Role Purpose
As the Principal Electrical Design Engineer you will provide technical leadership and oversight of electrical engineering design for water and wastewater infrastructure projects. This role leads multidisciplinary teams through feasibility, outline, and detailed design stages, ensuring compliance with industry standards, client expectations, and water-company asset requirements. Your responsibilities will be to ensure the safe, efficient, and innovative design of electrical distribution, control, and power systems across treatment plants and network assets.
Key Responsibilities
Technical Design & Engineering
· Lead the electrical design of water industry assets including:
o LV and HV distribution systems
o Motor control centres (MCCs), variable speed drives (VSDs)
o Power system protection and discrimination
o ICA/SCADA interfaces (in collaboration with ICA engineers)
o Pumping station electrical systems
o Treatment works electrical infrastructure
· Produce, review, and approve design documents: single-line diagrams, cable calculations, load assessments, control philosophies, electrical schedules, and technical specifications.
· Ensure designs align with CDM, BS7671, IEC/SI standards, WIMES, and individual water-company standards.
· Carry out electrical fault level studies, protection grading, and energy efficiency analysis where required.
Project Delivery
· Act as the electrical technical lead on multi-disciplinary projects across all design stages.
· Undertake optioneering, feasibility studies, and value engineering to determine robust, cost-effective solutions.
· Provide technical input during procurement, supplier evaluations, FAT/SAT, and commissioning support.
· Coordinate with process, mechanical, civil, and ICA design teams to ensure integrated MEICA designs.
Leadership & Collaboration
· Mentor and support the development of electrical engineers and designers within the team.
· Lead design reviews, HAZOP/HAZID workshops, and client meetings.
· Engage with internal and external stakeholders, including water utility clients, contractors, and suppliers.
· Drive best practice, innovation, and continuous improvement in electrical engineering processes.
Quality, Compliance & Governance
· Ensure design outputs meet ISO 9001 quality requirements and water industry regulatory standards and client specifications
· Ensure electrical designs adhere to safety standards and good engineering practice, including compliance with:
o BS 7671 (IET Wiring Regulations) current edition
o EN 61439 (Switchgear & Controlgear)
o WIMES specifications
o DSEAR/ATEX where applicable
· Support digital engineering development (BIM, 3D modelling, asset information delivery).
Skills & Experience Required
Essential
· Degree in Electrical Engineering or equivalent; Chartered Engineer (CEng) or working toward Chartership.
· Extensive experience in electrical design for water and/or wastewater treatment infrastructure.
· Strong understanding of UK water utility standards and regulatory environments.
· Proven ability to lead teams on complex multi-disciplinary design projects.
· Proficiency with electrical design software tools (Solidworks, CAD platforms).
· Strong technical writing skills and the ability to produce high-quality documentation.
Desirable
· Experience with AMP capital delivery programmes and framework delivery.
· Knowledge of ICA/controls principles and ability to collaborate effectively with ICA specialists.
· Familiarity with sustainability, energy optimisation, and low-carbon design principles.
· Experience of site inspections, electrical installation quality checks, and commissioning.
Personal Attributes
· Strong leadership and stakeholder-management skills.
· Proactive, organised, and technically curious.
· Excellent communication and decision-making ability.
· Commitment to safety, quality, and collaboration.
Typical Deliverables
· Electrical load studies, SLDs, and equipment sizing calculations.
· Cable routing layouts, cable schedules, protection and discrimination studies.
· Technical specifications, tender documentation, and scope definitions.
· FAT/SAT documentation, inspection reports, and commissioning support notes.
· Risk assessments, HAZOP input, and design review outputs