Principal Traction Power Engineer

Location/s: Birmingham, Croydon, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, London, Manchester, Derby, Sheffield, York
Relocation supported: Not supported
Recruiter contact: Madeleine Knight

Mott MacDonald is a global engineering, management, and development consultancy with over 20,000 employees across more than 50 countries and 140+ offices. 

We work across incredible global industries, delivering exciting work that is defining our future and making an important societal impact in the communities we serve. Our people power our performance – we succeed when they do. With countless opportunities to collaborate, learn, and grow, the possibilities for excellence are as varied as every individual. 

Whether you want to grow as a subject matter expert or broaden your experience with roles across our international community, you’re surrounded by global specialists who want to combine their expertise and champion you to be your best. As a proudly employee-owned business, we benefit our clients, our communities, and each other, investing in creating the right space for everyone to feel empowered, included, and valued. Whatever your ambition, Mott MacDonald is where people come to be brilliant.

About us
At Mott MacDonald, we are dedicated to conceiving, driving, and implementing transport solutions that transform cities, regions, and asset owners/operators around the globe. From preparing business cases and advising on revenue, procurement, and environmental legislation, to delivering completed infrastructure and ensuring its maintenance, our planning, engineering, environmental, and management skills cover the entire project cycle. We play a pivotal role in developing and delivering the Global Transport Sector Strategy, making a tangible impact on communities worldwide.

About the role
An exciting technical role has become available for an ambitious engineer to join our Traction Power & Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) team undertaking power modelling, HV substation design and EMC assurance on rail projects of various sizes, many of which are multi-disciplinary in nature.

The successful candidate will be highly organised, self-starting, and entrepreneurial in nature, fully able to demonstrate very good time management and communication skills, as well as demonstrating a strong technical foundation. A curious mind and an appetite for learning are essential to thrive in our consultancy environment.

Dependent upon specific project requirements, there may be a requirement to travel to other locations (company or client, office, or site) within the UK and overseas for various periods of time.

Reporting to and working with the Traction Power Team Leader, your day-to-day work will include a combination of the following:
•    Formulating scope of work, methodology and associate programme/budget to support bids;
•    Undertake site surveys, asset records correlation and on-site record verification;
•    Prepare and/or review technical reports, feasibility studies, option selection reports;
•    Undertake and/or supervise power system modelling work (using ETAP and TRAIN, Mott MacDonald’s multi-train simulator);
•    Prepare and/or review outline and detailed designs for AC and DC electrification schemes including distribution and electrical track equipment;
•    Undertake/review earthing & bonding and protection studies;
•    Provide input to other disciplines, including civils, SCADA LV Power, signalling and systems assurance etc;
•    Undertake construction sites, inspection, on site design verification;
•    Interface with clients (prepare and give presentations, chair meetings, etc);
•    Carry out bespoke technical investigation, which may require on-site measurements;
•    Mentoring of junior staff

Candidate specification
Essential:
•    Degree in Electrical Engineering or similar subject
•    10+ years’ experience in Electrical Engineering or equivalent in the rail industry. 
•    Attained Chartership
•    Experience of Electric track equipment design                                                              
•    Experience of substation design (AC and DC)                                                                            
•    Experience in development of electrical protection                                                                   
•    Experience in HV and LV cable route 
design
•    Experience of traction load flow modelling software and power system studies and/or experience of EMC assurance applied to rail systems

Desirable
•    Experience of design independent assessment;
•    Appreciation of environmental issues associated with rail engineering works;
•    Good working knowledge and demonstrable experience of Network Rail and Transport for London projects
•    IT skills: proficiency in usage of ETAP modelling software or similar, TRAIN simulation software or similar, BIM and associated CAD software package ( AutoCAD, Bentley AECOsim and Microstation);

We are actively recruiting a diverse workforce that is reflective of the communities we serve. We recognise that differences in ability, skills and experience are a strength and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds.

UK Immigration

Mott MacDonald Ltd. are not currently offering sponsorship to candidates under the Skilled Worker visa route in the UK. This decision is as a consequence of the changes made to the Skilled Worker route by the UK Government in April 2024. We continue to welcome applications from candidates who are eligible for alternative immigration routes in the UK, that do not require sponsorship as a Skilled Worker now or in future.

Agile working  

At Mott MacDonald, we believe it makes business sense for you and your manager to choose how you can work most effectively to meet your client, team, and personal commitments. We offer a hybrid working policy that embraces your well-being, flexibility, and trust.

Equality, diversity, and inclusion 

We put equality, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of our business, seeking to promote fair employment procedures and practices to ensure equal opportunities for all. We encourage individual expression in our workplace and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels they can contribute.

Accessibility

We want you to perform your best at every stage in the recruitment process. If you are disabled or need any support to enable you to apply or attend an interview, please contact us at reasonable.adjustments@mottmac.com and we will talk to you about how we can support you.

We offer some fantastic benefits including:

Health and wellbeing

• Private medical insurance for all UK colleagues.
• Health cash plan to support you with every day health costs and treatments.
• Access to Peppy, providing free support from menopause experts for all UK colleagues.
• A variety of wellbeing support is available through our comprehensive wellbeing program, including access for you and your family.
• Ability to flex your salary to opt into a wide range of health benefits, many of which can be extended to your family too.

Financial wellbeing

• We match employee pension contributions between 4.5% and 7%.
• Life assurance equal up to 4 x your basic salary, with an option to increase the level of cover to 6 x your salary.
• Our income protection scheme provides a financial benefit, as well as absence and return to work support due to long-term illness or injury.
• Flexible benefits, including increased life assurance cover, critical illness insurance, payroll saving and will writing.
• As an independently owned business we share the financial success of the business with all our colleagues in various ways including annual bonus schemes.

Lifestyle

• A minimum of 33-35 days holiday each year, inclusive of public holidays and dependent on level, with the ability to buy or sell leave through our flexible benefits programme.
• Holiday entitlement increased to a minimum of 35 days after 5 years’ service.
• Variety of employee saving schemes and discounts from high-street retailers.

 Enhanced family and carers leave

• Enhanced family leave policies, including 26 weeks paid maternity and adoption leave, and two weeks paid paternity/partner leave.
• Our shared parental leave matches maternity leave meaning we pay up to 24 weeks at full pay.
• Up to five additional days leave are provided for those with significant caring responsibilities, two of which are paid.

Learning and development

• Primary annual professional institution subscription.
• A broad range of opportunities to enhance both technical and soft skills through mentoring, formal training, and self-development options.

Networks, communities, and social outcomes

• Join a wide range of groups including our Advanced Employee Networks which support our LGBTQ+, gender, race and ethnicity, disability, and parents/carers communities.
• Make a difference within our communities through our social outcomes.

Apply now, or for more information about our application process, click here.