Key Takeaways
- Start your career as a Graduate Design Engineer at National Grid Electricity Distribution in Bristol.
- Earn a starting salary of £38,289 with annual increases, plus a £2,000 joining bonus and £2,400 completion payment.
- Develop specialist engineering skills over an 18-month programme with three 6-month placements across the UK.
- Requires a 2:2 in Electrical Engineering or a related discipline and a full UK driving licence.
About the Role
National Grid Electricity Distribution (NGED) operates the electricity distribution systems for the Midlands, the Southwest of England and South Wales, serving over 8 million people.
What You'll Do
As a Graduate Design Engineer, you will join the Engineering Design team, contributing to the safe, reliable, and efficient operation of the electricity distribution network. You will work with specialist engineers to develop expertise in power system protection, analyse network behaviour, and calculate protection settings. You will gain hands-on experience with industry-standard engineering tools and software, developing a strong understanding of substation design, network operation, and technologies supporting the UK's transition to a lower-carbon future.
Key responsibilities include:
- Designing and configuring protection and control systems.
- Analysing electrical network models and calculating protection and automatic voltage control (AVC) settings for equipment up to 132kV.
- Configuring protection relays and developing programmable protection logic.
- Supporting investigations into network faults and protection system maloperations.
- Collaborating with engineers on new customer connections, asset replacement projects, and network reinforcement schemes.
- Developing skills in specialist software such as SINCAL, PSSE, Aspen, AutoCAD, and protection relay configuration tools.
- Contributing to the design and specification of protection and control systems for substations.
- Providing technical analysis and engineering support.
- Working towards professional registration and Chartered Engineer (CEng) status.
What You'll Need to Apply
- A minimum 2:2 degree in Electrical Engineering, Power Systems Engineering, or a closely related engineering discipline.
- A strong foundation in engineering, an interest in power systems and electrical networks, and enthusiasm for developing specialist technical expertise.
- Eagerness to learn, solve complex technical problems, and contribute to the future of the electricity network.
- A full, valid UK driving licence by 27th June 2027.
- Flexibility to travel within the South West region and to sites, depots/offices, and training centres.
*Note: If you progress to the assessment centre, you must have passed your driving theory test.
What You'll Get In Return
- Starting Salary: £38,289 with annual increases.
- Programme Duration: 18-month graduate programme with a tailored development pathway.
- Placements: Three 6-month placements across the UK.
- Benefits:
- 26 days' annual leave plus statutory holidays.
- Competitive pension scheme.
- Access to flexible benefits (cycle-to-work, holiday buy/sell).
- Sharesave and Share Incentive Plans.
- £2,000 joining bonus.
- £2,400 payment upon successful completion.
- Accommodation allowance of up to £200 per month during placements.
- Additional annual leave and relocation support when moving between placements.
- Dedicated mentoring, coaching, networking, and volunteering opportunities.
- Permanent role with National Grid upon successful completion.
Location
Avonbank, Bristol, with travel across the South West region.
Application Information
- You can apply for only one opportunity across all Early Careers and Career Changer programmes.
- Applications are on a rolling basis and may close early.
- Applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK without requiring sponsorship.