Graduate Substation Engineer Programme 2025 - South East (Kent)

Job Details

Graduate Substation Engineer, Electricity Transmission Asset Operations - South East (Kent)

About the role

As owners of Wales and England’s electricity transmission network we’re at the vanguard of the energy transition. We’re looking for the brightest engineering graduates to help propel us forwards into a greener energy future.  

We’re offering a highly unique, immersive experience, designed to give you an in-depth understanding of substation engineering while being paid.  

You will experience a wide variety of projects and work with diverse teams from project to construction through to commissioning. 

Key Accountabilities include:

• Testing equipment, safety, protection and control of the system, substation refurbishment maintenance, technical support, problem diagnosis and fault fixing 
• Provide support and assistance to your Operations Manager and other team members whilst undertaking a project 
• Develop in the role of Project Leader (PL) role to enable successful delivery of work packages, ensuring a commercial focus is given to delivery in line with standard job times and OMGS budgets 
• Lead on the skills, knowledge and experience to ensure that staff are set to work in the correct manner, including provision of risk assessments and method statements, and that toolbox talks take place 
• Work with the wider team to monitor, review and progress contracts for unlicensed customers and review and progress work undertaken by contractors 
• Be responsible for site delivery activities of projects and the appointed Temporary Works Co-ordinator and Principal Contractor (Site Manager) as defined in CDM Regs 
• Carry out training to enable you to undertake roles as defined in National Grid’s Safety Rules 
• Drive continuous improvement through working with other industry bodies to constantly review/ensure best practice 

About you

You will:

• Learn about and become an expert on testing equipment, safety, protection and control of the system, substation refurbishment maintenance, technical support, problem diagnosis and fault fixing 
• Lead and be proactive in all aspects of the work programme communicating with the Project Leader or the line manager, as appropriate, to enable the work programme to stay on track and be updated to maintain target prioritisation as necessary 
• Develop the skills to manage a range of duties on plant and equipment, as required, to a defined standard that include maintenance, site delivery of projects, major fault investigation and repair, safety implementation and monitoring 
• Have responsibility for providing engineering and project leadership knowledge to operational HVDC/AC assets. This will include being an integral part of strategic projects, providing expertise into our present and future portfolios.  

At the end of the two years’ you will begin a full-time job as a Substation Engineer. 

This is a job where the decisions you make will impact the transmission of electricity in England and Wales for the next 40 or 50 years. A job where you’ll be delivering maintenance work, replacing and refurbishing assets, fixing mechanical and electrical issues, and connecting new customers. A job that helps connect energy from renewable sources such as wind and solar farms, to the transmission network.  

Eventually some of you will even be commissioning new equipment onto the system and taking responsibility for the safety of your co-workers. 

What you'll need

You'll need a minimum 2:2 in a degree based on electrical principles, such as electrical engineering, power systems engineering or electronics. 

It's essential that you have a full valid UK driving license that allows you to drive in the UK.

Location

This role is based across substations located in our South East (Kent) region. This means you'll be travelling around this region as part of your role.

Due to the nature of this role, you'll need to live within a 30 minute drive of the following postcode: TN25 6AF

What you'll get in return 

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. 

Applications & Deadline

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 November 2024 and March 2025 in Warwick.

More Information

At National Grid, it’s our people that provide our true superpower. They drive and sustain our growth, their unique differences only making us stronger, so we pride ourselves on placing diversity, equity and inclusion at the heart of who we are and what we do and are committed to building a workforce of the future which represents the communities we serve.

We welcome and encourage applicants with diverse experiences and backgrounds, and offer flexible and tailored support, at home and in the office where and when needed.

All our offers are based on the right to work in the UK, qualifications, the innovation from creating diverse teams and perspectives, as well as business need. 

About National Grid

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. 

How to apply

To apply for this role and to find out more, please click on the apply button.

Please note that applications may close before the application deadline, so apply early to avoid disappointment.