Senior Electrical Engineer

Senior Electrical Engineer

We are looking for an experienced and motivated Senior Electrical Engineer to join our operations team, which typically operates embedded power projects comprising reciprocating gas engine or battery storage plants between 2 - 10MWe at 11kV grid level, with a number of larger plants between 20 - 50 MWe at 33kV, 66kV and 132kV grid levels.

Reporting to the Head of Operations Support, this senior role is responsible for the Control, Operation and Maintenance Activities for all electrical plant and apparatus across the portfolio. The portfolio is split into two regions, each managed by a Regional Manager, the regions are organised into four Areas, with a number of sites lead by an Area Manager and a team of engineers.

The Senior Electrical Engineer is responsible for the group's electrical policies and electrical training strategy for all internal staff. The role is also responsible for all electrical maintenance, working alongside the Regional Managers to optimise plant uptime.

You will manage a small team of expert Electrical Engineering staff, specialising in High Voltage Electrical Systems, working across construction, commissioning and operations phases. Our electrical maintenance and switching operations are outsourced to carefully selected companies, and you and your team manage these relationships closely, as well as other stakeholders such as DNOs, to provide high levels of support and service..

Applicants will need to hold a driving licence and have the ability to travel as our sites are across the UK. Location to be agreed.

About Conrad Energy Ltd

Our energy solutions directly address the energy trilemma (security, sustainability and affordability), enabling the UK’s transition to a low carbon economy. Each of our projects deliver critical power and services to the National Grid as well as industrial and commercial customers. Our expertise, technology and flexibility are key to the UK achieving its ambitious net zero targets.

Backed by I Squared Capital, a global investor in energy and infrastructure assets, we are the UK’s largest owner/operator of flexible power plants with 900MW in operation and over 1GW in early pipeline. Put into context, this means we could provide power for an hour to around 1.8 million homes already, with another 2 million homes in the pipeline.

From our beginnings in 2017 as a flexible gas generation business with a team of 14 people, we have grown to become one of the UK’s leading vertically integrated energy companies, owning and operating over 65 energy facilities across the UK. Our significant development pipeline covers flexible generation, battery energy storage, solar, hydrogen and stability services. Our innovative data driven, in-house automation tools give us a unique edge when trading and maximising our own assets and those of our clients. We have built not only an impressive portfolio of energy assets, but also a seriously ambitious and knowledgeable team.

What you’ll be doing

• To carry out all your duties with health and safety as your number one priority. Responsibilities for your own Health and Safety, for the Health and Safety of your work colleagues and any others who may be affected by the operations under your responsibility or control.
• Ensure that all electrical plant and equipment are both run efficiently and safely as scheduled by the trading team and maintained efficiently and safely in between times of commercial demand. Both operation and maintenance are to be carried out in accordance with H&S systems / Operational Policies and Procedures, including technical OEM operating literature and guidelines.
• Focusing on KPIs of the sites’ electrical balance of plant equipment, such as availability and efficiency, to identify when improvements to maintenance practices are needed. To define and implement appropriate electrical operations and maintenance procedures and practices, working with and developing the company’s information systems. This could, for example, mean standardization of maintenance-related data capture and analysis to drive improvement, or implementing additional preventive maintenance based on cost-benefit analysis.
• Manage, develop, lead and motivate the Electrical Team to ensure their potential is realised to the mutual advantage of the Company, external stakeholders and the employees themselves.
• Support, train, coach and mentor associated Operations Area Managers on electrical matters as necessary. Ensure all staff who access electrical equipment are trained and aware of their health and safety responsibilities.
• To assist in developing and implementing annual budgets for electrical spare parts and inventory for the operational sites across the group, ensuring P&L spend does not to exceed cost code limits for period. Gain necessary approvals required for spend on regional operation and maintenance budgets.
• Bring forward and implement remedial action plans as required, providing full cost and time analysis as required.
• Good communication and management of information from specific sites to internal and external stakeholders.
• Assist in the selection and management of external contractors and suppliers, including reviews on performance and quality of work.
• Provide maintenance services to a high standard for external customers as required.
• Support handover of newly built sites from the Construction team or new acquisitions into Operations through ensuring plant, equipment, facilities and personnel are ready.
• Adherence to all Company Policies & Procedures (including but not limited to) those specified in the Employment Handbook, H&S Policy, Environmental Management Systems, Integrated Management Systems and any financial/accounting systems.

Principal Skills

• Good technical knowledge with SAP capabilities of electrical systems up to 33kV, exposure up to 132kV.
• Ability to make balanced decisions regarding changes to maintenance schedules, experienced at organising the most challenging / complex repairs and maintenance processes.
• Sound people management skills that create both urgency and ownership within the team.
• An understanding of ISO 9,001 Quality Management Systems
• A track record of using data, systems and processes to drive continuous improvement
• Highly experienced at managing supply chain for electrical services - good commercial acumen
• Able to communicate engineering issues to senior management and across disciplines.
• Reasonable technical knowledge and experience of gas reciprocating engines, large battery storage systems and high voltage / power installations.
• Work closely with and support other departments in the business: Mechanical Operations Team, Development, Construction, Finance, Procurement, Human Resources and HSQE.
• Extensive network of contacts within the power generation and distribution industry.

Knowledge

Essential: Sound knowledge of Electrical Theory, Applications and Technologies for the Electricity Generation and Distribution industry. Legal, Safety and Environmental obligations and responsibility that impact upon the reliable operation of the above. it. Working knowledge of developing and managing maintenance through CMMS systems.

Desirable: A good understanding of Digital Control and Instrumentation techniques and technologies Exposure to MWM, Jenbacher, Siemens, MTU, Cummins or CATERPILLAR reciprocating gas engines for generating electricity.

Skills

Essential: Good written and numerical skills, IT literate, Ability to work under pressure and meet constantly changing deadlines and priorities. A valid full driving licence for countrywide travel.

Desirable: Managing change in engineering maintenance environments, managing customer-facing maintenance contracts. Ability to drive Root Cause Analysis processes.

Experience

Essential: Proven track record in the design, installation, operation and maintenance of electricity generation and balance of plant equipment up to 33kV.

Desirable: Control and Instrumentation experience. Exposure to higher voltages up to 132kV, experience in operating battery energy storage systems A good feel for data and analytics in an engineering maintenance backdrop

Qualifications

Essential: Educated to at least HNC level or equivalent, in Electrical Engineering augmented by experience in Electric Power Engineering or equivalent environment.

Desirable: Electricity Generation or Heavy Electrical / Process Plant Training, IET membership or equivalent professional recognition.

The benefits we will give you

• Competitive salary dependent on experience
• Discretionary performance-based bonus
• 25 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays
• Contributory Pension Scheme
• Life Insurance
• SimplyHealth health cashback plan
• 24/7 Private GP access
• Flexible working
• Training and Development
• Salary sacrifice EV scheme
• Discounts on Lightwave RF smart home products
• Dog-friendly office

Please note that we will be shortlisting on an ongoing basis for this position, the company reserves the right to close the recruitment early should a suitable candidate be identified.

This job description is intended as a basic guide to the responsibilities of the post and is not exhaustive. The post holder may be asked to undertake duties that are in line with the level of the role. The job description will be subject to regular review and amendment as necessary in consultation with the post holder.