Senior Automation Engineer

Role: Automation Engineer

Location: Stafford

Duration: 5 months

Rate: £80/hour

Inside IR35: Umbrella

The Role

The Grid System Integration (GSI) business delivers a wide range of projects associated with the bulk transmission of electrical power and management of electrical power grids. These projects typically include:

• New high voltage transmission substations.
• Expansion and reinforcement of existing transmission substations and networks.
• Onshore and Offshore substations to facilitate windfarm connections and other renewable technologies.
• Network compensation and stability projects
• Energy storage projects

The candidate will be part of a small yet diverse and sought-after team of Protection Settings Engineers working as part of the larger team of engineers to deliver High Voltage AC & DC substations and Offshore windfarms, battery energy storage and green hydrogen production opportunities to support the Green Energy Transition.

The candidate must hold National Grid Settings Authorisation certification. Industrial experience in AC substation design and primary plant, with an understanding of protection, control/SCADA, OT cybersecurity, telecom, metering, CT/VT specifications, and substation integration, is highly desirable.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Prepare high voltage protection settings calculations e.g. low impedance feeder differential and distance protections, transformer biased differential protections, and low impedance busbar protection calculations or high impedance busbar protection circulating current calculations.
• Perform short-circuit fault level calculations manually to IEC60909 standard for symmetrical and unsymmetrical faults using sequence components.
• Use power system analysis software (e.g., DIgSILENT PowerFactory) for fault level studies and protection grading/selectivity reports.
• Conduct arc-flash analysis using tools such as Alpi Caneco BT for LVAC 400V systems.
• Prepare first-time energisation circuit switching programs and automatic reclosure switching sequence reports.
• Technical analysis of employer's requirements to define and optimise protection functionality selection.
• Provide advisory support to project and tendering teams on protection related matters.
• Apply judgment to propose different solutions outside set parameters with guidance.
• Collaborate across internal teams to achieve results.
• Actively participate in business improvement initiatives within the engineering department.
• Offer support and mentorship to junior engineers in enhancing their professional engineering competencies.

Required Qualifications, Skills and Experience

• Power Electrical Engineering Bachelor's degree (or higher) from an accredited university.
• Design experience within the Electricity Transmission and Distribution industry.
• Solid understanding of protection device and scheme principle of operation.
• Previous use of a power system analysis and modelling software and Arc-flash analysis software preferred

Desirable

While previous experience is not compulsory, it is preferable if the candidate has a minimum of 7 years' experience in AC substation engineering.