Carrying out emergency repairs and routine maintenance on substation and power networks, ensuring everyone has access to electricity

How this role makes a difference

The electricity we receive in our homes, schools, factories, shops and offices is transported to us through a vast network of high-voltage power cables, transformers and storage facilities. This network needs to be planned, managed and maintained, as more places need electricity and parts of the network get old.

The energy that creates the electricity comes from several different sources, including fossil fuel power stations and increasingly renewable sources of energy, including solar farms, and wind and wave turbines. You could be the technician who helps to connect the new, cleaner sources and contributes to greener energy supply.

The kind of work you’ll do

Using electrical testing and measuring equipment
Following the correct procedures for completing checks
Maintaining key interconnecting points on the network
Stripping machinery down and putting it back together
Installing new equipment
Completing reports on the work carried out
Providing accurate and reliable data to support business decisions

Useful skills

Precise

Skills & attributes

Useful skills

Logical thinking

Skills & attributes

Useful skills

Instructing others

Skills & attributes

What you can bring to the role

An interest in engineering and how electricity is generated.

An interest in learning about renewable energy and how it connects to the UK’s power networks.

The confidence to read, understand and interpret technical information.

A knack for teaching others how to do things.

A natural ability to look at a problem logically and consider all possibilities before deciding on the way forward.

Good planning and design skills which help you present a complex system in an organised way with good attention to detail.

The ability to absorb instructions quickly and put what you’ve learned into practice.

This role could also be right for you if you have any of the following interests:

- sustainability

- science

- building, making and fixing things

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Average salary per month *

Data powered by LMI for all
*according to ONS

Future career opportunities

You will begin your career working in a team, learning how different parts of power networks connect and operate. With experience you may become a specialist in a particular area, with responsibility for training others.

You might choose to specialise in renewable energy because of your commitment to combatting climate change. Or you could become involved in the commissioning of new technologically-advanced kit that is more energy efficient and reliable.

How to get into this role

There’s no perfect career path or ideal way into your dream job. But if you're interested in education and training options that could be relevant to this role, you might want to consider:

A T-level in Maintenance, Installation and Repair for Engineering and Manufacturing after you finish your GCSEs.
An apprenticeship as an Electrical Power Networks Engineer after finishing your T-level or A-levels.

Schools and colleges each have their own career guidance plan and can provide detailed information, advice, and guidance on options and next steps.

A little more about the role

Exciting features...

The network that electricity travels across is known as the National Grid. If one part of it breaks down, the grid will continue to supply electricity from other power stations on the grid. Through the maintenance work you do, you’ll help to ensure people don’t lose their electricity supply. Or if extreme weather conditions mean electric power is down, you’ll be part of the team making sure it is supplied again quickly.

Other job titles...

This role can also be known by some other job titles including:

Substation Engineer
Asset Management Engineer
Planning Engineer
Design Engineer
Control Engineer
Electrical Project Engineer
Operational Delivery Manager