission and distribution infrastructure, supporting the delivery of substations, converter stations, grid connections and other critical network assets required for the transition to a low‑carbon future.

Overview Of The Role

We're looking for a Principal electrical Building Services Engineer to join our growing Energy Networks team. This role offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to the design and delivery of major transmission and distribution projects across the UK and internationally. You will play a key role in developing building services solutions for converter stations, substations operational facilities and other energy infrastructure projects, working within multidisciplinary teams to deliver innovative, sustainable and technically robust designs. We know there's no such thing as the perfect candidate. If you meet around 75% of the criteria below, we'd love to hear from you.

• Deliver building services engineering designs for energy infrastructure and industrial facilities
• Produce and review detailed design calculations to support project requirements
• Prepare technical documentation including basis of design reports, specifications, assessments, condition reports and procurement documents
• Develop and review detailed design drawings, layouts and schematics covering HVAC, mechanical systems, electrical building services, water services and associated infrastructure
• Collaborate closely with protection and control, civil, structural, primary plant and other engineering disciplines
• Support the development of sustainable, energy‑efficient and resilient building services solutions
• Assist in the preparation of bids, proposals and fee estimates
• Manage and coordinate project deliverables to agreed quality, budget and programme requirements
• Ensure compliance with relevant legislation, standards and Construction (Design and Management) Regulations
• Engage with clients, contractors and other stakeholders throughout project delivery
• Mentor and support the development of junior engineers

Candidate specification

Essential:

• Degree qualified in Building Services Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering or a related discipline
• Chartered Engineer status, or working towards chartership, with CIBSE, IET, IMechE or another relevant professional institution
• Experience delivering building services design within utility, industrial, energy, infrastructure or other highly regulated environments
• Ability to produce and review technical reports, specifications, calculations and design documentation
• Experience using industry-standard design software and engineering tools
• Strong understanding of relevant British and European standards, regulations and engineering best practice
• Ability to work effectively within multidisciplinary project teams
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
• Self‑motivated with a proactive approach to problem solving

Desirable:

• Experience of transmission and distribution projects, substations, HVDC converter stations, battery energy storage facilities or renewable energy infrastructure
• Familiarity with HVAC systems for industrial and utility buildings
• Knowledge of Building Management Systems (BMS) and SCADA environments
• Experience using AutoCAD, Revit and BIM workflows
• Site experience including surveys, inspections and construction support activities
• Experience mentoring junior engineersUnderstanding of sustainability, net‑zero and resilient infrastructure design principles

What we’re looking for

We are seeking an engineer who combines strong technical capability with a collaborative mindset and a passion for supporting the energy transition. You’ll be comfortable working across disciplines, engaging with clients and stakeholders, and helping deliver challenging projects that shape the future of the electricity networks sector.

UK Immigration

Mott MacDonald Ltd. are not currently offering sponsorship to candidates under the Skilled Worker visa route in the UK. This decision is as a consequence of the changes made to the Skilled Worker route by the UK Government in April 2024. We continue to welcome applications from candidates who are eligible for alternative immigration routes in the UK, that do not require sponsorship as a Skilled Worker now or in future.

Agile working

At Mott MacDonald, we believe it makes business sense for you and your manager to choose how you can work most effectively to meet your client, team, and personal commitments. We offer a hybrid working policy that embraces your well‑being, flexibility, and trust.

Equality, diversity, and inclusion

We put equality, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of our business, seeking to promote fair employment procedures and practices to ensure equal opportunities for all. We encourage individual expression in our workplace and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels they can contribute.

AI Usage

At Mott MacDonald, we see the value AI can bring, but we take a people‑first approach to hiring. While AI tools can help candidates prepare and build confidence, every application and hiring decision is reviewed by our recruitment and hiring teams. We encourage the responsible use of AI while ensuring we get to know the real person behind the application.

Accessibility

We want you to feel supported and able to perform at your best throughout our recruitment process. If there is anything we can do to make applying or interviewing with us more accessible, please contact us at [email protected] and we’ll be happy to discuss how we can help.

We offer some fantastic benefits including

Financial wellbeing

• We match employee pension contributions between 4.5% and 7%.
• Life assurance equal up to 4 x your basic salary, with an option to increase the level of cover to 6 x your salary.
• Our income protection scheme provides a financial benefit, as well as absence and return to work support due to long‑term illness or injury.
• Flexible benefits, including increased life assurance cover, critical illness insurance, payroll saving and will writing.
• As an independently owned business we share the financial success of the business with all our colleagues in various ways including annual bonus schemes.

Employee Ownership

• Our employee ownership model means no external investors, just us, creating a culture of shared success.
• Our employees have a stake and a voice in our business, giving them a direct connection to our success through our personal and group performance bonuses.
• As your career grows, so does your stake, recognising your long‑term impact and contribution.
• Your voice matters, with the opportunity to connect directly with senior leadership through formal channels to help shape our future.
• For our senior roles you will have a direct pathway towards ownership from day one.

Health and wellbeing

• Private medical insurance for all UK colleagues.
• Health cash plan to support you with every day health costs and treatments.
• Access to Peppy, providing free support from menopause experts for all UK colleagues.
• A variety of wellbeing support is available through our comprehensive wellbeing program, including access for you and your family.
• Ability to flex your salary to opt into a wide range of health benefits, many of which can be extended to your family too.

Lifestyle

• A minimum of 33-35 days holiday each year, inclusive of public holidays and dependent on level, with the ability to buy or sell leave through our flexible benefits programme.
• 10 days additional paid leave for Armed Forces Reservists and Cadet Force Adult Volunteers.
• Holiday entitlement increased to a minimum of 35 days after 5 years’ service.
• Variety of employee saving schemes and discounts from high‑street retailers.

Enhanced family and carers leave

• Enhanced family leave policies, including 26 weeks paid maternity and adoption leave, and two weeks paid paternity/partner leave.
• Our shared parental leave matches maternity leave meaning we pay up to 24 weeks at full pay.
• Up to five additional days leave are provided for those with significant caring responsibilities, two of which are paid.
• We offer policies and dedicated support to help military families balance service life with career and wellbeing.

Learning and development

• Primary annual professional institution subscription.
• A broad range of opportunities to enhance both technical and soft skills through mentoring, formal training, and self‑development options.

Networks, communities, and social outcomes

• Join a wide range of groups including our Advanced Employee Networks which support our LGBTQ+, gender, race and ethnicity, disability, and parents/carers communities.
• We are proud signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant and Gold Award holders in the MOD Employer Recognition Scheme, supported by our dedicated internal Armed Forces Network.
• Make a difference within our communities through our social outcomes.

Location(s): Glasgow, GB York, GB Croydon, GB Altrincham, GB Brighton, GB Newcastle Upon Tyne, GB

Contract Type: Permanent

Work Pattern: Full Time

Market: Energy

Discipline: Electrical

Job Ref: 16205