Planning Engineer – HVDC
SP Energy Networks, Lochside Avenue, Edinburgh Park, Edinburgh. EH12 9DJ
Salary starting from £55,000 plus excellent benefits
Permanent / Hybrid
Closing date: 19th November 2026
Help us create a better future, quicker
The Planning Engineer – HVDC role sits at the heart of one of the UK's most significant Energy Infrastructure programmes.
SP Energy Networks is delivering over £10 billion of investment in the GB Electricity grid over the next decade, with a major focus on HVDC links delivered in Joint Venture with National Grid.
As Planning Engineer – HVDC within the PMO team, you will oversee the production, change control and risk management of high-quality project programme plans for SP Transmission. This is a role where your Planning expertise will directly enable Scotland's Net Zero goal by 2044, assisting the rapid growth in Renewable Energy Infrastructure that powers our sustainable future.
What you'll be doing
Taking ownership of programme management and maintenance using Primavera (P6), you will ensure the delivery of complex, multi-million-pound infrastructure projects stays on track. You will preparing and updating the programme masterplan by collating planning data from multiple sources and consolidating it into a comprehensive overall programme.
Identifying, capturing and tracking interdependencies within plans and schedules, you will provide interpretive evaluation of Planning data from Contractors, preparing clear reporting information for Senior Stakeholders. Ensuring timely preparation of Project and Programme reports meet the governance framework which is a key accountability, you will quality assure schedules, coach colleagues in best practice and maintain programme-level schedules that accurately reflect delivery progress.
Working primarily from the Edinburgh office with occasional travel to sites across Scotland and England, you will cultivate strong relationships across the project team, including Contractors engaged in Project and Programme development. You will facilitate Planning workshops with Senior Stakeholders and Project Managers, bringing clarity and structure to complex delivery requirements.
Managing the change control process for the plan is essential, as is maintaining change history for audit purposes and securing all relevant business authorisations. You will track delivery against baseline, issue reports on plan performance to Management and Key Stakeholders, conducting risk evaluation to identify potential threats. Your recommendations on mitigation strategies will help the programme stay resilient and adaptable.
What you'll bring
You will bring significant experience in large-scale, complex infrastructure or energy EPC projects. Experience in UK Transmission or Distribution upgrade projects is beneficial, though not essential. You should have experience working within a Planning team to deliver major infrastructure projects, ideally in the UK Electricity Transmission industry.
Technical Planning expertise to advanced Primavera level is required, along with knowledge and use of other planning tools such as MS Project. Familiarity with programme data and requirements for system integration such as PowerBI is valuable.
Demonstrating experience in Project or Contract Management within FIDIC EPC type contracts, ideally with a background in capital projects, you will be educated with a Degree, HND or HNC level qualification or possess demonstrable equivalent experience.
Self-motivated with effective communication skills, capable of engaging with Stakeholders at all levels, your methodical problem-solving skills will be well-practiced. Skilled in Microsoft Office suite including MS Project, experience in a Programme Delivery or Project Planning environment is essential.
Electrical network experience is desirable, as is a working knowledge of Programme or Project Management methodologies such as PRINCE2. An Engineering Project background, preferably within the Electrical…