Job Description

With the UK government's ambitious goal of delivering 60GW of solar power by 2030, Solar Careers UK is on a mission to help recruit, train, and place over 60,000 new professionals in rewarding careers within the solar and battery storage industry.

Solar Careers UK, a division of the solar industry's trade association Solar Energy UK, represents over 425 solar businesses, many specializing in high-quality solar installations for domestic, commercial, and utility-scale clients. We are assisting in the recruitment of full-time and permanent installation teams across all UK regions.

The role involves working within the commercial, industrial, or utility-scale renewable energy sector, focusing on developing, building, and operating solar and energy storage projects in the UK. The Design Engineer will undertake design and review of Solar PV plants and integration of Electrical Energy Storage Systems (EESS).

Responsibilities:

• Specify, design, document, and review systems in accordance with ISO / IEC / BS standards, including IET PV CoP and BS 7671 18th Edition.
• Develop customer-specific photovoltaic concepts, detailed designs, and implementation plans, including yield simulations.
• Authorize, review, and amend Low Voltage (LV), Single Line Diagrams (SLD), and schematics.
• Design and review electrical protection schemes.
• Appoint consultants and assess grid compliance and earthing reports.
• Review, specify, and select low voltage electrical equipment such as UPS, cables, meters, CTs, switchgear, filters, transformers, and inverters.
• Liaise with equipment manufacturers, technical advisors, and consultants.
• Calculate cable sizing and optimization based on installation conditions; produce LV and DC cable schedules.
• Organize and analyze topographical and utility survey data to support system design and piling locations.
• Design within planning and flood risk constraints, support planning applications with drawings.
• Evaluate technical implementation options, select suitable mounting systems and modules considering local conditions.
• Ensure design compliance with planning and structural engineering considerations.
• Provide technical support to sales and procurement teams regarding layout and technical issues in offers.
• Support project managers during construction and implementation phases.
• Communicate effectively with colleagues in DNO, procurement, operations, legal, project development, and management teams.
• Design and review earthing systems.
• Review Last Planner System (LPS) designs.
• Review supplier proposals for Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), including inverter and cell technology, sizing, and optimization.
• Issue commissioning and operational instructions, including shutdown procedures and briefing notes.
• Maintain strict document control and track changes.
• Design systems to monitor energy flow, inverter parameters, export limits, and client loads.
• Interpret and apply relevant ISO / IEC / BS standards to EPC designs.
• Perform engineering calculations and analyze operational data such as plant performance and losses.
• Review and respond to technical advisor reports.
• Conduct site surveys, inspections, and verify As-Built documents.

Requirements

Experience:

• Professional solar PV system design experience at commercial or utility scale.
• Knowledge of inverter specifications, array sizing, yield optimization, module selection, and component assessments.
• Proficiency in electrical systems design, including power circuits (HV, LV, AC, DC), SCADA, communications, and equipment.
• Understanding of ENA recommendations such as P28, G59/G99, G100, and design/implementation of compliant solutions.
• Familiarity with electrical design software for cable sizing, protection, discrimination, and optimization.
• Experience with software such as AutoCAD, PVSyst/PVSol, MS Office (Excel, Outlook, SharePoint).

Education:

• Undergraduate degree in a STEM field, ideally Electrical Engineering, or equivalent professional experience/certifications.
• Membership of a professional body (e.g., Chartered Engineer) is desirable.