2026 Undergraduate Asset Management Engineer, Asset Operations - Leeds

National Grid is at the heart of the UK energy network keeping people connected and society moving. We develop, own and maintain the physical infrastructure, such as pylons and cables needed to move the electricity generated from windfarms and power sources around the country. Every time a phone is plugged in, or a switch is turned on, we've played a part, connecting you to the electricity you need - and we're leading the transformation towards a greener future, dreaming bigger to bring a more affordable energy future to everyone.

But it's our people that provide our true superpower. They drive and sustain our growth, their unique differences only making us stronger. But it's no small feat and we need the best to join us in our mission. So, join us and power the future of energy. 

As a Undergraduate Asset Management Engineer, you’ll play a key role in maintaining and upgrading the infrastructure that powers the nation—ensuring our physical assets operate efficiently, reliably, and safely.

Asset Operations involves the management and optimisation of physical assets, including monitoring, maintenance, troubleshooting, and ensuring compliance. Collaboration with stakeholders is essential to maximise asset availability and performance while minimising costs and risks.

As part of our team, you’ll support the maintenance and improvement of the infrastructure that powers the UK—making sure our physical assets like substations, cables, and overhead lines run safely, reliably, and efficiently. You’ll be involved in projects that contribute to the UK’s transition to clean energy, with National Grid investing £24 billion over the next five years to help deliver Net Zero.

What you'll get up to during your Industrial Placement: 

• Visit sites and work with contractors and engineers to help identify faults and suggest improvements.
• Learn how we plan and manage large-scale energy projects, from early ideas to delivery.
• Work in small teams to support project development and decision-making.
• Help create reports, presentations, and spreadsheets that guide how we manage our assets.
• Use data to understand how our equipment is performing and where improvements can be made.
• Learn about safety standards and help promote a safe working environment.
• Collaborate with different teams and stakeholders to share information and support project goals.
• Gain insight into how technical decisions are made and how they align with company policies.

You’ll gain hands-on experience from day one, working on real projects that make a difference. With support from experienced engineers and mentors, you’ll build your confidence, develop your technical and professional skills, and get a behind-the-scenes look at how the UK’s energy infrastructure is managed and improved. It’s a great opportunity to explore your future career path while contributing to a more sustainable energy system.

Our 12-month Industrial Placement offers you the opportunity to kickstart your career within the energy sector and discover your unique superpower. Throughout your placement, you’ll receive a tailored development programme designed to support your growth and development. This includes a combination of in-person and virtual training sessions led by our development team, as well as access to a range digital learning tools to help further enhance your skills.

Throughout your placement you’ll have opportunity to make connections amongst your cohort as well as regular check ins with a mentor and our Early Careers Team. Day-to-day, your placement manager will provide you access to a variety of on-the-job opportunities where you’ll take on real assignments and projects to make a genuine impact within your respective function. By the end of your placement, you’ll have developed your understanding of our business and the energy sector for your future career.

You'll need to be in your penultimate year at University, on track to achieve a minimum 2:2 in an Electrical Engineering degree. You'll need to commit to completing a 12-month Industrial Placement that will begin June 2026 and be eager to apply your knowledge in a real-world setting. You'll need flexibility to travel within role and throughout your placement as required.

As this role involves travel to various site locations, such as substations and overheadlines, we ask that successful applicants hold a full, valid UK driving licence, obtained three months before your start date. This will be a condition of your offer if you are a successful applicant.

You’ll need flexibility to travel within role and throughout your rotations as required [as in order to carry out the requirments of this role you'll need to travel to sites, substations, depots and our training centres.

This industrial placement is based in Crossgates House, Leeds. This means you'll be expected to travel to this base location and around this region as part of your role.

As a first step to your career in the energy industry, our Industrial Placement programmes are like no other. You’ll gain an insight into how we work at National Grid, providing you with a taster of the opportunities that await you. In addition, you’ll also receive some great rewards and benefits:

• Starting salary of £24,109
• 26 days holiday
• A chance to land a place on our Graduate Programme subject to your performance during your placement.
• Pensions plan, share-option scheme and flexible benefits
• 3 days development training, volunteering opportunities, close mentorship and regular feedback
• Invitation to join Newnet, our new starters network and employee resource group

You’ll gain more than just experience. We believe in nurturing talent and recognising exceptional performance. If you excel during your placement, you may receive an offer to join our Graduate Programme after you successfully complete your degree.

You can only apply for one Industrial Placement opportunity during this recruitment cycle. We kindly ask that you review all our student opportunities and apply for the one that aligns closest with your aspirations and interests.

We recruit on a rolling basis and reserve the right to close our vacancies once we have enough applications/based on volume of applications. We encourage you to apply as early as possible to ensure you obtain the place you want in the application process. 

Assessment centres will be held between November - April 2026

National Grid's Graduate & Student opportunities in the UK are open to all applicants who meet the eligibility criteria including an existing and valid right to work in the UK. As part of the application process this will need to be evidenced and verified before you can start the programme.

Please note that in most cases, National Grid is unable to offer sponsorship for employment under the UK points-based immigration system. As such, applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK without requiring sponsorship now or in the future under the UK points-based immigration system. However, in exceptional circumstances where there is a clear and demonstrable need for specialist skills that cannot be sourced from the local labour market, National Grid may consider offering sponsorship. All applications are welcome from candidates who meet these requirements, regardless of race, nationality, or ethnic origin.

Please be aware that it’s your responsibility to explore avenues of working in the UK, as we're not able to provide advice on this. For information about visas please visit https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/work-visas