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Lead Engineer – HVDC (Glasgow, UK / Hybrid)
Job Overview
Hunter Philips Executive Search is recruiting a senior-level Lead HVDC Engineer on behalf of a prominent power transmission client in Glasgow, United Kingdom.
This role takes end-to-end technical ownership of High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) power system design, architecture, and deployment—from initial front-end engineering design (FEED) through to site installation and final commissioning. The Lead Engineer serves as the technical authority for major grid connection and renewable energy integration projects across the UK and internationally.
Key responsibilities include:
- HVDC System Architecture & Design: Leading the technical design, specification, and integration of HVDC converter stations, valve halls, and associated balance-of-plant equipment.
- Directing complex electrical simulations, including load flow, fault analysis, harmonic assessments, and transient stability studies.
- OEM & Stakeholder Integration: Interfacing directly with Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), National Grid/Transmission System Operators (TSOs), and utility clients to align technical specifications.
- Field Execution Support: Providing high-level technical oversight and expert guidance during factory acceptance testing (FAT), site testing, and final energization.
- Standards & Compliance: Ensuring full alignment with international power engineering standards (e.g., IEC, CIGRÉ, IEEE) and national grid codes.
- Coaching junior and mid-level electrical engineers to expand technical capability within the power delivery division.
About Us
Hunter Philips Executive Search is a boutique executive recruitment firm specializing in the global clean energy, power transmission, and infrastructure sectors. Acting on behalf of leading engineering Consultancies, Transmission System Operators (TSOs), and EPC contractors, Hunter Philips connects specialized technical leaders with major energy transition projects worldwide.
Key Requirements & Qualifications
- Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Power Systems Engineering, or a closely related discipline.
- Core Experience: Minimum of 5 years of dedicated engineering experience in HVDC transmission systems or high-voltage AC/DC power networks.
- Technical Expertise: Deep knowledge of modern HVDC technologies—specifically Line Commutated Converters (LCC) and Voltage Source Converters (VSC)—along with advanced protection schemes and control systems.
- Simulation & Software Tools: Hands-on proficiency with industry-standard power system simulation platforms, such as PSCAD, MATLAB/Simulink, or PSS®E.
- Desirable Assets: Prior experience on offshore wind grid connections, hybrid AC/DC grid integration, or major turnkey EPC/FEED delivery models.
Role Benefits & Perks
- Competitive Compensation: High-tier base salary augmented by annual performance-related bonuses.
- Flexible Working Options: Supported hybrid and flexible working structures balancing office presence, home working, and client site visits.
- Comprehensive Benefits: Complete healthcare coverage, matched pension contributions, and generous annual leave allowances.
- Global Impact: Directly shape critical grid infrastructure driving the net-zero transition across offshore wind and cross-border interconnectors.
Salary Insight
- Estimated Market Range: Based on UK industry benchmarks for senior HVDC technical lead positions in 2026, compensation typically ranges between £70,000 and £90,000+ per year (plus executive bonus and benefits), depending on specific VSC/PSCAD simulation expertise and major project track record.
Career Guide Tips for HVDC Engineers
- Focus on VSC Technology: Modern offshore wind and subsea interconnectors predominantly utilize Voltage Source Converter (VSC-HVDC) technology—ensure your knowledge of modular multilevel converters (MMC) is current.
- Master CIGRÉ & IEC Guidelines: Deep understanding of relevant technical working groups (such as CIGRÉ B4 study committee publications) sets top-tier technical leads apart.
- Bridge Software to Hardware: Demonstrate how your PSCAD or PSS®E dynamic models translate directly into hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing and real-world converter control tuning.
How to Prepare a CV for This Position
- Feature Technical Software Explicitly: Place tools like PSCAD, MATLAB/Simulink, or PSS®E in a prominent technical summary at the top of your resume.
- Detail Specific Infrastructure Projects: Explicitly state the megawatt (MW) capacities, voltage levels (e.g., ±320kV, ±525kV), and topology (LCC vs. VSC) of past HVDC schemes you have worked on.
- Highlight Vendor & TSO Interactions: Emphasize direct experience coordinating with major OEMs (e.g., Siemens Energy, Hitachi Energy, GE Vernova) and grid authorities.
How to Prepare for the Interview
- Review Dynamic System Performance: Be prepared to explain technical nuances regarding Black Start capabilities, reactive power support, and synthetic inertia in weak AC networks.
- Prepare STAR Technique Case Studies: Structure your answers around specific challenges you faced during system modeling, OEM specification reviews, or site commissioning.
- Demonstrate Cross-Functional Leadership: Be ready to discuss how you communicate complex electrical physics to non-technical project managers and commercial stakeholders.
Top 3 Interview Questions & How to Answer Them
1. “How do you evaluate and mitigate the risk of harmonic resonance or control interactions when connecting a VSC-HVDC link into a weak AC grid?”
- Key Focus: Detail your approach using electromagnetic transient (EMT) studies in PSCAD, performing impedance-based stability analyses, and collaborating with OEMs to tune converter control parameters.
2. “Walk us through a time you identified a critical gap between an OEM’s converter station design and a client’s grid code requirement.”
- Key Focus: Focus on your attention to technical specifications, your structured approach to technical query (TQ) management, and how you negotiated a compliant solution without breaching budget or schedule constraints.
3. “How do you approach mentoring junior engineers on high-voltage protection schemes while maintaining tight project deadlines?”
- Key Focus: Discuss structured knowledge-sharing sessions, pairing junior engineers with real-world calculation reviews under guided supervision, and establishing clear quality assurance checklists.
How to Apply For This Lead Engineer
To apply for this executive placement opportunity, submit your updated CV directly to Gavin John, Executive Search Consultant at Hunter Philips:
- Email: gavin.john@hunterphilips.com
- Direct Line: +44 161 240 3610 | Mobile: +44 7493 991 857
- Website: www.hunterphilips.com
Disclaimer
This job summary is an independent document created for informational, educational, and career guidance purposes only. It does not constitute an official job offer or contract from Hunter Philips or its client. Compensation ranges, specific responsibilities, and requirements are subject to final confirmation by the recruiting organization.