Title:  Network Development Engineer

About the role

National Energy System Operator (NESO) recognises the potential of bright and talented individuals, and we encourage you to join us as Great Britain’s energy system undergoes an ambitious, exciting, and vital transformation. Together with industry, we are creating a cleaner, more sustainable energy future.

NESO are looking for a few more Network Development Engineers to join our Strategic Energy Planning function covering a range of skillset and experience. These exciting roles brings unique opportunities for the person with a passion to accelerate our progress to net zero by helping solve engineering challenges in developing energy networks and setting strategic direction for energy network plans.

Exploring your own curiosity and working with a range of subject specialists you can play an important part in developing design options, surfacing challenges and problems to solve, and engaging across the energy industry to shape the centralised strategic plans. You will be responsible for considering how different network design objectives may influence or be impacted by network design recommendations, and thinking creatively, innovatively and methodically to find the best solutions and network plans.

This role can be based from Warwick, Wokingham or Glasgow, and we continue to offer hybrid working from office and home. We are open to full time and part time applicants, as well as flexible working arrangements.

About us

The creation of National Energy System Operator (NESO) is driven by an urgent need to unify and optimise our approach to energy. A more integrated and coordinated strategy is needed to meet the unprecedented challenges of climate change, ensuring secure energy supply, and keeping costs manageable for consumers.

Join us and empower your potential, energise our team, and be part of something bigger.

Your energy, our future, together.

About the National Energy System Operator (NESO)

In Autumn of 2024, the ESO transitioned to National Energy System Operator, or NESO for short. Previously denoted as the Future System Operator (or FSO), the new National Energy System Operator is the independent body responsible for planning Great Britain’s electricity and gas networks and operating the electricity system.  

The ESO, including all of its existing roles, are now at the heart of the new National Energy System Operator. As NESO, we will build on our existing roles, capabilities, and ways of working significantly to create an organisation the energy system and its users’ need. Our new capabilities will enable us to look across vectors, including electricity, natural gas and hydrogen, and crucially consider the trade-offs between them.

The organisation is set up as a public corporation with its own Board of independent directors, with complete operational independence from government, the regulator and any and all commercial interest. As was the ESO, NESO will be licenced and regulated by Ofgem through price control agreements and obligated to identify optimal solutions to system operations and planning in the most sustainable, affordable and secure way for all.

The time to deliver is now. As part of our team, you won’t just be touching the lives of almost everyone in Great Britain – you’ll be shaping the way we use and consume energy for generations to come.

Key Accountabilities

• Developing strategic network designs for the future electricity network needs of England, Wales and Scotland (including connection of large-scale offshore wind farms and wider network requirements)
• Working with Transmission Network Owners and other stakeholders to identify network developments required and review network design options
• Lead on development of technical methodologies for network planning to ensure our strategic energy plans remain holistic and meet network design objectives
• Lead on the appraisal of various design options against the defined network design objectives and provide final design recommendations 
• Share design recommendations and explain rationale and trade-offs across network design objectives to a range of technical and non-technical audiences (for example, technical reports, presentations, workshops etc.)

About you

We’re forging the path, and we know we can’t do it alone. That’s why we need visionary minds like yours to join us on this transformative journey. In this case, we’re looking for someone who:

• Passionate about achieving net zero in a sustainable and cost-effective way
• Experience of working with stakeholders who share the same passion and may see the same challenges from different points of view.
• Strong technical knowledge and experience of GB electricity transmission network design or offshore wind farm grid connection design, for example onshore transmission substation design or Offshore Transmission Owner Network design.  
• Knowledge of existing GB Transmission network planning process, for example Network Options Assessment (NOA)or Customer connection study processes is ideal but not essential 
• Knowledge and experience in offshore design of windfarm grid connection including HVDC and HVAC technologies would be ideal but not essential 
• Strong communicator with excellent writing skills, able to adapt style to explain complex technical issues in accessible ways.
• proven ability to build high quality relationships both internally and externally and using those to achieve the required outcomes. 
• Excellent organisation capabilities with the ability to lead and coordinate with multiple parties (including external stakeholders and contractors) to deliver high quality outcomes within agreed timescales 

About what you'll get

A competitive salary between £50,000 - £70,000 per annum – dependent on experience and capability. As well as your base salary, you will receive a bonus based on company performance, 26 days annual leave as standard and a competitive contributory pension scheme where we will double match your contribution to a maximum company contribution of 12%.

As we work towards creating a cleaner, greener, and more affordable future for all, we also work towards creating a place for our teammates to belong, with professional and personal growth and positive well-being.

• Full support and career-development resources to expand your skills, enhance your expertise, and maximise your potential along your career journey.
• A diverse and inclusive community of belonging, where teammates are empowered to bring ideas to the table.
• Generous Total Rewards Plan – comprising of health, finance and wealth, work/life balance, and career benefits.

More information

This role closes on 28th May 2025 at 23:59, however we encourage candidates to submit their application as early as possible and not wait until the published closing date as this can vary.

We work towards the highest standards in everything we do, including how we support, value and develop our people. Our aim is to encourage and support employees to thrive and be the best they can be. We celebrate the difference people can bring into our organisation, and welcome and encourage applicants with diverse experiences and backgrounds, and offer flexible and tailored support, at home and in the office. 

We're committed to building a workforce that represents the communities we serve, and a working environment in which each individual feels valued, respected, fairly treated, and able to reach their full potential.

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