Principal Electrical Consulting Engineer – Newcastle, UK

GHD, Newcastle Upon Tyne, England, United Kingdom

Overview

Join GHD’s UK Power team as a Principal Electrical Consulting Engineer to provide technical leadership on transformative projects across the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Australia. Help clients navigate the energy transition while shaping the next generation of engineering talent. This is an employee-owned global firm offering a supportive, flexible and inclusive culture.

What You’ll Do

• Act as technical lead on major power system projects (transmission, distribution and generation).
• Lead the design, specification and integration of high-voltage systems, including substations, cable systems, transformers, switchgear, and reactive compensation equipment.
• Deliver FEED and conceptual studies, technical due diligence, and serve as Owner’s Engineer.
• Provide expert input into power system protection, equipment specification, and system performance assessments.
• Support factory acceptance testing (FAT), site acceptance testing (SAT), commissioning, and construction support.
• Build strong client relationships, identify new opportunities, and contribute to business development and tendering activities.
• Mentor and develop junior engineers, sharing knowledge across UK and international teams.

What You’ll Bring: Skills & Experience

• Degree in Electrical Engineering (BEng/BSc minimum; MEng/MSc desirable).
• 10+ years’ experience in power systems engineering within transmission, distribution, or generation projects.
• Broad understanding of the UK electricity sector, regulatory frameworks, and stakeholder landscape.
• In-depth technical expertise in at least one of the following:
• High-voltage plant and equipment (switchgear, transformers, harmonic filters, dynamic reactive compensation)
• Power cable system design and specification
• Power system protection and control
• Experience with design, specification, construction, operation and maintenance of HV electrical infrastructure.
• Previous exposure to consulting or client-facing roles, delivering technically rigorous and commercially grounded advice.
• Experience with FAT, SAT, commissioning and on-site works (desirable).
• Chartered Engineer status (CEng) or working towards with a relevant institution (e.g. IET).

Why Join GHD?

At GHD, we know that great people make great business. We offer a supportive, flexible and inclusive culture, plus:

• Competitive salary and performance-linked benefits.
• Hybrid working – manage your time to achieve balance.
• 25 days annual leave, plus option to buy up to 4 additional weeks.
• Pension scheme, private medical cover, and income protection.
• Enhanced parental leave and family-friendly policies.
• Voluntary benefits, including cycle to work, discounted gym membership, and retail savings.
• Access to Employee Network Groups and wellbeing programmes.
• A clear pathway for career development—whether you want to grow as a technical expert, client leader, or people manager.
• International opportunities across GHD’s global network of 10,000+ professionals.
• Strong support for professional development and achieving/maintaining chartered status.

About GHD

Founded in 1928, GHD is a leading global professional services firm delivering projects that shape communities across water, energy, environment, property & buildings, and transport. As an employee-owned business, we empower our people with autonomy, opportunities and a voice in shaping the future. We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and are committed to creating an inclusive, diverse workplace where everyone can thrive.

Apply

Apply now to join GHD as a Principal Electrical Consulting Engineer and help design the power systems of tomorrow.