Graduate Power System Engineer, Electricity Transmission Customer Connections

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. 

This role is based within our Customer Connections Team. This is the department that connects customers — such as data centres, battery storage projects, offshore wind farms, transport networks and solar farms — to the electricity transmission network. 

It’s a collaborative effort, and at any one time there are between 300-400 people working within the department. Their expertise includes: construction, project management, commercial, analytical, account management, communications, power system engineering and feasibility engineering.

The connections process is key to delivering the capacity needed for an efficient and renewable transmission network and we need to deliver an increasing number of highly complex and exciting new projects. In this role you would play a crucial role in enabling us to do this.

You will join our Power System Engineering teams, working on customer connections to the Electricity Transmission System. Your role involves ensuring compliance, maximizing design value, and addressing long-term implications. You'll identify innovative options, justify infrastructure development, ensure security of supply, and support multi-million-pound projects. You'll also assess new technology impact and engage with stakeholders in whole network planning.

Some of your key accountabilities will be: 

• Using innovative engineering solutions to meet customer needs and comply with our network's requirements.
• Ensuring customer connection designs are suitable and accurately describe ownership and asset classifications.
• Building and managing technical relationships with customers, understanding their business goals and fulfilling our obligations to them.
• Defining the minimum requirements for customer connections and participating in the offer process.
• Contributing to regional and national strategies, keeping records of activities to guide customers to cost-effective connection locations.

*Please be aware this would be your permanent role that you would go into after the Graduate Scheme has finished.

As you’ll be joining our 18-month graduate programme, you’ll have a tailored development pathway to support you as you develop a wide range of leadership, business, and technical skills. You’ll attend in-person and virtual development sessions throughout your programme to equip you with the essential skills required, as you begin your career at National Grid. We’re committed to the personal development of our colleagues so as well as the support from your line manager as you navigate your new role, you’ll also have access to 121 coaching and a mentor, from a previous cohort to help you transition from campus to corporate life. 

All graduates complete the core development programme to develop key skills such as how to make an impact, giving feedback and presentation skills. Aligned to this role is our Engineering pathway and as part of this you’ll develop further key technical skills aligned to your role as well as important learning modules such as working safely. If relevant to your career aspirations, you will be able to access Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) membership and seek support from a National Grid IET mentor to help you secure your chartership. 
 
We believe in the importance of getting as much on-the-job experience as possible and to do this, you will complete three 6-month placements, across the UK, designed to deepen your understanding of your speciality but to also broaden your knowledge of our business. At the end of your 18-month programme you’ll return to your initial placement area to kickstart your superpowered career.

You'll need to achieve a 2.2 degree in an Engineering, Mathematics, Computer Science or Data Science discipline (or similar quantitative STEM field). Preferably this would be in Electrical Engineering. It doesn’t matter when you graduated or if you are currently working towards your qualification. We just need you to be eager to apply your knowledge in a real-world setting.

To be eligible to apply for this role, candidates must be able to demonstrate that they will have the legal right to work in the UK for the duration of the graduate programme. If you do not currently have the right to work in the UK, or your visa is due to expire during the period of the graduate scheme, please indicate this in your application and we will consider your eligibility for visa sponsorship and whether it would be appropriate to take your application forward.

This role is based in Warwick offering flexible hybrid working, where possible.

We are proud to offer a graduate starting salary of £34,895.
 
Not only will you receive a tailored development programme to progress a superpowered career at National Grid, we also offer some great rewards and benefits too: 

• £2,000 bonus, once joined and started on programme 
• 26 days holiday 
• £2,400 payment on successful completion of the programme 
• Up to £200 per month accommodation allowance as you move around the business, and additional annual leave for when you move between placements plus assistance with moving personal belongings
• Other benefits include pension and share-option schemes, Flexible Benefits, close mentorship and regular feedback & volunteering opportunities. 

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. 

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

Assessment centres will be held between then end of January and mid March in Eakring.