Graduate Power System Engineer Electricity System Operator 2022

Have you ever wondered how we keep the electricity flowing and the lights on for all electricity consumers in Great Britain? If so, you could play a key role in this by joining National Grid ESO as a Power System Engineer Graduate within the Electricity System Operator. You will also be part of the core team that is working to operate a carbon free electricity system by 2025.

What you need

To be considered for this role you will need to be on track to achieve/achieved a 2.2 in the following degree disciplines:

• Electrical/Electronic Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Physics
• Maths

You must also be willing to relocate as and when the programme requires.

You will only be able to apply for one role per programme (i.e. one graduate role) for this campaign. Please ensure you apply to your most preferred role. Those who apply for more than one, will be withdrawn and asked to confirm their preference.

Key tasks and areas of work 

• Assessing how our networks should be upgraded and expanded.
• Developing algorithms to work out energy demand for next week.
• Assessing worst case network faults so we can maintain our security standards. 
• Integrating new tools into our control rooms so staff can manage complex scenarios, such as the increasing amounts of renewable energy connecting to the network.
• Working with all GB transmission owners to ensure our network simulation models are up-todate and accurate.
• Providing a compelling, transparent view of future network capability, the issues associated with rapidly changing supply and demand patterns and the necessary development and implementation of innovative solutions.
• All technical analysis necessary to offshore electricity network design.
• Assessing system access and maintenance plans to ensure the system can be operated both securely and economically.
• Ensuring the compliance & reliability of a range of existing and future generation connections.
• Managing the technical aspects of electricity frameworks (both GB and Europe).

About you

We are looking for graduates who have a demonstrable understanding of the fundamentals of power system operation. Skills and experience in using programming languages and operational research techniques that will allow a step change in the type and level of analysis we complete is a definite plus. A good level of ability in producing written reports and presentations would be beneficial.

What you'll get

Every year, we recruit dozens of people to join us. April 2021 marks the start of our new regulatory period in which we have committed to delivering a significant number of new and ambitious deliverables for the energy industry. In September 2022, we will be looking for our new wave of apprentices, undergraduates and graduates. This is your chance to begin a career that will put you right at the heart of solving the climate change challenge.

Join us to work with and learn from some of the best people in the energy industry on how to be a thought-leader, a facilitator, a negotiator and an inspiration to colleagues and peers right across the energy industry.

We are looking for curious and inquisitive people who are able to seek and set challenging goals for themselves and who can build effective internal and external relationships, combined with negotiating and influencing skills. You should also be able to work at pace and under your own initiative to meet goals and drive improvements that are relevant to your work, your team’s work and also relevant to wider ESO stakeholders.

You will receive a starting salary of £29,254 (or £30,318 if you hold a Masters) and a £2000 joining bonus. You will also have access to a number of additional benefits such as 25 days’ holiday, a generous completion payment, an accommodation allowance as you move around the business, a competitive pension scheme and a number of flexible benefits to name just a few.

About us

The System Operator ensures that Great Britain’s gas and electricity is transported safely and efficiently from where it is produced to where it is consumed, balancing supply and demand in real time. As a separate company within the National Grid Group, the Electricity System Operator is neutral within industry and able to facilitate market-based solutions that deliver value for consumers. We work with our customers and stakeholders to shape the future of the energy market, providing analysis and insight into the changing nature of energy in the UK, we don’t generate or sell energy – we join the dots to get energy from A to B. From making a cup of tea in the morning, to keeping the lights on in hospitals, our electricity network puts power in the hands of people. Without it, the world as we know it would grind to a halt.

The world of energy is changing beyond recognition. Working at National Grid ESO, you won’t just be touching the lives of almost everyone in the UK – you’ll be shaping the way we use and consume energy for generations to come.

Our values and principles

At National Grid ESO, through listening to what our customers need, every day we do the right thing and find a better way. 

As a National Grid ESO employee, you’ll treat our customers as a priority, taking time to listen and work with them to help give them the best experience we possibly can. You’ll need to be proactive and flexible in your approach and continually look for ways to exceed their expectations – sometimes in unexpected and helpful ways. You’ll provide accessible information when our customers need it and make things simple by using your expertise to guide them. Above all, you’ll follow through on your promises to deliver value, drive efficiency and give them a great customer experience. 

We offer inclusion and diversity training for everyone here at National Grid ESO, with a view to building an inclusive working environment and developing all our employees. Training opportunities range from unconscious bias and reverse mentoring to targeted training initiatives which are tailored to support our diverse and innovative work force