Graduate Project Development Engineer Electricity Transmission 2022

Have you ever considered yourself to be an innovator, or an investigator, with a desire to work with new technologies and enable the energy transition?  Joining the Project Development Engineer Graduate programme, you will work with experienced engineers to determine what we build, when we build it, and how we fund it.

Maintaining the safety and integrity of the National Grid Built Network by the use of timely interventions to refurbish and replace assets. You will lead a cross-company team through the Optioneering phase of our investment process to deliver sustainable solutions, support National Grid’s 2050 Net Zero target and take these multi-million-pound schemes in front of the investment committee to sanction.

What is optioneering?

In a nutshell ‘Optioneering’ is generating a variety of options and then choosing the preferred option due to customer requirements, safety, cost and all other risk factors. This is the core of the role as this process helps us to determine what is best for the customer and National Grid’s portfolio, rather than by individual asset or scheme.

Our Graduate roles are fast paced and varied; this gives you the best chance to develop your skills and gain as much valuable work experience as possible. As a graduate Project Development Engineer, you can expect to be involved in any of the below activities -

• Support the development of a portfolio of projects across a broad range of engineering disciplines and project types, including: overhead lines; cables; substations; switchgear; security infrastructure; and flood defences.
• Assist in the creation of a sustainable Capital Plan by accurately forecasting the scope, cost and programme of a portfolio of future electricity investments.
• Supported by some of the most experienced engineers in the industry to develop your technical understanding of National Grid’s assets.
• Assist in the re-examination of need cases and build/non-build options.
• Engage with external stakeholders to support Development Consent Orders for major infrastructure developments, such as the construction of new overhead lines.
• Monitor investment evolution and delivery against value, need case, and affordability by ensuring any change in circumstance is fully evaluated and assessed.
• Fulfil duties of a Construction Design and Management (CDM) client role for Electricity Transmission. 
• Visits to a variety of National Grid sites to understand how construction projects are carried out, and to evaluate potential hazards and risks which the Delivery Team may encounter during construction. 
• Regularly review and update a personal portfolio through the agreed mechanisms to ensure it reflects the latest position

What you'll need

• Minimum requirement 2.2 degree in a STEM subject (preferably Electrical Engineering) 
• To apply for this role, you will need to hold a full valid UK driving License

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.

About you

If you consider yourself to be an innovator and an investigator this could be the right path for you. The Project Development Engineer role is key to helping National Grid achieve our goal of to delivering sustainable solutions for our customers, support National Grid’s 2050 Net Zero target and take these multi-million-pound schemes in front of the investment committee to sanction. If you feel as passionately about this as we do, then this could be the start of a successful and rewarding career within National Grid.

As a Project Development Engineer you will be working with various asset types and new technologies; so you will need a passion for innovations, a desire to work with Electricity Transmission technologies and enthusiasm for project management and financial aspects of the delivery solution.

At every stage of this exciting role you’ll enjoy hands on support and the chance to develop your engineering skills. As soon as you join you will work with colleagues at all levels across the business so you must be confident, have effective communication skills, including the ability to make persuasive presentations to multi-disciplined teams / audiences.

You don’t need prior work experience; the determination and the will to succeed is far more important as we will teach you everything you need to know. The role will provide you with a variety of skills including transferable skills to support your career development within National Grid.

What you'll get

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

National Grid touches the lives of almost everyone in the UK, with an energy network that stretches across the Atlantic. We’re an international team, and our work underpins the lives of millions of people. Feet forwards, head up, and eyes bright, we’re working hard to create value for people today – and shape the future of energy tomorrow.

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.

Society’s expectations of business and the role business plays in the world are changing. We share the belief that business needs to stand for something more than profitability. Now, more than ever, we have a responsibility to demonstrate our contribution to society more broadly – whether that’s by making sure young people today become the problem solvers of tomorrow, or in tackling climate change by reducing our own emissions and helping our customers use energy more efficiently.

The world of energy is changing beyond recognition. Working at National Grid, 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.