Principal Overhead Line (OHL) Engineer

• Planning, scheduling, and execution of HV transmission line projects including:
  • Prepare cost estimates, project budgets, and resource allocation plans.
  • Coordinate with project managers, clients and other stakeholders to ensure project requirements are met.
  • Coordination and technical leadership in the delivery of HV transmission line engineering and design projects/packages.
• Developing transmission line alignments, profiles, and structure spotting using PLS-CADD.
• Performing sag-tension analysis and validating clearances in accordance with relevant standards (e.g. EN 50341, NG TS 2.04).
• Preparing and reviewing design deliverables including plan/profile drawings, stringing charts, structure schedules, and loading reports.
• Assessing tower and pole structure loading and coordinating foundation designs with geotechnical inputs.
• Leading and/or contributing to the following project types:
  • New transmission line designs (greenfield)
  • Reconductoring and sag-tension recalculations
  • Uprating and clearance improvement studies
  • Structure/pole strength assessments and retrofits
  • Foundation strengthening (e.g., pile extensions, grillage upgrades)
  • Line cut-ins, tee-offs, and route deviations
  • Tower/pole replacements and asset renewal
  • OPGW or earthwire replacement and shielding reviews
  • Participating in design reviews, QA/verification processes, and constructability assessments.
  • Supporting delivery of construction-ready drawings and material schedules.
  • Coordinating with drafting, structural, civil, electrical, and geotechnical teams for integrated design outputs.
  • Providing guidance and mentoring to junior engineers and contributing to continuous improvement through lessons learned and design innovation.

Discipline-Specific Responsibilities

Civil / Structural / Mechanical Focus:Applicable to applicants with a civil, structural, or mechanical engineering background involved in OHL projects.

• Model towers or poles using PLS-TOWER or PLS-POLE, including strength, stability, and member capacity checks.
• Support or lead foundation assessments and designs (pad, pile, raft, grillage) in collaboration with geotechnical engineers.
• Prepare or review general arrangement drawings, connection details, fabrication drawings, and part lists.
• Assess the structural adequacy of towers/poles for reconductoring, uprating, or retrofit purposes.
• Contribute to constructability assessments including cranage, access, erection sequencing, and outage constraints.

Electrical Focus (Applicable Only to Candidates with an Electrical Engineering Background):For applicants with an electrical engineering background who possess experience in OHL design:

• Select appropriate conductor types, earthwires, and OPGW based on system requirements and environmental factors.
• Perform insulation coordination studies, including BIL ratings, insulator string design, and strike/arcing distance assessments.
• Review electrical clearances and evaluate thermal ratings of line sections under different loading scenarios.
• Conduct shielding angle analysis, critical span evaluations, and lightning protection adequacy assessments.
• Contribute to EMF, induction, and line loss analysis using applicable software; coordinate termination and bonding interfaces with substation teams.

The successful candidate will have the following Qualifications:

• Bachelors degree in Engineering (Civil, Structural, Mechanical, or Electrical Engineering) is essential.
• A minimum of 813years of relevant experience in HV (132kV+) overhead line transmission design and delivery.
• Chartered or Professional Engineer status (or working towards it) is preferred.
• Demonstrated experience delivering a range of HV OHL projects including new builds, reconductoring, uprating, and asset renewals.
• Proven ability to coordinate across disciplines and review detailed technical outputs to a high standard.