Undergraduate Connections Engineer, Electricity Transmission Customer Connections

About us

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. 

About the Role

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 would be working within the Regional Connections team. They are responsible for the following activities when a customer wants to connect to the grid:

• Creating customer offers
• Option selection 
• Development
• Sanction of a portfolio of customer driven capital investments

The team focuses on delivering cost-effective and safe solutions that connect customers to the transmission system, adhering to electrical design and safety standards. In this role, you will assist Connection Engineers in advancing project investments through our Network Development Process.

Some of your key accountabilities may include:

• Liaise with numerous internal and external key project stakeholders
• Writing and presenting our key documentations to governance committees.
• Prepare technical scoping documents for our contractors and cost estimates
• Broadening your understanding of customer commercial contracts and agreements.

Our Industrial Placement

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. 

What you'll need to apply

You'll need to be in your penultimate year at University, on track to achieve a minimum 2:2 in an Engineering, Mathematics, Computer Science or Data Science discipline (or similar quantitative STEM field). You’ll need to commit to a 12-month Industrial Placement that will begin June 2025 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.

Location

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

What you’ll get in return (Industrial Placements)

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.

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 then end of January and mid March in Eakring.

More Information